Professional experience
Oral history volunteer
Local public library project, 2017 to present
Self-reported
All professionals
Board and card games in Livingston
Marcus Bell
Board and card games and Personal storytelling: Neighborhood and family life stories
Library oral history volunteer with an easy laugh and a deck of cards in his bag
- 4.8 from 16 reviews
- Lives in Livingston
- All five checks passed
Ask a question before you book. Contact details stay private.
Chess
- Chess: Someone to play a real game with, every week.
Credentials
Training or degree
Oral history workshop
Montclair Public Library, 2017
Self-reported
About me
For the past eight years I have volunteered with a library oral history project, recording longtime residents about how their towns used to look. I worked in insurance for most of my career, so I know how to listen closely and keep good notes.
On a storytelling visit we talk about the street you grew up on, the corner store, the dances and the family dinners. I record with my phone and type up a short summary afterward with the names and places you mention, so your kids and grandkids can follow along. Some folks like to warm up with a few hands of rummy or pinochle first, and I am always happy to deal.
I live in Livingston with my wife, close to Memorial Park, and our three grown kids are scattered up and down the East Coast. Recording my own father before he passed is the reason I do this.
Every visit leaves an audio recording made for the grandkids, with a short note at the top saying who is speaking and when, so it still makes sense in fifty years.
What a first visit looks like
- 1
Minute 0 to 5
Say hello, maybe deal a quick hand of cards to settle in.
- 2
Minute 5 to 15
Look at photos or a map of the old neighborhood.
- 3
Minute 15 to 45
Guided conversation, recorded on the phone.
- 4
Minute 45 to 55
Go over the names and places for the written summary.
- 5
Minute 55 to 60
Pick a theme for next time.
What to have ready
Nothing to buy before the first visit
- Old photo albums
- A deck of cards if you like to play
- Names and dates you want to remember
Where Marcus goes
- LivingstonLives here
- Caldwell
- Millburn
- Roseland
- Short Hills
- West Caldwell
- West Orange
Where in the home
Dining tableLiving roomKitchen
Usual week
Mon
10am
to 2pmTue
Off
Wed
1pm
to 5pmThu
9am
to 12pmFri
Off
Sat
Off
Sun
Off
What families say
“The short film made my sister cry, in the good way.”
Robert G.
“Mom brought out photos I did not know existed.”
James F.
“Asked better questions than any of us would have.”
Mark L.
“My mom calls ahead to make sure the visit is still on. She loves it.”
Sofia G.
“Dad remembered how to bid after forty years. He was thrilled.”
Naomi F.
“My aunt is picky and she wants this every week now.”
Raj H.
“I live in Ohio and this gave me real peace of mind. Mom loves it.”
Andre R.
“Patient with the slow players, which is all of us.”
Rachel N.
“Canasta night is back at Grandma's. The noise is wonderful.”
Raj E.
“My mother talked about it all through dinner.”
Andre E.
“The printed book is the best gift we ever gave the grandkids.”
Gail D.
“Kind, clear and never once talked down to my father.”
Gail M.
“Very respectful of my father's routines.”
Janet P.
“The written summary is now in the family binder.”
Naomi L.
“Mom told stories I had never heard. We played the recording at Thanksgiving and everyone cried, in the good way.”
Linda M.
“Lovely visits. Dad warmed up by the second week and now asks when they are coming back.”
Tom W.
Checked and vetted
- Online search
- A real conversation with our team
- Signed provider agreement
- Criminal background check
- National sex offender registry check
$85 per hour
Plus a $2.50 booking fee and 10% service fee.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before.