Accounts and anecdotes covering 40 years of aluminium production at Lynemouth are to be told and stored for the benefit of future generations.
Thousands of men and women worked at the smelter, which was opened by Alcan in 1972 and closed in 2012.
Now they are invited to share their unique insights for a historical archive project.
Rio Tinto has funded the project with a £5,000 donation to the Northumberland Archive at Woodhorn. Around 30 volunteers are being sought to take part in the project and have their memories and anecdotes digitally recorded.
Oral historian Liz O’Donnell will conduct interviews with the former employees and the end result will be available on CD and via the audio booth at the museum.
She said: “This promises to be a fascinating project and I’m sure the end result will inform and delight many of the people who worked at Lynemouth as well as future generations who want to know more about this important period of our industrial heritage.”
Valerie Short has worked at the Lynemouth site for 37 years and she has responsibility for archiving thousands of important documents, photographs and other materials.
“As well as the essential business materials that must be archived, we really want to capture the very personal memories of some of the people who worked on the site over the years,” she said.
Those former employees at the smelter who are interested in taking part are invited to contact Valerie on 01670 393714.