Flannery O'Connor and Milledgeville: Collecting the Past
FAIN: AA-289980-23
Georgia College and State University (Milledgeville, GA 31061-3375)
Stephanie Opperman (Project Director: May 2022 to present)
Irene S. Burgess (Co Project Director: August 2022 to February 2023)
Jordan Cofer (Co Project Director: February 2023 to October 2024)
Katie Simon (Co Project Director: October 2024 to present)
A three-year project to collect oral histories related to the life and work of Flannery O’Connor and produce related podcasts and videos.
Georgia College, with the assistance of its Andalusia Institute, wishes to interview individuals for podcasts, videos, and archival records that will provide important insight to O’Connor scholars and the legion of O’Connor enthusiasts who find inspiration and delight in her work.
Media Coverage
Free online oral history course now available (Media Coverage)
Publication: Georgia College & State University Front Page
Date: 8/26/2024
URL: https://frontpage.gcsu.edu/node/18866
Oral History Workshop (Media Coverage)
Publication: Georgia College & State University Front Page
Date: 11/3/2024
URL: https://frontpage.gcsu.edu/node/16113
Isabel Kelly (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Kelly Therese Pollock
Publication: Unsung History
Date: 11/11/2024
Abstract: Stephanie Opperman is a Professor of History at Georgia College. She earned her doctorate from the University of Illinois Chicago in Latin American History. Her research and publications focus on mid-twentieth century U.S.-Mexico diplomatic and cultural relations. Her book, Cold War Anthropologist: Isabel Kelly and Rural Development in Mexico, explores the changing nature of U.S.-Mexican relations, development programs, state efforts of assimilation, the field of anthropology, and gendered experiences in mid-twentieth century Mexico through the international work of Dr. Isabel T. Kelly (1906-1983). As the Principal Investigator and Co-Program Director for the NEH grant, “Flannery O'Connor and Milledgeville: Collecting the Past,” she is working with undergraduate students to interview community members who lived in Milledgeville during the heart of O’Connor’s writing career (1951-1964). The goal of the project is to learn more about experiences with class, gender, race, disability, the
URL: https://www.unsunghistorypodcast.com/guests/stephanie-baker-oppe/
Flannery O Connor Humanities Grant (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Abby Helgesen
Publication: GC360 News
Date: 10/10/2024
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_1HzAb1Hz8
History Harvest: GCSU students collecting the past (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Kate Walker
Publication: The Colonnade
Date: 4/9/2025
Harvesting history in Flannery O’Connor’s honor (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Amelie Sengupta
Publication: The Baldwin Bulletin
Date: 4/9/2025
URL: https://www.bbnews.today/news/harvesting-history-flannery-oconnors-honor
GCSU to offer free oral history classes (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Bailey McCully
Publication: Baldwin Bulletin
Date: 9/5/2024
NEH-funded Flannery O’Connor oral history project gets underway (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Alexandra Klein
Publication: Oral History Association Newsletter
Date: 4/1/2023
URL: https://oralhistory.org/publications/oha-newsletter/
Associated Products
Collecting the Past (Knowledge Box) (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)Title: Collecting the Past (Knowledge Box)
Author: Stephanie Opperman and Local History Class (2024)
Abstract: Digital archive/database for oral history interviews conducted by Local History class at GC
Year: 2024
Primary URL:
https://kb.gcsu.edu/collectingthepast/Primary URL Description: Links to podcasts and transcripts for Year 1 and Year 2 interviews
Access Model: Open Access
Capturing Local Stories: An Oral History Workshop (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Capturing Local Stories: An Oral History Workshop
Abstract: Come learn how to document and care for the memories of your community with Dr. Stephanie Opperman, Associate Professor of History at Georgia College. This free one-hour workshop will introduce participants to the preparation, recording, transcription, and archival organization of oral histories.
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Date: 10/12/2023
Location: Mary Vinson Memorial Library
Capturing Local Stories: An Oral History Workshop (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Capturing Local Stories: An Oral History Workshop
Abstract: Come learn how to document and care for the memories of your community with Dr. Stephanie Opperman, Associate Professor of History at Georgia College. This free one-hour workshop will introduce participants to the preparation, recording, transcription, and archival organization of oral histories.
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Date: 11/09/2023
Location: Andalusia Interpretive Center
Capturing Local Stories: An Oral History Workshop (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Capturing Local Stories: An Oral History Workshop
Abstract: Join the Collecting the Past grant for an engaging Oral History Workshop where you will learn how to capture and share meaningful stories and memories. Perfect for history enthusiasts and storytelling lovers alike, this workshop offers practical tips and valuable insights to help you preserve the past. Take advantage of this opportunity to enrich your skills and connect with fellow story enthusiasts. This workshop will be led by Dr. Stephanie Opperman, Professor of History at Georgia College and Co-Program Director for the Collecting the Past grant.
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Date: 12/03/2024
Location: Mary Vinson Memorial Library
Podcasting Workshop (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Podcasting Workshop
Abstract: The NEH grant, Collecting the Past, in collaboration with the Ina Dillard Russell Library, will be hosting a podcasting workshop on October 24th, from 1 to 2 pm, in Room 241 of Russell Library. This workshop is geared towards beginners who would like to learn about and/or get started with podcasting and is open to the community, faculty, staff, and students. Recommended technology to bring to this session would be a laptop and computer mouse. If you already have some sound files you would like to work on, then bring those as well.
Author: Tanya Darden
Date: 10/24/2024
Location: Ina Dillard Russell Library
Collecting the Past: A Celebration of Community (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Collecting the Past: A Celebration of Community
Abstract: Help us celebrate The NEH Oral History grant "Flannery O'Connor and Milledgeville: Collecting the Past" and GCSU students on April 24th! Georgia College students, with the assistance of the Flannery O’Connor Institute for the Humanities, have been conducting interviews in the spring 2024 semester that focus on expanding the existing historical narrative of Milledgeville through documentation of unwritten life stories within the community and its members. The celebration will be open to the public with refreshments provided!
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Date: 04/24/24
Location: Sallie Ellis Davis House
History Harvest (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: History Harvest
Abstract: Join the Collecting the Past team for two upcoming history harvest days! Student interviewers will talk to community members to preserve their stories of Milledgeville-Baldwin County. Topics of interest include Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Memory Hill Cemetery, Lake Sinclair, McDade Grocery, Allen's Market, Grist Mill / Hydro-electric Dam (Oconee River), Magnolia Bank (formerly Baldwin Hotel), Boddie High School, Corner of Wilkinson and Hancock (currently Baldwin county courthouse), First Presbyterian Church.
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Date: 04/02/2025
Location: Allen's Market / Allied Arts
NEH Collecting the Past Grant Showcase (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: NEH Collecting the Past Grant Showcase
Author: Juliann Mackiewicz
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Author: Charlotte Aexel
Abstract: Join the Collecting the Past grant, this Friday September 13th at 3:15pm in the Pat Peterson Museum Education Room for a presentation on the art of collecting oral history.
Dr. Stephanie Opperman, Charlotte Aexel, and Julian Mackiewicz will share their work and progress on the Collecting the Past grant and showcase a range of stories including the evolution of Milledgeville and the legacy of Flannery O’Connor.
Date: 09/13/2024
Conference Name: Flannery O'Connor's Second Century: Looking Forward, Looking Back
NEH Collecting the Past Grant Showcase (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: NEH Collecting the Past Grant Showcase
Abstract: The Flannery O’Connor Institute for the Humanities will host a second symposium in support of its oral history project. Undergraduate students interviewed community members who lived in Milledgeville during the heart of Flannery O’Connor’s writing career (1951-1964) to provide important insights on life in rural Georgia, and they will share these highlights. The project has gathered information regarding experiences with class, gender, race, disability, the Cold War, religious beliefs, commercialism and old/new South mythologies in 1950s rural Georgia. All are welcome to attend and learn more about getting involved with this project, nominating someone to be interviewed and listening to the oral histories.
Author: Juliann Mackiewicz
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Author: Charlotte Aexel
Date: 10/02/24
Location: Old Governor's Mansion Education Building
Oral History Workshop (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Oral History Workshop
Abstract: Dive into the Art of Oral History with Dr. Stephanie Opperman!
Join us on September 10th at 5 PM for an engaging Oral History Workshop where you’ll learn how to capture and share meaningful stories and memories.
Perfect for history enthusiasts and storytelling lovers alike, this workshop offers practical tips and valuable insights to help you preserve the past.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enrich your skills and connect with fellow story enthusiasts!
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Date: 09/10/24
Location: Allen's Market / Allied Arts
Oral History Basics (Course or Curricular Material)Title: Oral History Basics
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Abstract: Do you want to learn more about Oral History? Are you interested in preserving family stories? Look no further! Register for “Oral History Basics”, a free online course created by Dr. Stephanie Opperman, Professor of History at Georgia College. The course will take you through practical applications, various techniques, and much more!
Year: 2024
Primary URL:
https://bit.ly/histbasicsAudience: General Public
Everybody Has a Story to Tell: A Conversation with Sandra Worsham (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Everybody Has a Story to Tell: A Conversation with Sandra Worsham
Abstract: We're just over a week out from this exciting kickoff event for our NEH Oral History project "Flannery O'Connor and Milledgeville: Collecting the Past"! Join us on Zoom on Thursday, November 2 at 6pm for a discussion between Dr. Stephanie Opperman and Sandra Worsham. During her time as a Baldwin High School teacher, she worked with students to document local stories in the collection, "Everybody Has a Story to Tell: Stories of Flannery O'Connor's Milledgeville". The Milken Family Foundation published the collection of stories in 1999.
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Date: 11/02/23
Location: Virtual event
The Power of Stories: Incorporating Oral History into Undergraduate Courses (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: The Power of Stories: Incorporating Oral History into Undergraduate Courses
Author: Stephanie Opperman
Abstract: Oral history offers students opportunities for experiential learning by helping them connect course content with personal interactions. By assigning a low-stakes interview activity related to the course theme, students are prompted to think critically about all aspects of the interview, including their role as the interviewer, their own background, how they ask questions, and how to get the most out of their interview. This opportunity allows students to not only develop their public speaking and deep listening skills, but also to value the stories of their community members, family, friends, and/or peers.
Date: 04/03/2025
Conference Name: USG Teaching & Learning Conference