Bethel Woods Center for the Arts looks to record oral history of Woodstock with stop in Santa Fe

Mar. 28—Woodstock defined a generation.

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts has an initiative to preserve an oral history of the iconic moment.

From Aug. 15-18, 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held in Bethel, New York, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm.

The music festival drew more than 460,000 attendees and is regarded as a pivotal moment in popular music history.

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts' Oral History Initiative is making a trek across the country to record personal memories from those who attended Woodstock. The initiative will make a stop in Santa Fe on April 11-12.

To attend any of the above pop-ups, sign up by contacting OralHistory@BethelWoodsCenter.org. If not attending, those interested can still participate virtually by emailing.

The Oral History Initiative at Bethel Woods began in October 2020 and is a legacy of the pandemic.

To date, 1,200 stories have been documented through the initiative.

In 2023 alone, the museum collected 300 new audiovisual interviews.

The goal of 2024 is to add another 300 stories that increase the diversity of life perspectives and experiences.

"At the Museum at Bethel Woods, we have a mission to preserve the lasting impact of Woodstock for years to come, which is why we are dedicated to safeguarding the stories of those who were part of the unique journey," said Neal V. Hitch, senior curator at The Museum at Bethel Woods. "Through the oral history initiative, we began collecting stories that were so much bigger. Our goal in 2024 is to create partnerships and reach into communities that have been historically underserved. We want to record the experiences of as many participants, attendees, workers, and volunteers from the era as we can, because we know they are slipping away fast. These narratives are invaluable in shaping and preserving the rich history and legacy of the '60s and through these partnerships our hope is that the stories can be shared to through as many outlets, exhibits, and programs as possible."

Hitch said the project aims to obtain a deeper understanding of the counterculture of the 1960s by documenting personal experiences.

The round of the initiative will focus on stories about peace, resistance, and resilience.

Bethel Woods is eager to hear from anyone who may have worked at Woodstock, served as a volunteer, or had interactions with any of the organizations who came to Woodstock to aid with the festival.

This portion of the traveling Oral History Initiative is made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and will focus on gathering stories from under-recorded voices — particularly those from diverse and disadvantaged communities — within the history of 1960s counterculture.

"We are honored to receive this grant from NEH, as part of its Cultural and Community Resilience Program," added Hitch. "It has allowed partnerships with organizations that really expand the stories that we collect and will offer perspectives on peace, justice, and resistance that are integral to the legacy of the 1960s. Through this project, oral histories will provide a broader perspective on the effects and sacrifices made in pursuit of change and will be more accessible to everyone."

The Museum is committed to gathering at least 4,500 oral histories — roughly 1% of the estimated attendees — to collect and commemorate perspectives that round out the picture of the greatest festival of all time.