Sue Larson and Clela Rorex

In late June 2014, county clerks in Colorado challenged a ban on same-sex marriage by issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. The state attorney general has ordered them to stop, and the case has reached the Colorado Supreme Court.

But few know that this is history repeating itself.

Back in 1975, Clela Rorex was the newly-elected County Clerk in Boulder when she began issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples.

At StoryCorps, Clela (right) told her friend, Sue Larson (left), that it started one day when two men came to her office door.

On the day this story was broadcast, the Colorado Supreme Court ordered County Clerks in the state to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Originally aired July 18, 2014, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Photo courtesy of the Boulder Daily Camera.

Cheri Lindsay and Phillip Lindsay

Cheri Lindsay and her father, Phillip, both have vitiligo, a rare skin condition that runs in their family.

People with vitiligo gradually lose pigment in their skin, often in patches that appear randomly and can grow over time.

Cheri’s condition has spread so dramatically over the past four years that most of her face and body now appear white.

At StoryCorps, Cheri remembered when her vitiligo first started to spread.

Originally aired June 20, 2014, on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

Thompson Williams and Kiamichi-tet Williams

Thompson Williams (above left) grew up in Oklahoma as one of eight children. His father, Melford Williams (pictured at left with Thompson), was a tribal leader of the Caddo Nation and a World War II veteran who had a big impact on Thompson’s life.

At StoryCorps, Thompson’s son, Kiamichi-tet (above right), sat down with his dad to learn more about his grandfather.

Thompson also told his son about his father’s death from a heart attack in 1978.

Originally aired June 6, 2014, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Photo courtesy of Thompson Williams.

Sexual Abuse Victims, Ages 14 and 15

In October 2011, two sisters, ages 14 and 15, whose names are being withheld to protect their privacy, came to StoryCorps to remember the horror of being sexually abused by their uncle, a police officer who was also their part-time caretaker.

This conversation took place 10 days after their abuser was found guilty of sexual assault.

Originally aired November 8, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Shaun Kaufman and Colleen Collins

Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman were both divorced and having a tough time finding work when they started dating in 2002. Eventually, tired of Shaun drinking and getting stoned all day, Colleen came up with the idea that they should start a private investigation agency. (Shaun has a law degree and had trained several PIs in the past.)

At StoryCorps, the couple who married in 2009 discuss their work and how it helped save their relationship.

Originally aired March 8, 2013 on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Queen Jackson and Debra MacKillop

Queen Jackson (R) tells her case manager, Debra MacKillop (L), how she became homeless.

Originally aired December 16, 2011 on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Ray Martinez

Ray Martinez remembers growing up in an orphanage until he was adopted at 5 years old. In the orphanage nothing belonged to him—not a toy nor a coat—but his new parents gave him a blue stocking cap and a little toy stuffed dog and after they passed away he discovered they always held on to those first things he ever owned.

Originally aired June 20, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Martha Conant and Brittany Conant

On July 19, 1989, United Airline Flight 232 heading to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, suffered engine failure and crash-landed in Sioux City, Iowa. Of the 296 people on board, 111 died. Martha Conant was one of the survivors and she tells her daughter-in-law Brittany Conant about the crash and how she lives with being a survivor.

Originally aired January 11, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Jim Bishop, Castle Builder

Jim Bishop has been hard at work on an elaborate medieval castle on a remote mountain in the Colorado Rockies for the past quarter century. Bishop Castle is, in Bishop’s words, “The world’s biggest — with the help of God — one-man physical project, always open free to the public. A place of liberty, freedom, and justice. The poor man’s Disneyland.”

Bishop Castle has (or will have) waterfalls, wishing wells, fountains, wrought-iron gates, a wrought-iron-and-glass scenic elevator, a gravity-belt escalator, a fire-breathing dragon — and more. It was inspired by Bishops awe of the Colorado Rockies. After putting $450 on the piece of property at the age of fifteen, Bishop began working . . . and working . . . and working. The project continues to this day.

Recorded in Rye, Colorado. Premiered February 24, 1994, on All Things Considered.

This documentary comes from Sound Portraits Productions, a mission-driven independent production company that was created by Dave Isay in 1994. Sound Portraits was the predecessor to StoryCorps and was dedicated to telling stories that brought neglected American voices to a national audience.