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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Brian Holst - Modern Era

From auto mechanic to ag machinery, to restoration at Deere Collectors' Center.

Eugene Houser - World War II

Typist for the 149th Army Replacement Battalion in Naples

Bruce Howard - IHSA

NFHS executive discusses the organization's relationship with IHSA.

Dorothy "Kris" Howard - Community College Project

William Rainey Harper College trustee discusses history of the school

Edward Hoyt - IHSA

Athletic experiences for hearing impaired student, coach and athletics director.

Carol Hubbard - Girls Basketball

First girls’ basketball coach at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois.

Fred Huddlestun - School District Reorganization

Farmer & school board president for a district struggling with consolidation issues.

Karen Hudson - Modern Era

Founder of Families Against Rural Messes discusses her fight against large livestock operations

Matt Hughes - Modern Era

Discussion with a central Illinois grain farmer.

James Hull - World War II

Veteran who served in the 83rd Division in Europe

Richard Hull - Modern Era

Lifelong veterinarian who also served as the Illinois state Veterinarian.

Brita Hunegs - Civics Education

DePaul University student discusses her experiences as a journalism major

Stephen Hunt - Civics Education

Professor of Communications at Illinois State University discusses civics education.

Gail Huster - IHSA

Coaching and officiating girls sports at Illinois high schools.

Jill Hutchinson - Girls Basketball

Women's head basketball coach at IL State University.

Felice Hybert - Alternatives in Education

Asst Superintendent at Kankakee District 111 discusses competency based learning.

Stanley Ikenberry - Higher Education

President of the University of Illinois from 1979 to 1995

Richard Ingram - Pension Crisis in Illinois

Executive Director of the Teachers' Retirement System on the IL pension crisis

William Ingram - World War II

POW sailor held by Japanese who worked on the Burma Railroad

Richard Irvin - Tumultuous 2020

Mayor of Aurora discusses the communities challenges with COVID-19 pandemic

William Iseminger - IHPA legacy

Cahokia Mounds Senior Interpreter with over 45 years at the site

Victor Iturralde - Alternatives in Education

Principal of Eric Solorio Academy High School talks about its creation and educational mission.

Calvin Jackson - School District Reorganization

School administrator & consultant on school reorganization issues in Illinois.

Ida Jackson - Springfield African-American History Foundation

Social service worker, parent, plaintiff in Springfield school desegregation case

Jacqueline Jackson - Modern Era

An interview with Jacqueline 'Jackie' Jackson, author of 'The Round Barn'. Jackie reflects in detail about the future of agriculture.

Leonard Jackson - ERA Fight in Illinois

Len Jackson, a security guard at the IL State Capitol, recounts his experiences during the ERA protest in June of 1982.

Denny Jacobs - Obama in Illinois

IL State Senator and friend of Barack Obama

Denny Jacobs - Legislators Project

Democratic mayor of East Moline before becoming an IL State Senator

Sheldon Jacobson - Civics Education

Director of UIUC’s Institute for Computational Redistricting and the Bedtime Research Institute

Dr. Michael Jacoby - School District Reorganization

Executive Director of the IASBO who served on Illinois's Classrooms First Commission

Dr. Michael Jacoby - Public School Funding

Director of the IL Association of School Business discusses the evidence-based funding model

Gene Jaeger - World War II

Naval officer on an LST at Sicily, Salerno & Normandy landings

John Jakiemiec - Tumultuous 2020

Managing the IL baseball Pistol Shrimps during the pandemic

Representative Naomi Jakobsson - Community College Project

Relationship with Parkland College both as a student and as Chair of the IL House Higher Education Committee.

Nate Jannsen - Modern Era

Agriculture In Illinois Diary farmer explains managing a large dairy operation.

Mark Janus - General Interest -Statecraft

Plaintiff in the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court case in 2018

Ehren Jarrett - Public School Funding

Superintendent of Rockford School District #205, a district facing funding challenges.

Russ and Mary Jeckel - Modern Era

Walk and talk interview with an Illinois hog farmer.

Scott and Russ Jeckel - Modern Era

Discussion with a retired hog farmer from Delavan, Illinois.

Sylvia Jenkins - Community College Project

President of Moraine Valley Community College discussing current initiatives.

Ken Jobe - Vietnam War

Engineering Officer in Korea and Vietnam

Chris Johnson - Civics Education

High school history and civics teacher talks about civics education

Christine Johnson - Public School Funding

DeKalb County Treasurer reflects on school funding in Illinois.

Christopher "Chris" Johnson - Tumultuous 2020

CEO of Tivoli Enterprises describes how the pandemic impacted the movie theatre business

Dr. Crystal Johnson - School District Reorganization

Superintendent in Rossville-Alvin School District on high school deactivation.

J. Thomas Johnson - Pension Crisis in Illinois

Former Dept. of Revenue Director and IL Taxpayer Federation Pres. sheds light on the Pension Crisis

Jay Johnson - Modern Era

President and operator of Johnson Grain elevator terminal in Waverly, IL.

Jim Johnson - Family Memories

The General Manager and Superintendant of the Rail Golf Course of Springfield, Illinois.

Jim Johnson - General Interest-Sports

The General Manager and Superintendant of the Rail Golf Course of Springfield, Illinois.

Lloyd Johnson - Modern Era

A family's multi-generational history on the farm and changes in agriculture

LuAnn Johnson - Family Memories

Executive Director of Oak Ridge Cemetery -Lincoln's final resting place

Mark Johnson - Modern Era

Life on Kline Creek Farm, an 1890s living-history farm.

Michael Johnson - Modern Era

Johnson grows trees and has a saw-mill producing furniture woods.

Patricia Johnson - Modern Era

Life on a sustainable tree farm and sawmill.

Robert "Bob" Johnson - Community College Project

Kishwaukee College trustee discusses the history of Kishwaukee College.

Scott Johnson - Civics Education

Thornridge High School teacher discusses the teaching of civics

Scott Johnson - IHSA

Administrator for the IL HSA discusses the group's history.

Steve Johnson - World War II

Served in the Pacific as an engineer in the 3rd Engineer Special Brigade

Emil Jones - Legislators Project

Long-time IL State Senator, Senate President from 2003-2008

Fernando Jones - Family Memories

World-class Blues musician, educator, and songwriter

Thomas Jones - Vietnam War

A Navy Corpsman (medic) with a Marine Long Range Reconnaissance Team

Gene Jontry - School District Reorganization

School superintendent of the Chenoa and Octavia school districts discussing reorg issues.

Leroy Jordan - Springfield African-American History Foundation

Elementary teacher, college administrator, school board member

Kiran Joshi - Tumultuous 2020

Senior Medical Officer and Former Co-Lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health describes the impact of the pandemic

David Jostes - Rochester

Owner of Jostes Garage in Rochester and Route 66 enthusiast

Fay Jostes - Rochester

Summers in Rochester as a child led to her spending her adult life there

Gary Joyner - Vietnam War

Career Army aviator who served in Vietnam in 1965 and again in 1968

Maryam Judar - Civics Education

Member of Illinois Civics Education Task Force

"Fritz" Frederick Kaegi - Public School Funding

Cook County assessor discusses school funding

Richard Kahne - Sangamon County

Illinois Bell employee who worked on several Illinois tourist commissions in Springfield, IL.

Malcolm Kamin - Public School Funding

Delegate to IL ConCon talks about Education Funding

Malcolm S. Kamin - Pension Crisis in Illinois

Delegate to IL ConCon, working on Education Committee, discusses Pension Clause

Arnold Kanter - Governor Jim Edgar Project

Governor Jim Edgar's first chief counsel (1990-1992)

Mort Kaplan - Governor Dan Walker Project

Long-time friend and public relations advisor to Governor Dan Walker

Pauline Kayes - ERA Fight in Illinois

A feminist activist discusses her role in the fight for ERA passage in 1982

Janet Kehoe - Alternatives in Education

Home school teacher who taught her children for over 22 years.

Retta Keithley - Ronald Reagan In Dixon

Dixon native who watched Reagan during one of his school plays.

Steven Kelley - School District Reorganization

A proponent for creating the West Carroll School District discusses the merger.

Kathleen Kelly - Higher Education

Former IL Board of High Education member discusses higher ed in Sangamon County.

Timothy Kendall - Vietnam War

A pacifist imprisoned for avoiding the draft during the Vietnam War

Cheryl Kennedy - Looking for Lincoln

Former Looking for Lincoln Board member & Director of the Museum of the Grand Prairie.

Daniel Kennedy - Vietnam War

Army Air Cavalry officer serving in the U.S. during Vietnam War

Tom Kerins - Educational Reform Act 1985

Career educator discusses state learning goals and the IL State Assessment Program.

Meghan Kessler - Civics Education

University of Illinois-Springfield professor discusses social studies teacher education

Michael Kick - Civics Education

Civics training for the judicial branch of government at Kankakee Community College.

Donna Kiel - Civics Education

Director of the Office of Innovative Professional Learning at DePaul U.

Ensung Kim - Civics Education

Associate Professor at Eastern Illinois University discusses teaching journalism.

Wayne King - Korean War

Marine tanker during the last year of the Korean War

Ben Kiningham - Journalists View

An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s

Ben Kiningham - Governor Jim Edgar Project

An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s

Ben Kiningham - Governor Dan Walker Project

An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s

James 'Jim' Kinsella - Alternatives in Education

On-line education at secondary level and IL Virtual School.

Jim Kinsella - Modern Era

Advocate of no-till farming talks about his early involvement.

Robert Kirby - Korean War

An MP guarding North Korean prisoners during the war

Robert (Bob) Kjellander - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Campaign manager for Jim Thompson's 1982 gubernatorial campaign and long-time Republican supporter

Richard 'Fritz' Klein - Historians Speak

Klein talks about his experiences portraying Abraham Lincoln.

Daniel (Dan) Klett - IHSA

Involvement in Illinois sports as a student, coach, principal and official.

Cinda Klickna - Pension Crisis in Illinois

President of the IL Education Association reflects on the state's pension crisis

Mary Klinenberger - Alternatives in Education

President of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School discusses the school's history and mission.



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