Unlike what many may have expected, Tanaka and the class discovered that not only were Orange County residents surprisingly tolerant of other faith traditions, but they encouraged others to practice their religious beliefs.
The focus of this particular project was to assess the changing landscape of Orange County (such as the building of mosques and other places of worship) and secondly, to see what adaptations immigrants made to the American culture. For instance, is it difficult for Muslims to pray at different times of the day? Is there discrimination against those who pray differently? Is there pressure to convert to more mainstream religions?
“The interviews were fascinating,” said Tanaka. “When we discovered what we had, Dr. Hansen told me that he would come up with the money to publish the book if I, along with my co-editor Cheryl Eberly, would agree to cull through the interviews and edit them.
“It was painful to have to ruthlessly cut,” she said. “But the result is a piece we’re all proud of.”
Tanaka’s experience is similar to those who conduct oral histories. They often start as class projects, and then take on a life of their own.
“What makes oral histories so intriguing is that you’re hearing the actual voices,” said Hansen. “For many families, hearing a familiar voice is very meaningful. For historians, it adds a personal component and makes the stories more engaging.”
For more information, visit Center
for Oral and Public History website. You can also order
books that the Center has published through this website. 
