LBI Historical Association Seeks 'Island Voices' For New Project

BEACH HAVEN, NJ — Many people have wonderful memories of Long Beach Island, whether you spent your summers there, take the occasional day or trip or have spent your life on the island. The LBI Historical Association (LBIHA) wants to hear these stories for their upcoming oral history project.

"Island Voices" seeks to capture the voices of residents, historians, witnesses and participants in the rich, cultural history of LBI, the association announced in a release. Contributors are asked to share their stories, histories and heritages of their families' life and times on the island.

This exhibit will capture an audio/visual record of interviews and collections of artifacts for display in the LBI Historical Museum, which the LBIHA says is "consistent with their mission to take people back to a unique place at the ocean's edge and the people who came to know and love it."

"Oral history has been valued for a long time to fill gaps in written records, preserve personal experiences as told by the individual themselves, and enhance the research and curation of scholars and experts," the release said. "It is also an opportunity to experience LBI in a new and fascinating way. From the pre-colonial Lenape Indian tribes to the early settlements in the 17th century up to today, this exhibit will allow visitors to share stories and record firsthand experiences and memories of LBI."

"This interactive exhibit will enable residents, visitors and historians who record their stories to feel like they are a part of the living history of the museum and the island," said Ron Marr, President of the LBIHA. "This project will also increase community awareness of the Museum, and fulfill our Mission Statement."

The LBIHA is seeking residents, summer home residents, tourists, visitors, educators and historians to contribute to this exhibit. People are encouraged to donate artifacts, pictures,
books, letters – anything of historical significance to LBI, along with recording their stories for the display.

"In this exhibit we hope to meet the needs of visitors seeking emotional connections along with a multi-sensory experience in our museum," said Denise Cleveland, LBIHA Volunteer Coordinator and Project Director for this exhibit. "We will spend the summer, interviewing contributors and collecting artifacts in anticipation of a Fall 2023 public opening."

To contribute to Island Voices, express interest in being interviewed, or to learn more about the
Island Voices project please contact the LBIHA at LBIvoices2023@gmail.com.