Interviews
Search more than 1,000 interviews in more than a dozen oral history collections. Search by collection name or interviewee name.
Take me back to the Oral History landing page.
Agriculture In Illinois Diary farmer explains managing a large dairy operation.
Plaintiff in the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court case in 2018
Superintendent of Rockford School District #205, a district facing funding challenges.
Walk and talk interview with an Illinois hog farmer.
Discussion with a retired hog farmer from Delavan, Illinois.
President of Moraine Valley Community College discussing current initiatives.
Engineering Officer in Korea and Vietnam
High school history and civics teacher talks about civics education
DeKalb County Treasurer reflects on school funding in Illinois.
Superintendent in Rossville-Alvin School District on high school deactivation.
Former Dept. of Revenue Director and IL Taxpayer Federation Pres. sheds light on the Pension Crisis
President and operator of Johnson Grain elevator terminal in Waverly, IL.
The General Manager and Superintendant of the Rail Golf Course of Springfield, Illinois.
The General Manager and Superintendant of the Rail Golf Course of Springfield, Illinois.
A family's multi-generational history on the farm and changes in agriculture
Executive Director of Oak Ridge Cemetery -Lincoln's final resting place
Life on Kline Creek Farm, an 1890s living-history farm.
Johnson grows trees and has a saw-mill producing furniture woods.
Life on a sustainable tree farm and sawmill.
Kishwaukee College trustee discusses the history of Kishwaukee College.
Thornridge High School teacher discusses the teaching of civics
Administrator for the IL HSA discusses the group's history.
Served in the Pacific as an engineer in the 3rd Engineer Special Brigade
Long-time IL State Senator, Senate President from 2003-2008
World-class Blues musician, educator, and songwriter
A Navy Corpsman (medic) with a Marine Long Range Reconnaissance Team
School superintendent of the Chenoa and Octavia school districts discussing reorg issues.
Elementary teacher, college administrator, school board member
Owner of Jostes Garage in Rochester and Route 66 enthusiast
Summers in Rochester as a child led to her spending her adult life there
Career Army aviator who served in Vietnam in 1965 and again in 1968
Member of Illinois Civics Education Task Force
Cook County assessor discusses school funding
Illinois Bell employee who worked on several Illinois tourist commissions in Springfield, IL.
Delegate to IL ConCon talks about Education Funding
Delegate to IL ConCon, working on Education Committee, discusses Pension Clause
Governor Jim Edgar's first chief counsel (1990-1992)
Long-time friend and public relations advisor to Governor Dan Walker
A feminist activist discusses her role in the fight for ERA passage in 1982
Home school teacher who taught her children for over 22 years.
Dixon native who watched Reagan during one of his school plays.
A proponent for creating the West Carroll School District discusses the merger.
Former IL Board of High Education member discusses higher ed in Sangamon County.
A pacifist imprisoned for avoiding the draft during the Vietnam War
Former Looking for Lincoln Board member & Director of the Museum of the Grand Prairie.
Army Air Cavalry officer serving in the U.S. during Vietnam War
Career educator discusses state learning goals and the IL State Assessment Program.
University of Illinois-Springfield professor discusses social studies teacher education
Civics training for the judicial branch of government at Kankakee Community College.
Director of the Office of Innovative Professional Learning at DePaul U.
Associate Professor at Eastern Illinois University discusses teaching journalism.
Marine tanker during the last year of the Korean War
An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s
An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s
An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s
On-line education at secondary level and IL Virtual School.
Advocate of no-till farming talks about his early involvement.
An MP guarding North Korean prisoners during the war
Campaign manager for Jim Thompson's 1982 gubernatorial campaign and long-time Republican supporter
Klein talks about his experiences portraying Abraham Lincoln.
Involvement in Illinois sports as a student, coach, principal and official.
President of the IL Education Association reflects on the state's pension crisis
President of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School discusses the school's history and mission.
History of Prairie State College (1967) and its forerunner, Bloom Township Junior College.
Airman in the European theater serving in a Fighter Control Squadron
Supporter and promoter of women's athletics.
Composer of the musical score for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
Dixon postal worker who spearheaded the movement to restore and promote the Reagan Home
IHSA Assistant Director for Cheerleading, Dance, Speech, Debate, Drama and Journalism.
Naval small boat officer discusses landing Marines on Iwo Jima and his injury
Light tank driver seeing combat near the DMZ in South Vietman
Teacher and curriculum coordinator for the on-line Illinois Virtual School.
St. Francis HS volleyball coach for over 40 years.
English war bride and WW II blitz survivor
Young American girl held prisoner by Japanese in the Philippines
Calhoun County farmer, WW II Navy veteran and Soil Conservation Service employee during his over 100 years
A career teacher discusses the early history of Illinois Valley Community College.
Illinois political consultant from the late 1960s thru the early 2000s
Experiences teaching Civics and serving as a Civics Trainer for Boone-Winnebago Counties
IL Adjutant General who spent a career as a minister and Army chaplain
A career Christian Church-Disciples of Christ minister and Army National Guard chaplain
Soybean research at National Soybean Research Center, U of Illinois.
Governor Jim Edgar's lieutenant governor (1991-1999)
Polish soldier and World War II emigrates to the U.S.
WW II Polish soldier in Russian & German POW camps
Vietnam veteran who served in the United States Marine Corps. Marine Corps supply specialist during the Vietnam War
Typist for the Women's Navy Reserves
Petty Officer on board the U.S.S. Tebenna in the Pacific Theater
Personal friend of Jim and Brenda Edgar and Managing Editor of the Mattoon Journal-Gazette
Alden-Hebron High School's coach for eight-man football.
Vietnamese boat person who fled his native land in 1979.
Vietnamese boat person who left that country in 1979 when 7 years old
Marine who patrolled extensively in Quang Ngai province in 1969-70
Civil Affairs officer with service both in Bosnia and Iraq
Asst. Secretary of the Army during the Barack Obama administration
Democratic Caucus staff member's memories of Educational Reform Act of 1985.
English teacher at Lake Land College discusses the Community College's history.
Korean War veteran who recalls life on the home front during World War II
IL House Democratic leader discusses the Gov. Blagojevich impeachment
Greek immigrant describes her childhood in Crete and life as an American soldier's wife.