The Archives is already in possession of around 500 oral histories that were part of special projects and scholarly works, so when the NEA grant came along, Grant said, the Archives immediately came to mind as a potential collaborator.

“I couldn’t think of a better (organization) to ask to partner with us,” said Grant, a former assistant production manager at Montana Public Radio and 10-year industry veteran.

So far, the collaboration between KBMF and the Archives has resulted in the collection of around 30 oral histories told from the perspectives of Mining City residents – and Grant and Jaap say they’re on the hunt for more.

Most interviewees have been over 60 years of age, but Jaap and Grant say there aren’t any special requirements to submit an oral history other than a willingness to share one’s memories from the past. She and Grant are open to hearing just about anything from both below ground and above, whether it's good or bad, heartening or ugly, historically important or minor and domestic.

“People often think they have to have some grand event that happened to them, and that’s so not the case,” said Jaap, explaining the scope of the project. “Some of my favorite stories are the day-to-day things that (interviewees) don’t even realize are really special.”