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1. Interview with Lucy Nibbe (1911-2005), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Nibbe, Lucy (Mickow), 1911-2005
Description:
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.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

2. History of Wabasha County, Minnesota Snowmobile Trails

Creator:
Howatt, Marvin, 1941-
Description:
Marvin Howatt (1941-), of the Cliff and Coulee Climbers Club, presents the history of snowmobiling in Lake City and Wabasha County, Minnesota. Marvin also discusses snowmobile registration, grant-in-aid funding, trail building, landowner permits, landowner liability, trail signage, trail maintenance, and trail maps.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

3. Excursion Boats in Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Carlson, Roy, 1886-1992
Description:
Roy Carlson (1886-1992) discusses excursion boats in Lake City, Minnesota. He and the audience also discuss storms, using the boats for commuting and dancing, and the fires at Gillett & Eaton. A man name Otto mentions immigrating from Germany.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

4. Interview with Roy C. Carlson (1886-1992), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Carlson, Roy C., 1886-1992
Description:
Roy C. Carlson (1886-1992) discusses his wallpaper and painting business in Lake City, Minnesota. Roy also discusses World War I.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

5. Interview with Arleigh Schafer (1905-1993), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Schafer, Arleigh 1905-1993
Description:
Arleigh Schafer (1905-1993) discusses the history of Lakewood Cemetery in Lake City, Minnesota. He also discusses his early life and career in banking and insurance, the Lake City Citizens Bank, the Great Depression, other cemeteries in Lake City, and being secretary of the Lakewood Cemetery Association starting in 1950.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

6. Clamming and the Manufacture of Pearl Buttons in Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Howatt, Henrietta 1917-2003
Description:
Henrietta Howatt (1917-2003) discusses clamming on Lake Pepin, and the pearl button manufacturing business. At one time there were two factories in Lake City, Minnesota where buttons were cut from Lake Pepin shells.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

7. Harbor and Fishing Pontoon at Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Simons, Ben, 1912-1995
Description:
Bernard "Ben" Simons (1912-1995) discusses the fishing barge at Lake City, Minnesota. He also discusses being the Lake City harbormaster, replacing the fishing barge, excursion boats, recent development of Lake City, the ice skating rink, Vietnamese fishers, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's visit to Lake City.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

8. Interview with Hattie Brown (1900-2003), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Brown, Hattie (Gross) 1900-2003
Description:
Hattie (Gross) Brown (1900-2003) discusses clamming on Lake Pepin and in Lake City, Minnesota during the 1920s and 1930s. She also discusses immigrating from Austria, her early life, the Depression, and her family's homes. She also discusses competition among clammers, types of clams, the cultured pearl industry, pearl button factories, and selling pearls.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

9. Interview with Blaine Baesler (1920-2015), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Baesler, Blaine, 1920-2015
Description:
Blaine Baesler (1920-2015), a three-sport player in high school, including making All Conference as a football player, discusses growing up and playing football, basketball, and baseball in Lake City, Minnesota, and ice boating on Lake Pepin. He also discusses how his father, a harness maker, helped Ralph Samuelson, the inventor of waterskiing, experiment with making straps for water skis.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

10. Elmer Holstrom (1882-1973) and Boat Building at Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Bremer, Patricia, 1936-2023
Description:
Patricia "Pat" Bremer (1936-2023) discusses Elmer Holstrom (1882-1973), his family history and boat building at Lake City, Minnesota on Lake Pepin.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

11. Interview with Alice Grannis Murdoch (1894-1988), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Murdoch, Alice (Grannis), 1894-1988
Description:
Alice Grannis Murdoch (1894-1988) of Lake City, Minnesota discusses her interest in researching local history, her collection of Native American artifacts, and her teaching career.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

12. Dentistry in Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Campion, Robert, 1923-2017
Description:
Dr. Robert Campion (1923-2017) discusses dentistry in Lake City, Minnesota. He also discusses his business partnership with his father, Dr. Martin Campion (1895-1983), advances in dentistry materials and tools, his family's homes in Lake City, the World War I draft, Dr. Will Mayo, and anecdotes from the end of his father's life.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

13. Interview with Warren R. Peterson (1909-1991), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Peterson, Warren R., 1909-1991
Description:
Warren R. Peterson [1909-1991] discusses his family's businesses in Lake City, Minnesota including Peterson Grocery, Peterson-Sheehan Funeral Home, and the Lake City Opera House. He also discusses entertainment in Lake City, Prohibition, Zero King Coat Factory, B. W. Harris, and Munsingwear.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

14. History of the Foundry at Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Wallace, Robert ""Bob"", 1923-2007
Description:
Robert "Bob" Wallace (1923-2007) presents the history of the foundry in Lake City, Minnesota including its many name changes from H. Gillett and Sons to Gillett & Eaton and eventually to AE Goetz.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

15. Interview with Donald Karow (1905-1990), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Karow, Donald, 1905-1990
Description:
Former school superintendent Donald Karow (1905-1990) discusses the history of schools in Lake City and Wabasha County, including the effort to consolidate the rural schools into the Lake City school district. He talks about school buildings, class sizes, school curriculum, extracurricular activities, and community support for the schools.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

16. Interview with Jim Stubstad (1922-2011), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Stubstad, Jim, 1922-2011
Description:
Jim Stubstad (1922-2011) describes the development of Central Point in Lake City, and his life on Lake Pepin. He discusses his career in the US Navy and in rocket science, and boating, ice boating, boat building, sailing, and climbing Maiden Rock at Lake Pepin. He mentions the Sea Wing Disaster, water pollution, Zump Adolph's popcorn stand, the Old Goats Club, and renovation of the Lake City State Bank clock.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

17. Interview with Ray Steffenhagen (1920-2008), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Steffenhagen, Reynold "Ray" 1920-2008
Description:
Reynold "Ray" Steffenhagen (1920-2008) of Lake City, Minnesota discusses working in the family business of Sugar Loaf Dairy, Guernsey cows, pasteurizing and bottling milk, working for the Lake City Post Office, and being drafted into the army during World War II.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

18. Interview with Ellen Jackson (1900-1989), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Jackson, Ellen (Carlson), 1900-1989
Description:
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.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

19. Interview with Mary Nihart (1893-1990), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Nihart, Mary, 1893-1990
Description:
Mary Nihart (1893-1990) discusses businesses in downtown Lake City, Minnesota. She also discusses traveling across the ice from Stockholm, Wisconsin to Lake City, working in a chicken processing plant, using ice boxes, making homemade ice cream, and the Great Influenza pandemic of 1918.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

20. Interview with Roy M. Nordine (1904-1989), Lake City, Minnesota

Creator:
Nordine, Roy M., 1904-1989
Description:
Roy M. Nordine (1904-1989) discusses his career working at the Jewell Nursery Company in Lake City, Minnesota, the Davey Tree Expert Company in the eastern United States, and at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. He discusses his collaboration with the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on cold-hardy plants, and the impact of tree pests such as Dutch elm disease.
Contributing Institution:
Lake City Historical Society
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

21. Interview with Clem Miller, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
Miller, Clem
Date Created:
1992-07-23
Description:
Clem Miller was born on May 5, 1922 in Duluth, MN. He joined the Minnesota National Guard in 1939 and was inducted into the Army in 1941. He and his unit, the 125th Field Artillery in the 34th Infantry Division, were sent to the European theater, and he saw action in North Africa and Italy. Miller directed artillery fire on the battlefield as a surveyor had a wide variety of combat experiences including artillery barrages, air raids, sniper fire, minefields, and friendly fire. In North Africa he patrolled the battlefield after the Allied victory and guarded POWs. In Italy, he served with the 100th Infantry Division and the 92nd Infantry (segregated units of Japanese Americans and African Americans, respectively). Throughout the interview, Miller gave his opinions on the quality of American troops as well as the German and Italian soldiers, their respective armaments, and the civilians he encountered. Miller wrote about his military experiences in a book entitled Some Things You Never Forget. He died on August 27, 2008 in Hermantown, MN.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

22. Interview with Chester Judd, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
Judd, Chester
Date Created:
1992-11-12
Description:
Chester Judd was born on Apr 2, 1916 and served as a first lieutenant in the Air Force during World War II. . He was stationed in England from September 1944 to late 1945 and was a B-17 copilot on 35 missions. Judd described camp life, including food and lodging, and explains how the planes were organized for actual missions. He described several combat experiences and how pilots and crew dealt with the strain, particularly flying his final mission. He returned to the United States and flew C-47 cargo planes to transport wounded veterans to hospitals across the country. After the war he became a farmer. He died on November 15, 1995.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

23. Interview with William "Bill" Weaver, Regional Oral History Project, Fargo, North Dakota

Creator:
Weaver, William "Bill"
Description:
Bill Weaver discusses his career as a local radio and television personality with WDAY in Fargo from 1953 to 1964. He describes the early days of television, and his activities as a sportscaster and talk show host. Mr. Weaver also discusses his political and business careers and his military service in the US Air Force during World War II.
Contributing Institution:
Heritage Education Commission
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

24. Interview with Wilbur D. Mortenson, Regional Oral History Project, Moorhead, Minnesota

Creator:
Mortenson, Wilbur D.
Description:
Wilbur Mortenson is a Moorhead native and a veteran of WW II. He has worked in the Moorhead Post Office and has been a member of the American Legion since 1946 and served in a variety of offices including Commander and Adjutant. Mr. Mortenson tells of the very beginnings of the Legion formed in 1919. He describes how the Legion clubs are organized into local posts, state departments, and on a national level. The goals and purposes of the Legion are also discussed.
Contributing Institution:
Heritage Education Commission
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

25. Interview with Helen Peterson, Regional Oral History Project, Moorhead, Minnesota

Creator:
Peterson, Helen
Description:
Helen Peterson was born in Kenmare, ND on April 24, 1904. Mrs. Peterson and her husband Wayne owned the Moorhead Daily News from 1930 to 1944. She discusses various features of the paper and how the business has changed over the years.
Contributing Institution:
Heritage Education Commission
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

26. Interview with Gertrude Saxman, Regional Oral History Project, Moorhead, Minnesota

Creator:
Saxman, Gertrude
Description:
Gertrude Saxman lived on a farm near Georgetown, Minnesota. Dr. Saxman discusses her experiences in medicine and her medical practice in Ulen, MN from 1960-1983.
Contributing Institution:
Heritage Education Commission
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

27. Interview with Alice Polikowsky, Regional Oral History Project, Moorhead, Minnesota

Creator:
Polikowsky, Alice
Description:
Alice Polikawsky was born in 1904 in Moland township. In 1951, she joined the Moorhead Daily News Staff as their first full-time alumni director. From 1957-58, she was instructor of Home Economics at Concordia and became chairman of that department until her retirement in Nov. 1974. Mrs. Polikowsky discusses her education and teaching experiences in home economics.
Contributing Institution:
Heritage Education Commission
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

28. Interview with William M. Jones, Regional Oral History Project, Moorhead, Minnesota

Creator:
Jones, William M.
Description:
William Jones' career was as an educator. He first taught in Thief River Falls. He conducted the band there. He had various jobs in other towns until they came to Moorhead in 1972. He is presently the Academic Vice-President of Moorhead State University and his wife is director of External Studies also at MSU. They both are planning to retire at the end of the 1984-1985 school year.
Contributing Institution:
Heritage Education Commission
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

29. Interview with George J. Benson (1898-1982), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1981-01-21
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on January 21, 1981, George Benson described his family background. Born in 1898 in St. Cloud, Benson's parents immigrated to the United States in the late 1880s from Sweden. His father worked as a blacksmith in the St. Cloud quarries, while his mother worked as a maid for the Alice and Albert Whitney family. Benson discussed his relationships with several teachers as well as his participation in and recollection of extracurricular activities. He graduated from the St. Cloud State in 1920. Benson had short-lived teaching experiences in both North and South Dakota before receiving his B.S. from Bradley University in Illinois. He then moved to the Panama Canal Zone to teach for five years, where he and his wife started a family. Benson discussed his time in Atlanta, where he received his Master's Degree and taught for 25 years in the same room. Later Benson described his return to St. Cloud, as well as the education of his two sons, who also attended St. Cloud State University.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

30. Interview with Robert Coard (1921-2001), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1990-05-21
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Archivist Jerry Westby on May 21, 1990, Robert Coard discussed his educational background. He detailed his college and graduate educational background at the undergraduate and graduate level. Before arriving at St. Cloud State in 1960, Coard described his various teaching experiences, and explanations for why he chose to move on. After five years at the Minot State Teacher's College in Minot, North Dakota, he taught for three years at the University of Alabama, but grew ever more uncomfortable with the tense racial situation and integration. Needing a more stable work environment, Coard accepted a position at St. Cloud State. Coard described his time at St. Cloud State and the changes that occurred on campus. He said that there was no English department when he first arrived, and discussed the power George Budd had in expanding the curriculum and faculty. He also described the physical changes undergone by the campus. Coard briefly described what the campus looked like when he arrived and then what changed. He also mentioned Fifth Avenue South, where he lived for 30 years, and how it really went from a peaceful residential area to what he terms an area in ""shambles."" Coard explained his ideas about students at St. Cloud State University, and how they have changed. He claimed that the university used to be much stricter with students, taking attendance and sending grades to parents if the student was under the age of 21. Overall, he felt his work with these students was a positive experience. Coard retired in 1990.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

31. Interview with Ludmila (Mil) Voelker (?- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1990-06-11
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Archivist Jerry Westby on June 11, 1990, Ludmila (Mil) Voelker discussed her background. She was born in Dodge, Nebraska in the 1920s. Her father emigrated from Czechoslovakia, settling in Nebraska and later South Dakota, where he lost his farm during the Depression. The family eventually moved to Litchfield, Minnesota. Voelker attended the College of Saint Benedict, where she received her Bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in speech and philosophy. She then taught English for three years in Holdingford, Minnesota, until 1954 when her future husband Fran, returned from Korea. They married that December, and for the next 10 years Ludmila stayed home to raise their five children. In 1965, she began working part-time at St. Cloud State while also beginning work on her Master's degree. She eventually began teaching full-time at the St. Cloud State. Voelker worked as teaching assistant while pursuing her master's degree, but because of the surge in enrollment, had to take on more freshman composition classes than originally planned. Voelker discussed how important it was for faculty to be involved in other activities besides teaching. This led to her involvement with the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO), as well as the publication of a book on Mass Media with her husband Fran. Voelker talked about the changes undergone by the university as well as the impact of some important national events, such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Voelker chronicled the highs and lows of her career at St. Cloud, claiming that being selected as the university's affirmative action officer was a great high, while getting burnt out on teaching was her low. She then discussed the rise in percentage of women professors on campus as a result of affirmative action, and her feelings on that subject in general. Finally, she offered some thoughts on the progress St. Cloud State University has made, calling it a wonderful institution, but also suggested some areas for improvement.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

32. Interview with Alan Phillips (?- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-05-14
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on May 14, 1982, Alan Phillips provided a brief account of his educational career. Phillips received his undergraduate degree from Knox College in Illinois. Phillips attended the University of Chicago Divinity School for a year before dropping out and joining the army for two years. He then went to Michigan State where he got his master's and doctorate degrees in philosophy. He taught for one year at West Virginia University, and came to St. Cloud State in September 1966. Phillips chronicled how he became involved with the Faculty Association and collective bargaining. He devoted a great deal of time to discussing the election of 1975, a process he calls very difficult. Phillips discussed his opinions on the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO) joining forces with the Minnesota Education Association (MEA), as well as what he considers to be the biggest differences between the IFO and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). He talked about the strengths and weaknesses of the AAUP and what may have cost it the election. Phillips talked about the effects of the IFO/MEA's victory and how successful collective bargaining in general was for St. Cloud State faculty. He was reluctant to join the IFO after the AAUP was defeated. Phillips believed that more people should be able to join voluntarily, believing that forced membership was not as effective. He believed that collective bargaining was good economically for the faculty, but not been great for local decision-making. Phillips discussed his involvement on the IFO's Academic Affairs Committee. To end, he offered some suggestions for improving the IFO and current collective bargaining situation at St. Cloud State.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

33. Interview with Herb Goodrich (1926-2006), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1990-05-15
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Archivist Jerry Westby on May 15, 1990, Herb Goodrich explained his family and educational history. He was born in Manhattan, and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His father emigrated from Russia, while his mother was from Poland. Goodrich attended the City College of New York, where he received his bachelor's degree in Education. Goodrich then went to Penn State, where he received his master's degree and then earned his doctorate in Mass Communications from the University of Illinois. He highlighted his upbringing in the very urban Brooklyn, New York, and the vast differences between that world and St. Cloud, Minnesota. Goodrich arrived at St. Cloud State in 1964. He discussed his first years at St. Cloud State, comparing them with the university in 1990. For instance, he talked about how the huge growth in student population was accompanied by a failure of the state of Minnesota to provide sufficient funds and resources to deal with that growth. He claimed that the growth contributed to a decline in familiarity and personal connections among staff, as well as a greater focus on publishing rather than the classroom. Goodrich described how the students themselves changed during his time at St. Cloud State. He claimed that when he arrived in the 1960s, students were very demanding and not afraid to question what was being taught. In 1990, he felt that students were much quieter, and that there had been somewhat of a withdrawal from active learning. Goodrich discussed the St. Cloud State's perception as a ""party"" school, and how that has affected both students and faculty. Goodrich discussed the relationship between the university and the community of St. Cloud. Here he felt his ideas about universities was often seen as a threat to a conservative community, and how St. Cloud State fit into that idea. Goodrich discussed the highs and lows he experienced as a teacher, and how both relate to his impact, or lack thereof, on his students. Overall, he gave an insightful analysis of how the school changed, both on a large scale, and on a smaller scale by discussing changes within his own department, and credited the university for 26 years of wonderful academic and teaching experience. Goodrich retired in 1990.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

34. Interview with William Whitaker (1910-?), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-05-29
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on May 29, 1982, William Whitaker described his family history and educational background. He was born on September 26, 1910, in Rockville, Minnesota. His father worked for the granite industry in Wisconsin, St. Paul, and then Rockville. Whitaker graduated from St. Cloud Technical (Tech) High School in 1927. He knew he wanted to be a teacher, with a long-term goal of becoming a college professor, so he immediately began taking classes at St. Cloud State. Before he graduated, he took a year off to teach in Wabun, Minnesota, before returning to the university to finish his education. Whitaker talked about his time off from his undergraduate work to tour with a Chautauqua group, and later to teach in Wabun, Minnesota, near Detroit Lakes. Whitaker described his time at St. Cloud State. He claimed that the majority of students at the time he attended were from small towns and farming families. He mentioned George Selke's great oratorical ability and the success it had at bringing many young people from the Iron Range to the university. Whitaker said he had to work to put himself through school, even holding three jobs at one time. He also discussed his impression of the relationship between the city of St. Cloud and the college. Whitaker also remembers some of the professors he worked with, including St. Cloud State president George Selke and Evelyn Pribble. Whitaker talked more about his work and education experiences after graduating from St. Cloud State in 1932. He discussed that the Depression made it very difficult to find work, and was the reason why he went to Brooklyn for a few years before finding a teaching job back in Minnesota. Whitaker also discussed his time in the Navy, which led him to serve in both World War II and the Korean War. Whitaker described some of his travels, including time spent in Singapore, as well some of the duties he had as an officer in the Navy.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

35. Interview with L. Ruth Cadwell (1897-1987), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1981-10-23
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on October 23, 1981, L. (Lucy) Ruth Cadwell chronicled her family background, including a brief history of how her family came from Ireland and Massachusetts to Iowa. She was born on December 4, 1897, in Boone, Iowa. After receiving some teacher education at her high school, Cadwell decided to pursue teaching as a career. She attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, earning a bachelor's degree in 1923. She taught for a few months in Oxford, Ohio, before finding a position teaching geography and supervising students at St. Cloud State in 1924. Cadwell discussed her time at St. Cloud State, which began in 1924. Cadwell addressed what some of the faculty were like, including Albertina Anderson, and also mentioned many changes the university and the city of St. Cloud endured during her 42 years working there. Cadwell discussed World War I and II, the Dust Bowl, and the Depression, stating that her salary was cut during that time. She also mentioned her work with the Army Air Corp during World War II. In addition, she explained her impression of students she worked with throughout her long career, including her attempts to create more social activities for them, along with her ideas about how the community of St. Cloud interacted with the college. After retirement in 1966, Cadwell taught Adult Basic Education courses, while also helping assemble "The Centennial History," a nine volume collection detailing the history of St. Cloud State University. Cadwell received several civic awards for her work in the community, especially her work teaching adults how to read and write.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

36. Interview with Marie Petit Hinkle (1887-?), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1981-07-24
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on July 24, 1981, Marie Petit Hinkle described her early education and family. She was born on September 10, 1887, in Verndale, Minnesota. Her parents came to Minnesota in 1880 from Iowa and her father worked on the grain elevator in Verndale his entire life. Hinkle also mentions that Verndale High School, which she attended, was not accredited, so she had to make up some science classes when she went to St. Cloud State. Hinkle arrived at St. Cloud State in 1906 and graduated the next year. She discussed some of the teachers she remembers, such as Isabel Lawrence and Jason Keppel. Hinkle mentioned social activities, such as playing cards with Mrs. Shoemaker, Waite Shoemaker's wife. She also played basketball, and attended parties in Lawrence Hall. Hinkle discussed her life after graduating from St. Cloud State. She taught for a couple of years, including in Pine River, Minnesota, and later in Verndale, before getting married in 1912 and having a family. She talked of her volunteer work, as well as the many moves she and her family made, from Fargo to Minneapolis and finally to Detroit Lakes. Hinkle believed that the St. Cloud State prepared her wonderfully for teaching in the real world.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

37. Interview with Francis (Fran) Voelker (1931-2012), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-03-30
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on March 30, 1982, Francis (Fran) Voelker gave a brief history of his education and background. Fran was born in Thorp, Wisconsin. He went to St. John's University, then entered the military for a few years. When he got out of the service in 1955, he accepted a job teaching high school English in Foley, Minnesota, where he stayed for four years. During that time, he pursued his master's degree, which he received in 1959. Voelker discussed his experience with the Faculty Association and collective bargaining in general. Voelker chronicled his early experiences with the Minnesota Education Association (MEA) in Foley, as well as the motivations of St. Cloud State faculty to actively pursue collective bargaining. Voelker believed that many faculty members felt that salaries were bad and their voices were not heard, so frustration began to build until they decided to do something about it. Voelker said the reasons to join the MEA was good, claiming that they had a good training program and a professionalism that really helped the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO). Voelker focused on the election in 1975 and said that even if the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) won the election, he would have joined, as most faculty simply wanted some form of representation. Voelker discussed the work he did with the IFO after the election, including lobbying during state legislature to get funding and meet negotiation deadlines. Voelker believed that collective bargaining was very successful in defining roles. He said the adversary relationship that resulted between administration and faculty was unfortunate, but did not have to be a result of collective bargaining. It was something he hoped would be amended in the future.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

38. Interview with Inez Kronenberg (1937- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1989-05-05
Description:
In an oral history conducted by Robert Nelson on May 5, 1989, Inez Kronenberg described her family history and early life. She was born in 1937 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Her family had a farm in St. Augusta, Minnesota, where they had been since the 1850s. Her family farmed until her father lost an arm in an accident, after which he became an auctioneer. Her mother died when she was 12. Kronenberg addressed the reasons she chose to begin working after high school rather than attend college. She claimed that despite the fact that she had a scholarship, she did not feel prepared, or confident enough, to attend college. When she obtained a clerical job at St. Cloud State in 1955, she was very proud of that accomplishment. Kronenberg discussed that she slowly attended classes while she worked, and was able to eventually obtain an associate degree in 1974 and a bachelor's degree in 1979. Kronenberg discussed on her work at St. Cloud State, her responsibilities in the academic dean's office, where she spent the majority of her career, along with her reasons for eventually leaving that position. She described the many moves within St. Cloud State that she made, including stints in the library, International Studies, and Career Planning and Placement, which were largely due to personal reasons. Kronenberg chronicled her involvement with the union of ""classified"" employees, the Local 753, Council 6. She mentioned her role in the statewide strike of 1981, and the fact that she was in charge of putting out the newsletter. She believed that there needed to be more uniformity in terms of pay, and felt that the strike was successful in getting closer to that goal. Kronenberg described her impressions of how students, governance, and other aspects of the university have changed during her time spent working for the institution. She discussed veterans, both from the Korean and Vietnam wars, and her thoughts on how they adapted to college life. Kronenberg talked about the idea that the easy availability of financial aid has made students, to some extent, less hardworking and focused. However, she also credited current students with being more confident and aware of what was going on in the world. She also discussed the drinking habits of students, along with her ideas about international students, non-traditional students, and racial tension on campus. Kronenberg explained the ways in which she believes the relationship between the university and the city of St. Cloud has been strengthened in more recent years.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

39. Interview with Carl J. Buckman (1897-1988), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1981-04-28
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 28, 1981, Carl Buckman discussed his parents and their years working at the St. Cloud State Normal School. Buckman detailed his father John's work as Superintendent of Building and Grounds, as well as information about many of the school presidents and teachers, such as President Waite Shoemaker, who were influential to the school and the city. He also chronicled his schooling, which was interrupted both by the necessity to work as well as a stint in the Navy during World War I. In addition, Buckman provided insight into school teachers, such as Albertina Anderson and Darius Steward, personalities, teaching styles, and anecdotes. He touched on extracurricular activities at the Normal School, from sports (mainly football) to the drama club, of which he was a part. In addition, he discussed the relationship between the school and the St. Cloud community, claiming the school was the lifeline of the city. Buckman graduated in 1922. After graduation in 1922, Buckman detailed his teaching and educational experiences. He taught 20 years at South and Edison High Schools in Minneapolis before he and his wife Benita moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he stumbled upon a teaching position at the University of Arizona. He also discussed the effectiveness of the teachers at Normal School in preparing him and other students for the future, especially in terms of disciplinary matters. After 14 years in Arizona, Buckman returned to Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

40. Interview with William Nunn (1922- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1989-05-11
Description:
In an oral history conducted by Robert Nelson on May 5, 1989, William Nunn described his educational background, with some focus on his family background, too. Nunn was born in 1922 in Paris, Texas. Nunn graduated from Bonham High School in 1940, then attended Northern Texas State University in Denton, Texas. He said his father was a very successful attorney in Texas, which initially inspired him to pursue law in college. However, he chronicled how his experiences in the Army during World War II led him to change his path to instead pursue teaching. Nunn talked about how he decided to pursue his master's degree in Political Science, which led him to gain experience teaching in different lab schools around the country. Nunn started at St. Cloud State in 1954. His job was to supervise student teachers. He described the state that the program was in when he arrived and how several other professors who were involved with it, including Bill Cotton and John Talbot. Nunn claimed he had success in opening districts in Milaca, Paynesville, and other areas to student teachers from St. Cloud. Nunn described his experience in the History department, as well as his time as head of the legislative committee and as Faculty Association president from 1965 to 1967. Nunn believed that the increased departmentalization at the college, which accompanied its rapid growth, has hurt the institution in many ways. Nunn expressed his view of how St. Cloud State changed since 1954 when Nunn arrived. He discussed some major events that impacted the school, such as the unrest that occurred during the Vietnam War. He claimed that St. Cloud State always had an image problem that it was not a good school and its label as a party school was misleading. Nunn claimed that St. Cloud State never really been able to get a good feel of the community, that the two never really got to know each other. Finally, Nunn described his efforts at establishing the tri-college East Asian Studies Program and his several trips to Japan.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

41. Interview with L. Ferne Goble Atwood (1895-1995), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1980-04-11
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 11, 1980, L. Ferne Goble Atwood discussed her family background. Born in 1895 in Illinois, where she was raised, Atwood attended Miami University in Ohio. Here she received her bachelor's degree in History, English, and Home Economics. In 1919, St. Cloud State president Joseph Brown brought her to the university to teach. Atwood described in detail her marriage to Allen Atwood in 1923, a local lawyer, as well as the close relationship she had with his family, who were very prominent in St. Cloud. The Atwoods also formed friendships with many St. Cloud State presidents, like George Budd, as well as other important figures, like Wheelock Whitney. Atwood and her husband's family were very involved with St. Cloud University, donating money as well as their old homes. Atwood voiced her opinions on the changes the University underwent before and after World War II, particularly her views on the decision to tear down the Old Main Building in order to make room for Stewart Hall. Atwood claimed that other than business interests, St. Cloud State University was a chief concern of the Atwoods.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

42. Interview with Ludmila (Mil) Voelker (?- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-04-01
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 1, 1982, Ludmila (Mil) Voelker discussed her background. Mil was born in Dodge, Nebraska, in the 1920s. Her father emigrated from Czechoslovakia, settling in Nebraska and later South Dakota, where he lost his farm during the Depression. The family eventually moved to Litchfield, Minnesota. Voelker attended the College of Saint Benedict, where she received her Bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in speech and philosophy. She then taught English for three years in Holdingford, Minnesota, until 1954 when her future husband Fran, returned from Korea. They married that December, and for the next 10 years Ludmila stayed home to raise their five children. In 1965, she began working part-time at St. Cloud State while also beginning work on her master's degree. She eventually began teaching full-time at the St. Cloud State. Voelker focused on her involvement in collective bargaining at St. Cloud State, and her support for the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO) and Minnesota Education Association (MEA). Voelker explained why she became involved with collective bargaining at St. Cloud State. She believed that partnering with the MEA was a good move, as it was the strongest political unit available to them at the time. Voelker discussed her time as president and some of the activities she was involved in. Voelker chronicled her time as IFO president, and the importance of a woman being in a position of power at a time when such a thing was not very common. She claimed that the campus needed an articulate woman to show that women were capable of holding authority. Voelker discussed what she did after holding that presidency, including being the president of the Minnesota Council of Teachers, which she held before taking a year of sabbatical and beginning work on a degree in Theology. Finally, she expressed her feelings on whether or not collective bargaining on campus was a success. She felt that the tension it has created between administration and faculty is unnecessary, and that work needed to be done to build trust between the two.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

43. Interview with Tom Wadhams (1922-2007) and Jeanne Wadhams (?-2006), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-04-17
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 17, 1982, Tom and Jeanne Wadhams each gave a brief family history. Jeanne (Verby) Wadhams was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. After she graduated from Johnson High School in St. Paul, she worked for a couple years before joining the military. She left the service in 1946 attended St. Cloud State to become a physical education teacher. Tom attended Riverview Elementary and then graduated from Tech High School in St. Cloud. He attended St. Cloud State from 1940-1941 before serving in World War II. Tom discussed going to the Campus Lab School at Riverview, and named several of his teachers. After World War II, he returned to St. Cloud State. Jeanne discussed putting off college until after she served in the military, thus making her an older than average student when she began at St. Cloud. The two married as sophomores. They described their time at St. Cloud State. Tom was very involved with athletics, detailing St. Cloud State athletics in the late 1940s, particularly football and basketball. They also discuss some of their favorite teachers, including Marie Case, Helen Hill, and Clair Dagget. Tom and Jeanne talked about their experience being married and living on campus in a house Jeanne's parents owned and also rented out to students. Jeanne described the ""espirit de corps"" among students and faculty when they first attended, but as the college grew, that familiarity faded. Jeanne was a member of the Athenaeum Literary Society, but quit because of the attitude of many of the members. They also belonged to the Married Couples Club. Tom and Jeanne talked about the relationship between the university and the city of St. Cloud, which they perceived as two separate entities that did not interact frequently. Both graduated in 1949. Tom and Jeanne discussed their life after leaving St. Cloud State. They described their year teaching in Little Fork, as well as how well they believed St. Cloud prepared them for their careers. Jeanne believed that the student teaching experience did not meet her expectations, while Tom felt his training in Business and his time coaching prepared him very well for his 32-year-career at Honeywell. They also discussed being veterans at St. Cloud State, and what it was like for veterans attending college.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

44. Interview with John Derus (1940- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-04-21
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 21, 1982, John Derus explained his family and educational background. Derus was born in 1940 in northeast Minneapolis. His family lived in the area for five generations, though they were originally of Irish, German, and French ancestry. After graduating from DaLaSalle High School, then the University of Minnesota on a football scholarship for a year before quitting in order to work to make money for his family. His father, along with one of his sisters, died in a plane crash, leaving the family financially strained. Derus mentioned his reasons for choosing to attend St. Cloud State University. He explained the good things he heard about St. Cloud, as well as his desire to work with children and help those who were in trouble. Derus chronicled his time in St. Cloud, attending classes when he could but also working more than full-time, both at the St. Cloud Children's Home and as a bartender. He discussed his favorite teachers, such as Herb Goodrich and Henry Goehring. In addition, Derus mentioned that he enjoyed the smaller class sizes, as compared with those at the University of Minnesota. A interesting aspect of the interview focused on Derus's description of the culture for young people in St. Cloud at the time, including living arrangements, and what he called a subculture of ""workies,"" college students who were forced to work in order to put themselves through college. Derus described his involvement in extracurricular activities at St. Cloud State, including one play and intramural sports as well as campus politics. He graduated from St. Cloud State in 1967 with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. He also addressed his post-graduate experiences, including his work with the Peace Corps in India, where he taught English for two years. Upon his return from India, he decided to get involved in politics, landing a position with Hubert Humphrey. He was elected as alderman of the 4th Ward in Minneapolis and later as Hennepin County Commissioner in 1974. Derus detailed the way that the community of St. Cloud and the University helped him get his life on track at a time when it was not going well at all.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

45. Interview with Eugene Perkins (1921-2004) and Lorraine Perkins (?- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-04-02
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 2, 1982, Eugene and Lorraine Perkins discussed their family history, as well as their reasons for attending St. Cloud State. Lorraine chronicled the long history her family had with the St. Cloud State, as her grandfather attended the Normal School and roomed with Waite Shoemaker. Many of her aunts and several other relatives also attended the university. Eugene mentioned they lived close to the university and his dad worked with there. Lorraine said she wanted to go to Carleton College to become a writer. But the Depression prevented her from doing so, as Carleton College was expensive. So, she decided to become an English teacher. Eugene also discussed his time in World War II, which interrupted his college studies. Lorraine arrived at St. Cloud State in 1938, while Eugene first attended in 1939. They met in 1939. Lorraine talked about her varying living situations, including a year in Shoemaker Hall. Eugene also discussed the GI Bill, which of course brought many veterans to the school. Eugene described his time at the Eastman House, which was housing for returning GIs. Both Eugene and Lorraine oversaw and lived for a time in Eastman House. Lorraine and Eugene also described some of the extracurricular activities on campus, such as literary societies, sports, and different clubs such as the photo club, which Eugene belonged to. Lorraine and Eugene chronicled their experiences after leaving St. Cloud. Lorraine talked about being hired in Hayward, Minnesota, before being married, then being told to return her contract, as they did not hire married teachers. She gave up teaching for 20 years to raise her family. Eugene talked about the path that led him to pursue counseling; he taught in Paynesville, Minnesota, for three years while taking graduate classes at the University of Minnesota, with a focus on guidance and counseling. After receiving his master's degree, he went to Cincinnati, where he worked as a counselor and a school psychologist. He returned to St. Cloud State in 1958, eventually receiving his doctorate from University of Northern Colorado. Lorraine wanted to return to school, receiving a master's degree in 1967. She chronicled the establishment in 1968 and her work in the Writing Skills Center, which she believed was the only place for some students, especially foreign students, to get help. They described their support of international students. Finally, they expressed their approval of the vast physical changes undergone by St. Cloud State in the 1960s and 1970s, resulting in a beautiful campus.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

46. Interview with Justin Swenson, Regional Oral History Project, Elbow Lake, Minnesota

Creator:
Swenson, Justin
Description:
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.
Contributing Institution:
Heritage Education Commission
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

47. Interview with Dean Aarvig, World War II Veterans Collection, St. Cloud State University, Willmar, Minnesota

Creator:
Aarvig, Dean, 1920-1998
Date Created:
1989-07-19
Description:
This was an interview conducted on July 19, 1989 by David Overy. Dean H. Aarvig was born on October 15, 1920 in Wilmar, Minnesota. He graduated from high school in 1937 and was drafted into the Army in 1942. After completing basic training, Aarvig went to Officer Candidate School (OCS) and joined the 9th Armored Division in France as a platoon leader that conducted intelligence & reconnaissance missions. During his service, Aarvig participated in the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Remagen. After the wars end, Aarvig returned to Minnesota, where he and his wife ran a newspaper in Grand Meadow, as well as farmed. In November of 1950, Aarvig was recalled into the service and served with the 25th Infantry Division as a Company Commander in Korea. He talked about his thoughts on those in Vietnam burning their draft cards and going to Canada. Aarvig was married and had two children. He passed away on July 2, 1998.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

48. Andrew Lindgren's Photograph Album, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
Lindgren, Andrew
Date Created:
1906-1909
Description:
Minnesotan Andrew Lindgren, who graduated from St. Cloud State in 1901 and in 1908, created a photograph album with images that he took ca. 1906-1909. The majority of the photographs were taken of the St. Cloud State campus, the immediate area around campus, and central Minnesota. The album also includes photographs from other cities in Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, Silver Creek, Watab, Stillwater, Buffalo, Monticello, Spicer, and Verndale. The album also has photos Lindgren took of Salt Lake City, Portland (Oregon), Annapolis (Maryland), Cripple Creek (Colorado), Seattle, Denver, New Orleans, New York City, Cape Cod, and Hawaii, as well as from British Columbia and Novia Scotia in Canada and Panama.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Still Image
Format:
Photograph albums

49. Interview with Lena Senensky, United Jewish Fund and Council Oral History Project Phase 1, St. Paul, Minnesota

Creator:
Lena Senensky, 1893-1984
Date Created:
1977-07-13
Description:
Audio file of an interview with Lena Senensky conducted by Lois Devitt. The interview includes: family history in Russia and immigration to the United States; daily life on St Paul's Lower West Side; creation and early years of the Jewish Home for the Aged.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

50. Interview with Dr. Irwin Epstein, United Jewish Fund and Council Oral History Project Phase 1, St. Paul, Minnesota

Creator:
Epstein, Irwin, 1900-1986
Date Created:
1978-04-04
Description:
Audio file of an interview with Irwin Epstein conducted by Laia Berstein. The interview includes: Epstein's experiences growing up in St. Paul; schooling; religious education; and medical school.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories
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