With an eye to the future, Brown Library will place a focus on the past in 2020, continuing its A Bite of History speaker series into the New Year.

The program, which falls on the third Thursday of every other month, offers a chance to hear local stories from local people about important and interesting aspects of Washington’s history.

“Usually, with most of the speakers, you can find more information here in the library,” said Claudia Dahlen, Brown Library reference and genealogy specialist. “The local color that comes through, there are so many stories and so much history, we just thought it would be nice to get it out there and to share it.”

Since the Bite of History series began in 2018, the topics covered during the sessions have been wide and varied, ranging from the history of the Washington Fire Department to local superstitions and legends. Behind each talk, a local person offers his or her own unique perspective and expertise on the topic at hand.

For some, hearing and speaking with these living history experts is far preferable to burying their nose in a ponderous tome of local history.

“It’s just that. They might don’t want to sit and read through it,” Dahlen said. “When somebody is telling the history and speaking, it’s full of color. There’s anecdotes and people in the audience get to participate and ask questions. You can tell when they’re engaged with the speaker, the stories change. They don’t stick to a script, so it’s more personal.”

On average, Dahlen says the talks attract good crowds, ranging from 25 at the smallest to upwards of 60 people. In some cases, those who attend the talks also gain a better understanding of the resources available in the library, specifically the John A. Wilkinson Local History Room.

“We’re getting more and more people coming to do their genealogy,” Dahlen said.

The full 2020 Bite of History lineup for the coming year is as follows

<BEGIN LIST>

Jan. 16 — Oakdale and Cedar Hill cemeteries with Jerome Tyson

March 19 — History of Brown Library with Claudia Dahlen and Terry Rollins

May 21 — Jim Baugham: Lafayette Flying Corps and other stories with Blount Rumley

July 16 — History is Now with Ric Carter

Sept. 17 — The Estuarium and Pamlico River with Russ Chesson

Nov. 19 — Elmwood: 200 Years with John Butler and Richard Smoot

<END LIST>

Each session takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Brown Library. For those who cannot attend, the videos are also available to view online at www.vimeo.com/washingtonnc/videos.

In making these recordings, Dahlen sees the series as not only sharing these oral histories in the here and now, but preserving them for future generations.

“A lot of these stories aren’t written down, because these people aren’t necessarily writers,” Dahlen said. “It’s just things they’ve learned and lived through.”

To learn more about A Bite of History, and the many resources available in the John A. Wilkinson History Room, visit Brown Library during business hours at 122 Van Norden St., Washington, or visit Washington-nc.libguides.com.