A resident of Fargo and Moorhead since her birth in 1915, Miss Helen Euren was an employee of Moorhead Public Library from 1934 until her retirement in 1977. She discusses the new library services added during those years, the formation of the Lake Agassiz Regional Library and the bond issue for the new building in 1960.
Henry Grettum, a farmer near Detroit Lakes, recalls his early years of coming to Ulen, MN from Goodhue County in Minnesota. Mr. Grettum tells of his farm life at Ulen and Detroit Lakes and as farm manager north of Moorhead. He tells of his community activities. Mr. Grettum was 93 years old at the time of the interview. His ancestors are Norwegian.
Mrs. Hildergarde Kraus, a well-known local organist, describes her musical training at a boarding school in Bismarck, North Dakota, and at the Dakota Conservatory of Music in Fargo. She discusses playing for silent movies and vaudeville and traces the events in her twenty-eight year career as organist for WDAY.
Jacob "Jake" Kiefer is a native of Moorhead and returned to the community after military service in World War I. He managed Kiefer Chevrolet. His oral history concentrates on his memories of Moorhead at the turn of the twentieth century. He discusses his involvement in community's service organizations such as the Legion club, the Rotary, and the Moorhead Chamber of Commerce.
Judge James Garrity, a life-long Moorhead resident, describes the practice of law in Moorhead from late 1940s through the late 1970s when he became a judge. He reflected on his father;s practice as well. He discusses the varied personalities of other lawyers, interesting cases, and his perceptions of how the law has changed.
James ORourke was born in Langdon, North Dakota in 1933. He went to Concordia College for history and art and spent 1957-1960 in Europe. Mr. O'Rourke opened the Rourke Gallery in 1960. It later merged with the Red River Arts Center to form the Plains Art Museum. He discusses community support for the gallery, participating artists, and the growing collection.
James Baccus, retired journalist, has been involved with journalism since his high school days and discusses his writing career for various newspapers and organizations, as well as doing personal writing. He worked for the Forum for approximately 14 years, retiring in 1984 at the age of 70.
John Ingersoll was born November 6, 1908 in Moorhead, Minnesota. Mr. Ingersoll begins the interview with a short description of his family history. He briefly describes his time in college graduating from Moorhead State Teacher's College in 1932 and his military service which began in 1942 at Fort Snelling. Mr. Ingersoll discusses business in Moorhead, his Black Hawk Cafe, and his involvement in local politics.
Dr. Joseph L. Knutson was born February 14, 1906 in Grafton, ND, where his father was a Lutheran pastor. Dr. Knutson begins the interview with a short biographical sketch. Dr. Knutson was president of Concordia College from 1950 to 1974. He discusses the college's finances and its relationship to the American Lutheran Church. Concordia College's natural constituency for enrollment was from the Norwegian Lutherans of North Dakota and Minnesota.
June Dobervich describes her activities with both the Little Country Theatre at North Dakota State University and the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre. She discusses such factors as the costs of theater production, the types of productions, participants in the program, and the achievements of Alfred G. Arvold.
Justin W. Swenson was born near Battle Lake, Minnesota. Mr. Swenson describes his career as a superintendent of public schools. He discusses attitudes toward education, special education, and changes in public schools over the years.
Katherine Richardson has lived in Moorhead since her birth in 1928. Mrs. Richardson discusses her long interest and involvement in the Republican party. She tells of her position as one of the first presidents of the local Federation of Republican Women.
Kathy Coyle discusses her career as the anchor of a local television news broadcast, including details concerning the production of local news, the importance of ratings, relations with co-workers, and the advancement of women in television journalism.
Ken J. Frolund tells of his introduction to the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre and his involvement in set building and administration not only for the theatre but also for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony.
Dr. Kenneth Covey started an independent family practice in Moorhead in 1966. He discusses small town medicine and the changes in orthopedics-prothesis, replacement joints, etc. He also describes the economic turmoil in medicine and the treat of socialized medicine.
Laura Scherfenberg discusses her many years of activities with the Moorhead branch of Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). She describes the organization's goals, finances, projects, and its role in the community.
Leveta Bryson was born in Illinois about 1913. In 1920 her parents lived on farm near Sabin, MN. Leveta graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College and began her teaching career. In 1938, she had to quit teaching because she married. Mrs. Scott describes her life as a homemaker on a farm in Borup, Minnesota from 1938 to the 1960s.
Lois Selberg is a native of Rustad, Minnesota. She speaks first of her high school education and her early experiences at Moorhead State. She describes what entering college meant to her in the way of intellectual enlightenment. Mrs. Selberg discusses what the college was like during wartime.
Lucy (Mickow) Nibbe (1911-2005) discusses her childhood in Hammond and Lake City, Minnesota her education in Lake City, and her career as a rural school teacher at Gilbert Valley and Sugar Loaf Valley, and at Bluff View in Lake City.
Magnus Wefald was born in 1900 in Hawley, Minnesota and grew up there. Wefald discusses his law practice in Hawley, Minnesota, and his service in the Minnesota State Senate for 12 years. He describes the changes in the law that he has seen over the years. He talks about the community affairs in which he has been involved and his term as mayor.
Margaret (Fobes) Tabbut was born in Glyndon, Minnesota in 1918. She describes her early life on a farm. She taught in the Fargo Adult Education Program and did a television program on WDAY until 1958 at which time she joined the faculty at Concordia College. She retired in 1983. She discusses the changes in homemaking that are the result of technological development, working outside the home, and social and economic changes.
In this oral history Margaret Meier describes life in Denmark. Her grandfather was a bricklayer, her grandmother carded, spun and wove wool. Her father was manager of a large farm with 11 hired milk girls - her mother was one of them. She descibes conditions on the boat when they came to the United States and the conditions at Ellis Island. They originally came to Iowa, then came to Askov. They kept the Danish traditions after she was married. She recalls the Depression when they had to destroy cattle due to no feed. Margaret bacame a mid-wife and delivered 35 babies. She also workied in the bakery for 10 years and was secretary of the meat ring.
Margaret Reed was born in Chicago in March 1916. Mrs. Reed speaks of her education and experience in social service administration. She also discusses her work for the establishment of a grant for a volunteer community service in Moorhead.
