Interviews

Search more than 1,000 interviews in more than a dozen oral history collections. Search by collection name or interviewee name.

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Orion Samuelson - Modern Era

WGN broadcaster who became the voice of agriculture for American farmers.

Anthony Sanders - Public School Funding

Superintendent of Elgin School District discusses school funding, past and present

Dr.Ted Sanders - Educational Reform Act 1985

Former Illinois State Superintendent discusses the 1985 Educational Reform Act

Mary Lee Sargent - ERA Fight in Illinois

Life-long activist for women's and LGBT rights shares memories of 1982

Lauren Sartain - Alternatives in Education

The Chicago Public School's GoCPS procedure for school selection.

Marilyn Satterwhite - Community College Project

History of Danville Area Community College from 1966 to 2013.

Gretchen Sauer - Girls Basketball

Coach for the first girl's basketball team at Downers South High School in Downers Grove, IL.

Gayle Dr. Saunders - Community College Project

President of Richland Community College discusses the school's history.

Stephen Scates - Modern Era

From youth on a livestock farm, to crop production and sweet corn, to FSA Director.

Richard Schachtsiek - IHPA legacy

IHPA Site Interpreter and Administrator

William 'Bill' Schalz - IHSA

Swim coach for the highly successful program at Rosary High School.

Henry Scheff - Pension Crisis in Illinois

AFSCME Communications Director's perspective on Illinois pension crisis

Delbert Scheider - Community College Project

History of Highland Community College from perspective of College trustee.

Scott Schertz - Modern Era

An aerial applicator discusses his long career in the industry

Roy Schilling - General Interest -Statecraft

Life-long educator and friend of descendants of Gov. Richard Oglesby

Bill Schimm - World War II

Infantry veteran with 4th Infantry Division who also worked as a clerk

Phyllis Schlafly - ERA Fight in Illinois

Life-long conservative activist and founder of the Stop-ERA movement which was credited with the defeat of the ERA Amendment in 1982

John R. Schmidt - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Legal counsel to Adlai Stevenson III during 1982 and 1986 gubernatorial elections

Jon Schmidt - Civics Education

Faculty member at Loyola University's School of Education discusses civics education

Frances Schneider - World War II

Civilian instructor of Morse code during World War II

Stephen Schnorf - Pension Crisis in Illinois

Former Budget Director for Gov. Jim Edgar & George Ryan talks about pension crisis

Stephen B. Schnorf - Governor Jim Edgar Project

Governor Edgar's director of CMS (1991-1994)

Jeff Schoenberg - School District Reorganization

IL State Senator and sponsor of a school district reorganization bill.

Bernard Schoenburg - Obama in Illinois

Political reporter and columnist with the Springfield State-Journal Register

Bernie Schoenburg - Governor Jim Edgar Project

Statehouse reporter shares his impressions of contemporary IL politics

Bernie Schoenburg - Journalists View

Statehouse reporter shares his impressions of contemporary IL poli

Rachel Schroeder - Community College Project

One of Parkland College's first employees shares the school's history.

Tom Schwartz - Historians Speak

Esteemed Lincoln scholar and former Illinois State Historian.

Paul K. Schwartzkopf - People of Faith

Lutheran minister discusses career in Missouri Synod Lutheran and later the ELCA church.

Tim Schweizer - IHSA

Acclaimed sportscaster, broadcaster and radio personality in Central Illinois.

Salvador Sciortino - World War II

Navy veteran on the USS Neville supporting the D-Day landings on Utah Beach

Cindy Scott - Girls Basketball

Former head Women's Basketball couch at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Phebe Scott - Girls Basketball

An advocate for women's athletics who worked at Illinois State University.

Michael Scully - Modern Era

Discussion regarding organic farming and a trustee of Scully farming estate.

Steffanie Seegmiller - School District Reorganization

President of the Arthur School District discusses reorganization.

Charles T. Sehe - World War II

USS Nevada crew member remembers Pearl Harbor attack and more

David Seibert - Modern Era

Discussion of being an Area Livestock Adviser and Animal Systems Educator for the U of Illinois Extension Service.

Maria Seidner - Educational Reform Act 1985

Discussion with the former Illinois State Board of Education Bilingual Director.

Representative Darlene Senger - Pension Crisis in Illinois

Republican representative from Naperville discusses her work on pension reform

Clarence Senor - Korean War

Veteran in the Navy, in the years following the integration of the services

Peggie Senor - Springfield African-American History Foundation

Minister, parent, community and church volunteer

Robert Serra - World War II

Aircraft mechanic on the USS Yorktown during battles of Coral Sea and Midway

Donald Sevener - Community College Project

Illinois's community college system history and development.

Michael Shakman - General Interest -Statecraft

Chicago lawyer who took on the city's Democratic machine

John Shaw - Civics Education

Former political reporter and executive director of the Paul Simon Institute.

Kenneth 'Buzz' Shaw - Higher Education

Former Chancellor of the Southern Illinois University (SIU) System discusses his distinguished career.

Lucille Shaw - Alternatives in Education

The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences.

Tom Shaw - Ronald Reagan In Dixon

Dixon native and the manager of the Dixon 'Telegraph' during the Reagan administration.

Dr. Susan Shea - Educational Reform Act 1985

Dr. Shea, (State Board of Education and Illinois Education Association) gives an administrator's perspective of the 1985 Educational Reform Act

Matthew Shipley - Public School Funding

Developing a Site Based Reporting Initiative to support the ESSA Act.

Craig Shirley - Ronald Reagan In Dixon

Reagan campaign staffer recalls working on Reagan presidential campaigns

Paul Shuman - Modern Era

Reflections of a life-long farmer and former Board of Director member of the IL Farm Bureau.

Anna Sielaff - Tumultuous 2020

College student and student athlete's experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sara Sielaff - Tumultuous 2020

Assistant principal of Zion Lutheran School in Lincoln, IL discusses impact of COVID-19 pandemic

Bernard Sieracki - Obama in Illinois

A lobbyist in the IL Legislature for over forty years

Bernard H Sieracki - General Interest -Statecraft

A lobbyist in the IL Legislature for over forty years and author of "A Just Cause," on the impeachment of Gov. Blagojevich

Gary Sigler - Vietnam War

RF-4 Pilot & navigator who spent six years in the Hanoi Hilton as a POW

John Silva - Civics Education

Senior Director of Education and Training for the News Literacy Project

Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon - School District Reorganization

Lt. Governor Simon's work with the Classroom First Commission.

Dick Simpson - Civics Education

Scholar on Illinois government and politics discusses civics education.

Jeanne Sims - Rochester

A life as a teacher , singer and one dedicated to Christian service

Elijah Singley - Springfield African-American History Foundation

Retired librarian, directly involved in Civil Rights demonstrations

Betty Sirles - Modern Era

Walking tour of peach packing at the Rendleman Orchards.

Wayne D. Sirles - Modern Era

Walking tour of peach packing at the Rendleman Orchards.

Spalding (Lanny) Slevin - IHSA

Legendary radio sports reporter discusses his 43 year career.

Lee Slider - Historians Speak

Cultural interpreter for the Macon County Conservation Dist..

Emmett Slingsby - Alternatives in Education

State Board of Education Deputy Director discusses recognition for non-public schools.

Nelvin Sloman - Modern Era

Life-long farmer shares memories of farming in the late 1930s and 1940s

Lynne Slouber - Girls Basketball

Former girl’s head basketball coach at Hinsdale South High School in Illinois.

Angela Smith - Public School Funding

West Aurora assistant superintendent discusses funding challenges and successes.

Chris Smith - War On Terror

Army National Guard officer's work with Iraqi police in Baghdad in 2006

Dr. J. W. Smith - IHSA

Successful football coach and former Chicago Public Schools Director of Sports Administration.

Ed Smith - Vietnam War

Army Infantryman in Korean and Vietnam Wars

Ed Smith - Korean War

Army Infantryman in Korean and Vietnam Wars

Fred Smith - Family Memories

Touring the nation's Presidential Libraries & Museums.

Hal Smith - Looking for Lincoln

Executive Director for Looking for Lincoln and the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area from 2008 thru 2010.

Hal Smith - General Interest -Statecraft

Aide to Senator Charles Percy shares his memories of Percy and Darin LaHood

Jim Smith - World War II

B-17 Bomber Pilot in WWII

Joseph Smith - World War II

Truck driver for the U.S. Marine Corps on Okinawa

Kay Smith - IHPA legacy

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Coordinator

Kay Smith - Looking for Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area’s comprehensive management plan.

Morrie Smith - Vietnam War

Wore a POW bracelet for Captain John Borling during Vietnam War

Ronald C Smith - Pension Crisis in Illinois

Delegate to the 1970 IL Constitutional Convention discusses the Pension Clause

Shatriya Smith - Tumultuous 2020

Executive Director of the Garvey-Tubman Cultural Arts and Research Center details her experiences with the pandemic

Sheila Smith - Civics Education

Career educator's use of Our American Voice and Citizen U in civics education

William Smith - Korean War

Army mortar crewman during the Korean War, and a Prisoner of War for most of the war

William and Charlotte Smith - Korean War

Bill and Charlotte discuss the life and coping process of an ex-POW

Kelsey Snyder - War On Terror

Service in Basra, Iraq with a Reserve MP unit from 2009 to 2010

Dr. Christine Sobek - Community College Project

Educator and administrator at two Illinois community colleges.

Winton Solberg - World War II

Infantry Lieutenant in Europe in the last year of WW II

Bob Sondgeroth - School District Reorganization

Regional Superintendent of ROE District # 47 discusses that district's consolidation.

Aubrey Southall - Civics Education

Aurora University professor discusses social studies education.

Gloria Spear - Tumultuous 2020

Coles County Health Department Administrator describes impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Gustav Speder - Immigrant Stories

West German immigrant discusses life in post-war Germany.

Vincent Speranza - World War II

WW II paratrooper with the 101st Airborne at Bastogne

Michael Spikes - Civics Education

Former broadcaster discusses news literacy in civics education.

Robert Spitze - World War II

U.S. Naval officer on board an LST in the Pacific

Bill Spriggs - Vietnam War

Infantryman with Company C of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division

Kelly Ann Sproul - World War II

Known as the Sweetheart of the British Forces due to her portrayal as a 1940s version singer and dancer entertaining World War II veterans



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