Toy Association Launches Member Storytelling Initiative

Toys are for more than play: They bring people together. Now,  playtime memories could earn a spot in the American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress  (opens in a new tab).

The Toy Association is inviting members to share their favorite toy stories as part of a new project called “Generations of Play, An Oral History,” powered by StoryCorps  (opens in a new tab).

“The goal of this project is to celebrate the people who have dedicated their lives to the creation of toys; to chronicle the human connection in the quest to bring joy to children of all ages,” said Marian Bossard, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association, in a press release  (opens in a new tab).

The Toy Association is accepting submissions  (opens in a new tab)—which include a personal statement and audio files—until December 6. Submissions will be narrowed down to 15, and those participants will then be recorded during Toy Fair New York in February  (opens in a new tab). These 40-minute interviews will be between two people who know each other, although a StoryCorps facilitator will be present to guide participants through the recording process.

StoryCorps will then select seven of those 15 recordings, edit them down to three minutes, and archive them as part of its national oral history project.

“By recording, sharing, and preserving our stories, we hope to showcase the richness of our past and the promise of our future,” Bossard said.

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