Help us collect and preserve Marceline’s history! If you have parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, relative, and friends who are from Marceline, we want to hear their memories. And the best part is – it’s easy. Pull out your smartphone, find the recording app, hit record, and put it on the table between you, then ask some questions.

Please make sure to start the recording with your name, their name(s), and the date of the recording. Then, ask them questions about their memories of Marceline. Below are some suggestions on how to interview them, but any Marceline memories will be good to save for future generations. Eventually, these recordings will be shared in the oral histories section of the Marceline Historical Society.

Tips for recording:

• Use open-ended questions: Start questions with “What was…” or “Tell me about…” to encourage long answers.
• Follow up: Ask for more detail by asking, “How did you feel about that?” or “Can you tell me more?”.
• Use physical prompts: Ask about old photos, maps, or family heirlooms.

When you have a recording done, you can share it with contact@marcelinehistory.org or send it to the Marceline Carnegie Library, or the Marceline Historical Society, or you can reach out to Joyce Clapp or Dave Tavres if you have questions or need help.

Thanks for helping to preserve Marceline history!

Sample questions:

• When and where were you born?
• Where did you live in Marceline?
  • Do you remember the address(es) of the house(s)?
  • What do you remember about those houses?
  • What was your street/neighborhood like when you were growing up?
  • Who were your neighbors?
  • What other stories do you have about living there?
• What school(s) did you go to?
  • Who were your favorite teachers?
  • What were your favorite subjects?
  • Who were your friends at school?
• Where did you play in Marceline?
• Who are/were your parents?
  • Are they from Marceline?
  • What stories did your parents or grandparents tell you about this place?
  • What kind of work did they do / Where did they work, and how did they get there?
• What do you remember most about Marceline?
• What is your favorite memory of growing up here?
• What places stand out in your mind, and why?
• What were your favorite shops or restaurants or businesses in town?

• What were the local gathering places or popular spots for fun?
• Where did people in town shop?
• What local traditions, parades, or church suppers were popular?
• How did major events like the Depression or World War II affect the town?
• Do you remember any significant natural disasters or storms?
• Can you share a specific story about an event that happened here?