Press release from Buncombe County
Since 2013, the Special Collections blog “HeardTell” has engaged lovers of Buncombe County history by sharing stories about and found in the archive. Over the years, HeardTell has become a tremendous resource and outreach tool, reaching more than half a million views. The blog was so well-received that Buncombe County Special Collections (BCSC) staff and the Friends of BCSC transformed many of the posts into their first publication, Hidden History of Asheville (Arcadia, 2019).
Until now, postings on the blog have been limited to BCSC staff and regular volunteers. “We know that others in our community are passionate about local history and want to share that interest with the community,” says Special Collections Manager Katherine Cutshall. “We are excited to announce that in July 2022, we’ll begin accepting submissions to HeardTell from community members.”
What to know
“Great blog posts are short (500-1500 words) and are engaging,” says Cutshall. Topics can range from observations, curiosities, hidden histories, personal memories and more. While they might be longer than a social media posting, these posts aren’t meant to be in-depth research, though they should be factually accurate and include citations when appropriate. “We especially encourage submissions that include plenty of visuals and are linked to collections and materials held in our library,” she adds.
Earlier this year, HeardTell featured a series of five posts by former BCSC collections manager Zoe Rhine. Find those posts here, and Cutshall mentions these posts are a great example to follow.
Ready to get started? Submissions will not be accepted before July, and you can view and download the submission guidelines here.
“This is an exciting move for us,” Cutshall adds. “Part of the BCSC mission is to share and collect the history and culture of our region. By inviting our community to share their stories and research with a wide audience, we can help nurture a community of history buffs in Asheville, Buncombe County, and beyond.”
Staff and volunteers are looking forward to the diverse perspectives that the Buncombe community can add the narrative of our collective past. Happy research and writing!
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