Kim Komando's online newsletter brought an interesting site to her reader's attention today, and I found the site fascinating. Here's her description and the link:
It's amazing how time changes things. But, since time creeps up, most of us don't notice the changes.
That's why I find today's Cool Site so fascinating. Twenty-one years ago, Peter Feldstein took photos of residents of a small Iowa town.
Then, he returned and photographed the same people again. But this time, he brought a writer to record their stories. The result is an amazing slice of life.
It's remarkable to see the honesty in the photographs and stories. These people didn't pose for the camera. And their stories capture the essence and beauty of small town America.
To view this site, go to oxfordproject.com
7 comments:
Thanks for telling me. I get the Smithsonian magazine, too, but am so far behind that I haven't opened this month's yet. How neat!
Gee, I wonder why I didn't think of this back in '85??? I could've included everybody in town (population 194)! I went back last summer and most of it's gone now. Where my house was is just a sidewalk leading up to nothing, the carcasses of a couple of trees I used to swing on, and some twisted fence. The railroad , built by a crew of American Indians in 1945-46, is completely gone. The post office, the Malt shop, my folks dry goods store, Jack the Barber's--all gone. I guess there'd be nobody left there to photograph!
Thanks Pris - I read all the bios - fascinating and sad. I have a bizarre connection to Oxford - I'll tell you about it sometime.
Julia
Pris, thanks for posting! I found it interesting the one guy has been mayor since 1974. Sounds like a record. Cool post!!
Pris, really enjoyed this. Both of my parents came from Iowa, and -- up until I was 18 -- Iowa was the place I had traveled to the most. (I've lived most of my life in Minneapolis.) Reading the biographies was like listening to my relatives talk. It was like listening to their letters.
Hey Pris, Good to see you're still fighting the good fight. I got a note out of the blue from Doug today and it made me think of you.
Hope all is well.
I'll give the oxoford project a look.
I wish I'd thought of this, as well. I had a brownie from age eight and most of the people next generation up and many within my generation stayed in my small hometown until they died. I travled back there until early 1990 when my mother moved here to be near me. I have a lot of photos of people changing over the years, but no good separate one.
And Barry!!! What a surprise. I got your email and will write you. I finally deleted your old email since mail kept returning as undeliverable and have always wondered where you disappeared to.
Julia..would love to hear your story.
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