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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Jan Staggs - Cold War Era

Personnel specialist stationed in Okinawa during Vietnam War

John Standard - People of Faith

Senior pastor at the Springfield Bible Church discusses his ministry

Edward Stapleton - World War II

WW II Infantry in 36th Infantry Division in Italy and beyond

Allen Stare - Baseball

Umpire for the Springfield Long Nine, a vintage base ball team.

Robin Steans - Public School Funding

Former executive director of Advance Illinois discusses school funding.

Bradley 'Brad' Stearns - IHSA

IHSA sports official for football and baseball shares his memories.

Harold Steele - World War II

WW II & Agriculture in Illinois Infantry Platoon Leader in Europe with 89th Division

Harold Steele - Modern Era

Discussion's of farming and past as former CEO of the Farm Credit Administration.

Margery Steele - World War II

OSS Cryptographer in Egypt and Greece during WW II

Neil Steinberg - Civics Education

Chicago Sun-Times columnist discusses civics training on media literacy

Stacey Steiner - Civics Education

Civics teacher at Carlinville Illinois High School.

Corena Steinmeyer - Alternatives in Education

Director of Special Education for the Lee County Special Education Association.

Jerry Stermer - Governor Pat Quinn Project

Governor Quinn's first Chief of Staff and then Budget Director

Adlai III Stevenson - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Former U.S. Senator ran twice for governor against Jim Thompson, in 1982 and 1986

Stacy Stewart - Alternatives in Education

Stacy Stewart, the principal at Belmont-Craigin which uses the personalized learning model.

Nancy Stiff - Girls Basketball

Former girl’s head basketball coach from Arcola High School in Arcola, Illinois.

Jackie Stites - Family Memories

Volunteer at the Elijah Iles House, Governor's Executive Mansion, and the ALPLM

Fred Stockmeier - World War II

WW II & Korean War Veteran Army infantryman & POW during WWII

Fred Stockmeier - Korean War

Korean and WW War II Veteran Personnel NCO in Korea, 1950-1951

Jim Stone - Korean War

Army infantryman with 24th Division in Korea

Owen Streeper - World War II

Army Air Corps ball turret gunner in the European Theater

Joan Streit - Girls Basketball

Former girls' basketball coach at Joliet West High School in Illinois.

Ray Stroh - Pension Crisis in Illinois

A career personnel manager discusses his thirty-five years with IL state government

Raymond Stroh - People of Faith

Charter member of Atonement Lutheran Church discusses the church's history.

Sue Strong - Girls Basketball

The girl’s basketball coach at Sterling High School in Sterling, Illinois.

Sherry Struck - Governor Jim Edgar Project

Personal Assistant to Governor Jim Edgar

Dr. Bonnie Styles - Illinois State Museum

Director of Illinois State Museum discusses her many years at the ISM.

Cavan Sullivan - Modern Era

From cows and crops to wildlife farming and products.

Kathleen Sullivan - Immigrant Stories

Growing up in the island nation of Trinidad in the Caribbean

Kathleen Sullivan - ERA Fight in Illinois

A leader in the Stop ERA movement in Illinois from 1972-1982

Dr. Lori Sundberg - Community College Project

Carl Sandburg College history and its relationship with Galesburg, IL.

Tony Sunderman - Governor Jim Edgar Project

A lawyer and lifelong friend of Governor Jim Edgar

Earl Swanson - World War II

U.S. Army artillery and infantry officer stationed in the Philippines

Leland Sweatman - Modern Era

A retired farmer's reflections on his life on the farm.

Geneva Sweet - Modern Era

A farm wife recounts the many changes she experienced on the farm.

Paul Sweet - Cold War Era

Navy veteran on active duty from 1966-69 in the Atlantic on a submarine tender

Merlin Taber - World War II

Conscientious Objector in World War II

Sandra Taenzer - Educational Reform Act 1985

Discussion of early childhood programs in Illinois following 1985 Educational Reform Act.

David Taft - Rochester

Life-long farmer and resident of Rochester reflects on his life.

Donald Taft - Rochester

Member of Taft family of Rochester, and successful restaurateur

Joan Talley - Korean War

The Korean War and its effect on family members.

Paul Tarr - Cold War Era

Service in the Cold War Army in Germany from 1954-1956

James C. Taylor - IHSA

A radio sports announcer gives insights into his sports recording career.

Neil Taylor - War On Terror

A Tactical Air Controller who served in Afghanistan in 2010

Ed Teefey - Modern Era

Mt. Sterling banker talks farm loans and harness racing

Ed Teefey - General Interest-Sports

Mt. Sterling banker talks farm loans and harness racing.

Dr. Wayne Temple - Historians Speak

Distinguished Lincoln scholar discusses a lifetime of Lincoln research.

Twila Terrell - Tumultuous 2020

School bus driver describes her experience with the COVID-19 pandemic

Julie Theisz - Tumultuous 2020

School social worker details impact of COVID-19 pandemic

Bruce Thiemann - Vietnam War

Vietnam veteran who served as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief

Evelyn Brandt Thomas - Family Memories

Office manager and part owner of Brandt Consolidated talks about the family business.

Peter Thomas - Alternatives in Education

The Lincoln Challenge Academy.

Randal E. Thomas - Vietnam War

Special Forces lieutenant who served in Vietnam in 1968-69

James Thompson - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Illinois's governor from January, 1977 to January, 1991

Jim Thompson - Obama in Illinois

Illinois's governor from January, 1977 to January, 1991

Samantha Thompson - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Life as the First Daughter of Illinois

Steven Thompson - Community College Project

Archivist at Rock Valley College reviews the college.

Ernest Thorp - World War II

A B-17 co-pilot and Germany POW in the European theater during WWII

Vice Admiral Ron Thunman - Cold War Era

A life-long submariner who retired as a Vice Admiral

John and Ida Thurman - Modern Era

Discussion of small acreage farming and subsistence farming.

Gary Tipsord - Public School Funding

Superintendent of rural school district discusses impact of new Illinois funding model.

 Title-IX - Girls Basketball

Panelists discuss the impact of 1972's Title IX legislation on their lives

Ray Torry - Girls Basketball

Former principal and superintendent of Washington High School in Washington, Illinois.

Tim Townsend - Historians Speak

Lincoln home historians discusses history of the Historic Site.

Mehul Trivedi - Tumultuous 2020

Neuropsychiatrist discuss the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic

Michael Trout - Tumultuous 2020

Executive director of YMEN discusses impact of pandemic on nonprofits

Mary Truitt - Looking for Lincoln

Member of the Looking for Lincoln steering committee and council member for the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.

Steve Tucker - IHSA

Career Sun-Times sports reporter who covered Illinois high school sports.

Joe Turek - Educational Reform Act 1985

State Board of Education employee discusses the implementation of the Educational Reform Act of 1985.

Dr. David Turner - Educational Reform Act 1985

High School principal and Executive Director of the IL Principals Association.

Dr. David Turner - IHSA

Porta High School Principal IHSA board member discusses sports in Illinois.

Steven Turner - Gulf War

Marine Corps communication/intel NCO with service during Gulf War and Somalia

Bernard Turnock - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Public health director for Chicago and under Gov. Jim Thompson in 1980s

Carol Tyler - Vietnam War

A wife's perspective on a Marine Corps aviators career

Robert Tyler - Vietnam War

Vietnam War era Marine Corps naval aviator who made a career of the military

Robert Tyler - Gulf War

Career Marine Corps aviator serving in Marine HQs during the Gulf War

Robert Underbrink - World War II

Tanker who served in Germany at the end of WW II

Dr. James Underwood - Community College Project

Career educator discusses his experiences with Community colleges in three states.

Gary Urwiler - Alternatives in Education

Executive Director of Mooseheart City and School discusses it institution's unique mission.

Paul Vallas - General Interest-Education is Key

Leader of successful school reform administrations in Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans

Ellis Vanderpool - Modern Era

From farm implement dealer to orchardist to bee keeper.

Edward VanDrunen - Modern Era

Owner of herb farms and a processing plant.

John VanPelt - School District Reorganization

Career educator discusses school reorganization in Iowa & Illinois.

Thomas Varns - World War II

A medic with Patton’s 3rd Army in Europe during WW II

Virginia Vasen - Community College Project

History of Spoon River College as told by a long-time staff member.

Sandra Vasko - Vietnam War

Vietnam War era wife discusses her husband's PTSD

Janet Vass - School District Reorganization

Reorganization of Illinois West.

David Vaught - Governor Pat Quinn Project

Gov. Pat Quinn's budget director and life-long friend

David Vaught - Governor Dan Walker Project

Dave Vaught's work on Dan Walker's 1972 gubernatorial campaign

David Vaught - Cold War Era

Vaught's experiences as a West Point cadet and controversy over mandatory chapel

Kathleen Villano - Educational Reform Act 1985

Discussion on early childhood education following 1985 Reform Act.

Sean Vinck - Governor Pat Quinn Project

Chief Information Officer and legislative counsel for Gov. Pat Quinn

Frederick Visel - Community College Project

History of Carl Sandburg College from 1971 to 2013.

Chris Voelz - Girls Basketball

Member of the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Jack Waddle - Civics Education

A high school social studies teacher at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois discusses civics education..

Toni Waggoner - Public School Funding

Illinois public school funding from 1979 to 2010.

Dr. Richard Wagner - Higher Education

Career of long-serving head of IL Board of Higher Education.

Dr. Richard "Dick" Wagner - Community College Project

Former IL Bd of Higher Education Executive Director on state's Community Colleges.



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