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(February 2003) – Storytelling has been an oral tradition
handed down through the ages in all cultures. Even before
there were books, there were stories to tell.
Cincinnati resident Martha McLeod is the scheduled performer
for the “Wednesdays at One” series at 1 p.m. on
Feb. 12 at the Carroll County Public Library. This seasoned
storyteller will present a program that will include stories
about historical figures relating to abolition and the Underground
Railroad and folk tales coming out of African American Traditions.
McLeod said that as an only child she was an avid reader.
She also earned a bachelor’s degree in history. These
two interests surface to combine into an unforgettable experience
for her listeners.
“For me, one of the joyful parts of storytelling is searching
books for tales from all over the world, whether they are
historical or folk and or any other type of story,” she
said. “It is particularly challenging with historical
figures to find quotations and aspects of their histories
that can be transformed into a compelling story.”
Author, educator and fellow storyteller Marni Gilland said,
“Martha McLeod transports listeners with her tales. She
can help us see history’s characters and events with
new eyes.”
Every one has a story to tell, and history is sprinkled with
antidotes from which to draw. McLeod also obtains stories
from other tellers who grant their permission for her to use
them.
But storytelling is not just a hobby for her. As a psychotherapist
and licensed independent social worker, she listens to stories
every day as told to her by her clients.
Drawing upon her own public speaking skills, McLeod also presents
programs to educational and professional groups on handling
stress, improving people skills, managing emotions, and a
presentation titled, “Finding Your Funny Bone: Humor
for Better Living.”
McLeod plans each program in advance, targeting a specific
topic. Her repertoire includes stories "from outhouses
to presidents, and countries and groups from Australia to
Native American Peoples," she said.
A native Midwesterner, she has performed in all regions of
the United States, including Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, Wisconsin
and Wyoming. While raising a family in Idaho and Colorado,
she was a professional weaver by trade.
She now resides in Cincinnati, where years ago she ran into
an acquaintance at a storytelling performance celebrating
Black History Month who informed her of the Greater Cincinnati
Storytelling Guild and other nearby festivals. From that point
on, she was hooked.
Monthly meetings of the Guild have provided McLeod and other
storytellers with the opportunity to test the waters with
new stories and learn about storytelling classes, workshops
and conferences. "I have gained a great deal from other
tellers," she said.
Some of the storytellers McLeod admires are Mary Hamilton,
Cynthia Changaris, Elizabeth Ellis and Native American tellers
Fred Shaw and Neeake. From them she has learned how to captivate
an audience and instill in them an appreciation for her craft.
Hamilton has said of her performances, "Who knew hearing
about Harriet Beecher Stowe could be so entertaining?"
McLeod has attended such festivals as the Cave Run Storytelling
Festival near Moorhead, Ky., the Hoosier Storytelling Festival
in Indianapolis, the annual Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend
in Cincinnati and the Corn Island Storytelling Festival in
Louisville, which is the second oldest storytelling festival
in America.
Her fascination with storytelling has led her into other venues
within the genre. McLeod produced and hosted a weekly one-hour,
summertime radio show on public radio WAIF-FM in Cincinnati.
This provided her an opportunity to meet a variety of people
in this field of work such as Mitch Barrett, a singer-songwriter
from Berea, Ky., who sets his stories to music. In February
2001, she worked on a weekly radio show for Black History
Month, "Freedom Journeys: A Storyteller's Tribute for
African American History Month."
Nancy Colegrove, a former principal and school administrator
from the Cincinnati area, has seen McLeod's presentation on
the Underground Railroad and called it "historically
grounded." She said McLeod did not merely tell a story,
but she also provided interesting facts and tidbits. These
were added in a way that seemed to flow with the story making
it a stimulating history lesson as well.
Many slaves crossed the Ohio River at Cincinnati, so it is
only natural that McLeod would research the area where she
lives and incorporate this into her repertoire.
Colegrove said she is quite a master storyteller that has
a growing reputation for storytelling in schools, churches
and different organizations in the Cincinnati area.
"She is really good at gearing storytelling to an audience,"
said Colgrove. "She's very easy to listen to, with a
nice voice that resonates. She really gets into the character."
• For more information about McLeod, call the library
at (502) 732-7020 or visit: www.marthastories.com.
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