Vienna Stories – Past & Present is dedicated to facilitating the preservation of local history by and for the Vienna community. We aim to capture a sense of the local past through its existence in the living present, using the words and personal experiences of Vienna and greater Vienna residents.
Topics of particular interest to Vienna Stories – Past & Present include: personal experiences with community organizations, institutions, events, services, businesses, and family; and in addition, opinions of Vienna’s growth and gradual restructuring, political climate, small-town atmosphere, and what it is like to grow up in Vienna.
Oral History
Since its founding in 1976, Historic Vienna, Inc. has worked to preserve Vienna’s History. Over the years, we have been able to take Oral Histories in a variety of forms. We are currently working on making oral histories in any form available for you to view through our website using the drop down menu on the Vienna Stories tab.
In 2013, Historic Vienna, Inc. embarked on a new initiative to collect oral histories from longtime area residents. Since then, the project has evolved into a rich archive of treasured memories that offer insight into what Vienna once was.
In 2014, we expanded our oral history archive. In addition to our oral history interviews, we also created a new collection of interviews captured at the annual ViVa Vienna celebration. In this series of videos, community members share their thoughts on ViVa Vienna’s significance to the town. You can see all these recordings on our YouTube channel.
On our Oral History blog, you can explore full transcripts of all videos, plus a unique timeline of Vienna’s rich history.
Read or listen to the Vienna oral histories we have collected. Oral Histories
Written Submissions
Sometimes stories are best told through a written submission. The topics of written submissions can be anything related to Vienna, its history, its businesses, its social life, its growth or personal experiences in and around Vienna.
Covid Impressions
The Oral History Committee of Historic Vienna, Inc. has a mission to gather and preserve Vienna’s history – both past and present. We would like to document how Vienna residents and businesses have been affected by, coped with, and reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic.
You can participate in this endeavor by submitting a short description, a photograph, a piece of art, or a poem depicting what you think is important to be remembered about this unprecedented time in history. This can be submitted anonymously if desired. Together the reflections we gather will capture a variety of our Vienna residents’ experiences. We will share them on our website and preserve them in our archives.
To read or listen to the Covid-19 stories we have collected click here:
Vienna's Reaction to Covid PandemicSo many aspects of our lives have been and are still impacted. Below are some topics that may help you choose a story you want to tell.
Essential worker experiences Travel Town Government Family Life Unemployment Food Supplies Gatherings and Celebrations Vienna Community Support Parks and Recreation Friendships/Relationships Fear – Isolation – Masks Pets Graduates and Graduations Any positives? Virtual School Social Media Sites Local Business Survival Vaccine Covid In Your Family? Impact on Vienna Sports Students and Teachers Daily Life Adjustments Working From Home Hardest Adjustments to Endure What Is Next?
Please send your submission to hvioralhistory@gmail.com. There is a release form that you will need to download and sign and send along with your story. Please sign your name on the release form. If you prefer to be anonymous on our website, you will still need to sign the release form and also provide a general description of yourself to use instead of your name, such as Local Business Owner, Retired Vienna Resident, High School Student, Mother – whatever best describes you for your story.
Thank you so much for your participation and helping us fulfill our mission to the community.
Interested in getting involved?
Do you want to volunteer to help interview someone for our Oral History Project? Do you know someone who you think we should interview? Do you have a Written Submission to add to our Vienna Stories? Is there a Vienna Story that you would like to add? We welcome any ideas and suggestions for items to add to our Vienna Stories – Past and Present collection. Please email us at hvioralhistory@gmail.com or click the button below.
Volunteer
Links to important project forms:
If you’re interested in getting involved, please download and read Historic Vienna’s release form and copyright permissions letter thoroughly.
Oral History Guide 01/20/21 – to learn about how to take an oral history
HVI Oral History Release Form 2020 – Required to include Oral Histories in the Vienna Stories – Past and Present collection.
HVI Oral History Covid Impressions Release Form – Required to include stories in the Covid Impressions collection. Stories may be written or oral.
If you’d like to help support Historic Vienna, Inc.’s oral history project click the button below.
Support HVI & Membership