During the protests at the Capitol this spring, almost everyone was a journalist or historian in some way.
Which is why WYOU Community Television wants to collect and archive all the records made during the protests. The station is seeking copies of video, photographs and audio recordings for its "Wisconsin Uprising Archive."
"There were so many people who were covering this situation in various ways," says Dane County Supv. Barbara Vedder, who has helped organize the effort. "We felt like we really needed to do something with it, so this history could be preserved."
The archive will be free for anyone to use. "It could be anybody in the community who wants to find out about this time," Vedder says. "Documentaries can be made from this. A book might be written."
But, she adds, "The central purpose was not to lose this part of our history."
The station is primarily looking for audio and visual documents of the protests. However, it may expand the archive to include posters and artwork.
Eventually, the archive might be turned over to the University of Wisconsin. WYOU is kicking off the effort with a fundraiser at the High Noon Saloon at 5 p.m. on Nov. 15 - which is also the day the drive to recall Gov. Scott Walker kicks off.
For more information about the archive, email archive@wyou.org.