Eduardo was born in a small town in northern Mexico, but grew up in Mexico City. He came to Minnesota to attend graduate school to study animal reproduction. After finishing school and getting married Eduardo and his wife Jill briefly moved back to Mexico City before eventually settling in St. Cloud, Minnesota with their three children. Changing careers he worked his way up in the restaurant business and today is the owner of Mexican Village Too in St. Cloud. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Upbringing - importance of education in his life - moving to Minnesota - meeting his wife, Jill - struggling to get a job - changing careers - being underemployed - opening a restaurant - adjusting to the community - karate - his family - buying Mexican Village Too - the Latino community in St. Cloud - developing, branding, and marketing salsa - giving back to the community.
Edward P. Schwartz was born in Minneapolis in 1903. He was a newspaper reporter, weekly newspaper publisher and publicist, particularly for show business. He inherited and expanded his father's business (Schwartz Printing and Ad Art Advertising). Schwartz played a leadership role in the Variety Club of the Northwest and the Variety Club Heart Hospital. He was also involved with the fund drive for building Mount Sinai Hospital, with Temple Israel and with Democratic Farmer Labor politics. He was also a founder of the Henry Miller Society. Schwartz and his wife, Mae, were married in 1928, and they have one daughter. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Family background - his working career - intermarriage - anti-Semitism in local business and city affairs - the 1930s Depression - Temple Israel - the Variety Club of the Northwest and the founding of the Variety Club Hospital - Mount Sinai Hospital - the 620 Club and other Minneapolis restaurants - DFL politics, Hubert Humphrey's early career - and the Henry Miller Society. COMMENTS ON INTERVIEW: Schwartz bar mitzvahed with Ernie Fliegel, who was also interviewed for this oral history project.
This interview was conducted on January 20, 1990 by David Overy. Edward T. Haats was born on February 21, 1914, in Raymond, Minnesota. He entered the military as part of the Army's 105th Infantry Division in 1942. He served in the Medical Corp Detachment. Haats saw action in Saipan and was wounded in battle on July 8, 1944. Haats told of several events he observed where Japanese military and civilians committing suicide rather than surrender. Haats was wounded on July 8, 1944, the day he said that Saipan was secured. Haats was discharged from the military on April 5, 1945, and returned to Minnesota. Haats and his wife, Muriel P. Sell, owned and operated several businesses in Echo and Winthrop, Minnesota. Haats died on January 14, 1999.
In an oral history conducted by John Carter on October 7, 1991, Edward V. Anderson discussed his experiences both in training and combat as a B-24 pilot in the European Theater during World War II. Born and raised in Illinois, Anderson enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942. In this interview, Anderson described his training experiences to become a B-24 pilot and flying several missions to bomb German oil storage tanks. Lastly, Anderson details what the final days of the war were like and briefly describes his life post-war, which included his wife, Lucy and their five children: David, Howard, Carol, Joyce and Timothy. Anderson was born on April 14, 1923, and passed away on March 13, 2011.
The narrator is Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson of Swedish descent. His spouse is Myrtle Eklund Johnson. He is the brother of Sam Johnson who owned a fish dealership called Sam Johnson & Sons. His sister is Ingeborg Holte. Steve was interviewed at his home in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Interview with E. G. Runge, Concordia College class of 1932, from Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, in 1981. Pastor Runge talks about, among other things, how a generous man paid for his first year at Concordia with 'no strings attached' to see if he would like it, streetcar and other modes of transportation, the 'Rebel Comet' student newspaper and its editor, excellent professors and what made them memorable, working off campus and off-campus activities, the lack of dating among students and why, getting enough to eat in the dining hall, his 'close call' with pneumonia and appreciation for the school nurse Anna Gutz, buying a photography business from a fellow student, and hazing / 'shagging' and the 'Supreme Court' young students might face. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Eh Thweet was born in Burma in 1986. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Early life - Burmese military burning his village - struggle to pay for school - running from the Burmese army - finding food - landmines - fleeing to Thailand - living in a refugee camp in Thailand - religion - religious persecution - taking children from Burma to Thailand - coming to the United States - working for Catholic Charities - hopes of further education in Minnesota - Karen folktales.
Elaine Holst shares information about how her grandparents homesteaded in the Whitewater Valley, the many floods she experienced, and the legacy of conservation farming she and her husband established. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Elia Dimayuga-Bruggeman was born in the small town of Las Mesas, Mexico. She moved to Sleepy Eye, Minnesota where she married and had three children. Dimayuga-Bruggeman attended Mankato State University to become a teacher. She worked as a Spanish teacher and as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher before pursuing her master's in Spanish Literature and Culture. She continued her education receiving her superintendent's degree and her K-12 principal licensure. She would serve as Dean of Students of Sleepy Eye Public Schools and later as a high school principal. Dimayuga-Bruggeman was the academic dean of Shattuck-St. Mary's private school. She was the Director of Educational Services of the Northwest Suburban School District, and is now Assistant Commissioner of Education to the State of Minnesota. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Family background - Bracero Program - farm work - importance of education - financial struggles - Mexican folklore dancing - difference in treatment from being a migrant student to a foreign exchange student - Youth For Understanding - Minnesota winter - English as a Second Language - Latino culture - Minnesota Migrant Program - Hispanic community - racial tensions - student leaders - diversity - cultural center - Chicano Latino Affairs Council - high school graduation rate - and the Chicano Latino Affairs Council. COMMENTS ON INTERVIEW: Transcript is available in both English and Spanish.
A literal view of a camping weekend at Sibley State Park through a child's eyes. Elise tells us about night time stories, tubing and fishing during her visits here with her family.
This is the recording of an autobiography of Elizabeth Ridenour Arnold. She discusses her arrival in Bemidji in 1898 and the local overreaction to an Objibwe uprising (Battle of Sugar Point) at Leech Lake. This record contains parts of multiple interviews. Please refer to the transcripts for help understanding these.
Ellen (Carlson) Jackson (1900-1989) discusses living in a neighborhood of descendants of Swedish immigrants, and the early businesses downtown. She also discusses the first car in Lake City and her education, social life, and recreational activities.
In this interview, Ellen Roitenberg (1938 - ) discusses her Jewish family and their background on the North Side of Minneapolis. She discusses how difficult it was to get jobs, even as a trained professional, if you were Jewish. She talks of her father being a physician and the impact of the founding of Mount Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis. The discussion turns to Jewish life on the North Side and subsequent migration to Saint Louis Park, class distinctions among Jews on the North Side, housing covenants and class distinctions in Saint Louis Park. This interview was conducted by Jeff Norman, oral historian from California. "Urban Exodus: The Saint Louis Park Oral History Project" explores the post-World War II migration of Minneapolis's Jewish community from the city's North Side to the western suburb of Saint Louis Park. The 35 oral history interviews, representing diverse perspectives from within and beyond the Jewish community, tell the complex story of how, from 1945 to 1970, Saint Louis Park became a major center of Jewish life in Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Elliot Kaplan gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan and legal practitioner. He gives a narrative of his life, which includes the circumstances of his birth to grocers on the East Side of St. Paul, growing up in Highland Park, attending Randolph Heights and Central High School, being president of Hillel while attending the University of Minnesota for seven years, and enlisting in the Army Reserve. The conversation moves to Jewish law firms in the 1960s, to working with numerous Jewish and non-Jewish organizations such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the University of Minnesota Fund. The interview concludes with changes in the legal community since the 1960s, particularly for Jewish lawyers, and implementing Jewish values and ethics into Kaplan's legal and personal life. This interview was conducted by Helen Rubenstein as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest Jewish Judges and Lawyers History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Oral history of Elnora "Nora" McGuire, interviewed by Tom Imes. Nora's interview focuses on growing up and living at Long Point and Zippel Bay and commercial fishing.
Eloisa Echavez was born in Colombia as one of five sisters in her family. Echavez received her associate's degree in computer science and learned English through the Colombo Americano program. She completed her master's degree at Augsburg College in education and leadership for administration. She serves as a mentor and leader for the Latino community as director of La Oportunidad. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Family - religion - education's importance in her life as well as providing educational opportunities for others - culture - Latino community - leadership - bilingual benefits of learning Spanish and English - inspiration to help struggling Latinos - community programs - and communication for a unified Latino voice.
In an oral history, Emery Dibble discusses several topics including moving to Crow Wing County via a covered wagon pulled by a team of oxen, a fire destroying all of his family's possessions, his mother having to work to support the family, his life growing up, and jobs he's had over the years.
Interview with Emery Ljung, born June 24, 1894. He was the son of John and Mary Ljung. His mother was born in Belle River Township. His father was born in Halsinglund, Sweden. He was raised by Grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Severons (who came from Denmark). He recounts daily life on various farms in Douglas County. His last farm was northeast of Lake Geneva.
Emiliano Chagil was born in Guatemala in the city of San Lucas Tolimn. Chagil went to college in the city of Solol where he completed his bachelor's degree and later received his engineering degree at the University of San Carlos. He moved to Minnesota in 1980 because of the civil war in Guatemala. He later proved to be an influential leader for Latin communities in Minnesota and Guatemala. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Family - Guatemalan community and culture - financial struggles - Mayan and Christian religions - civil unrest - identity - landscape differences of Minnesota and Guatemala - Latino community in Minnesota - immigration - education - and refugees.
Our very own local Princess Kay from the Milk Way tell that once in a lifetime story about getting her bust carved out of butter- a story for every Minnesotan- in addition to what it is like to be an independent, female business owner in 2016.
Florence Ferrier interviewed Emmy Tangreen about her life, moving from Sweden and settling in Baudette, Minnesota in 1910, and living in Lake of the Woods County and Koochiching County the remainder of her life. Emmy describes her memories of the 1910 Fire, her teaching career, her husband's logging career, physicians and medicine.
Ernie Boszhardt is an archaeologist who shares about his journey becoming an archaeologist and stories about local human history he's learned through his work. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
In an oral history, Ernie Cate discusses his early family life near Brainerd, his elementary schooling, being in the service during World War I, and working with Indians in his business.
Ernie Fliegel was born in Barlad, Romania, in 1904 and came to the United States in 1910 with his grandmother, mother, brother and sister. (His father was also in this country but had little contact with the family). His mother worked in a New York sweatshop to earn money for their trip to Minneapolis. Fliegel sold newspapers by age seven and later became a professional boxer. He was a contender for the featherweight championship before an eye injury forced him to retire in 1927. He became a fight promoter, traveled with Jack Dempsey and became an owner, with his friend Max Winter, of the 620 Club on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. He married his wife Eileen in about 1925, and they have one son, Richard. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: His childhood in Romania and Minneapolis - extreme poverty - selling newspapers, including a 1916 strike by newsboys - his amateur and professional boxing career - the 1930s Depression - bootlegging - the 620 Club - the truckers' strike of 1934 - and education. COMMENTS ON INTERVIEW: Fliegel bar mitzvahed with Edward P. Schwartz, who was also interviewed for this oral history project.
Esiquia Monita was born in Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1902. In 1906 she crossed the border to El Paso, Texas, with her mother. She grew up in Kansas, working in beet fields. She married once in Kansas and moved with her husband to Chicago. She married again while in Chicago and came to St. Paul with her second husband. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Family history - early Mexican settlers in St. Paul - harvesting beets and corn in Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota - her husband's occupations - and food. COMMENTS ON INTERVIEW: In Spanish, transcribed into English. Part of the tape is garbled and difficult to understand.
