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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High School principal and Executive Director of the IL Principals Association.
Porta High School Principal IHSA board member discusses sports in Illinois.
Marine Corps communication/intel NCO with service during Gulf War and Somalia
Public health director for Chicago and under Gov. Jim Thompson in 1980s
A wife's perspective on a Marine Corps aviators career
Vietnam War era Marine Corps naval aviator who made a career of the military
Career Marine Corps aviator serving in Marine HQs during the Gulf War
Tanker who served in Germany at the end of WW II
Career educator discusses his experiences with Community colleges in three states.
Executive Director of Mooseheart City and School discusses it institution's unique mission.
Leader of successful school reform administrations in Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans
Springfield native for 88 years
From farm implement dealer to orchardist to bee keeper.
Owner of herb farms and a processing plant.
Career educator discusses school reorganization in Iowa & Illinois.
A medic with Patton’s 3rd Army in Europe during WW II
History of Spoon River College as told by a long-time staff member.
Vietnam War era wife discusses her husband's PTSD
Reorganization of Illinois West.
Vaught's experiences as a West Point cadet and controversy over mandatory chapel
Dave Vaught's work on Dan Walker's 1972 gubernatorial campaign
Gov. Pat Quinn's budget director and life-long friend
Discussion on early childhood education following 1985 Reform Act.
Chief Information Officer and legislative counsel for Gov. Pat Quinn
History of Carl Sandburg College from 1971 to 2013.
Member of the Women’s Sports Foundation.
A high school social studies teacher at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois discusses civics education..
Illinois public school funding from 1979 to 2010.
Career of long-serving head of IL Board of Higher Education.
Former IL Bd of Higher Education Executive Director on state's Community Colleges.
Engineer who served on the U.S.S. Waldron in the Pacific Theater
Retired state photographer talks about family history, his brother Bob and Route 66
Maverick Democrat who served as IL Governor from 1973 to 1977
Artillery lieutenant who saw action in northern Europe at the end of the war
Superintendent of Kankakee School District #111, discusses the implementation of the Competency Based Learning Model.
Jim Edgar's Budget Director, and Chief of Staff during his tenure as Secretary of State
Government affairs scholar discusses the challenges faced by rural school districts.
Charter member of Springfield Decatur Area Alumnae Chapter and retired administrator for the state of Illinois
History at Parkland College from 1991-2013 through the eyes of a trustee.
Main coordinator for the CHIEF proposal discusses education funding.
Associate women’s head basketball coach at the University of Tennessee.
University human resources professional, sorority volunteer
First African-American principal in Springfield Public Schools
Illinois Senate Minority Leader (Republican) from 2003-2008
Illinois Senate Minority Leader (Republican) from 2003-2008
Twin brothers have divided loyalties - one to the Cubs, the other to the Cardinals.
College trustee discusses the history of Lewis and Clark Community College.
Superintendent of the Bismarck-Henning and Rossville-Alvin Cooperative High School.
World War II Army veteran and retired factory/state employee from Rochester
Memories of Thompson as U.S. Attorney and of 1982 election
One of founders of Carbondale Women's Center & supporter of ERA Amendment
Employee at a drafting department that produced war planes during World War II
Charter member of Springfield Decatur Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and retired educator from Springfield
Four BRC Imagination Arts employees discuss their work on the ALP Museum exhibits
Wife of Roy Wehrle who accompanied him to Laos and Vietnam while he worked for the State Department
State Department official assigned to Laos and Vietnam from 1959 through 1968
IHPA Division Manager of Administrative Services
In-depth discussion of processing soybeans for consumption and industrial use.
Bilingual education in Illinois since the 1985 Educational Reform Act.
A city girl parlays a turf business into State FFA Presidency.
U.S. Marine who fought at Iwo Jima in the 4th Marine Division
Pioneer for women's sports (AIAW and NCAA) and basketball coach at Southern Illinois U.
1985 Educational Reform Act from the perspective of the IL Department of Education.
Executive Director of the State Farm Golf Classic for 27 years
Child of a U.S. Army soldier during World War II
Executive Director of the State Farm Golf Classic for 27 years
History professors discusses the history of the College of DuPage.
Dean of Northwestern U.'s Medill School of Journalism discusses challenges for modern journalists
Early years of Joliet Junior College.
A parent who opposed the school consolidation of several schools.
Torpedo man on board the USS Herndon in Europe
World War II Army veteran who served in the occupation force in the Philippines
Caretaker interim director for closure of the IL State Museum
Director of the Dickson Mounds Museum discusses his career as an archaeologist and anthropologist
Discussion with a fifth generation orchardist.
Vietnam veteran who served as a combat medic with the infantry
A lifetime as an African-American realtor on the south side of Chicago
Marine Medal of Honor recipient earned at Iwo Jima
A TBF Avenger gunner serving in Pacific theater on the USS Petrof Bay
Bricklayer, musician, descendent of Springfield Race Riot victim
Wife of Charles Wilson, worked in health care field
Charter member of Springfield Decatur Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and music teacher in Springfield, IL
Arthur, IL Superintendent discusses the process of Reorganization.
Field architect for Old State Capitol reconstruction in late 1960s
Radio operator with the 9th Infantry Division during Vietnam War
Western Illinois University professor provides information on civics education.
A lobbyist in the Illinois legislature recalls Obama's years in the IL Senate
A lobbyist in the Illinois legislature remembers the ERA fight
ACLU lawyer discusses Lewis v. Spagnolo, a case on school funding in East St. Louis.
Illinois Civics Task Force members discusses new IL program.
Regional Superintendent of Schools for Lake County discusses Educational Reform Act.
Former board president for the Illinois High School Association.
Served in an intelligence squad as part of the 36th Infantry Division in Europe
Unitarian Universalist's spiritual journey to the ministry.
Career at Savannah Public Schools as teacher, coach, principal and superintendent.
Wright is a lawyer specializing in school reorganization issues.
Long-time resident of Rochester reminisces about delivering ice
A WW II Rosie the riveter, and post war wife and mother shares her life story.
One of the founders of the Dixon Historic Center discusses his relationship with the Reagan family and the city of Dixon.