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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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
Illinois Bell employee who worked on several Illinois tourist commissions in Springfield, IL.
Delegate to IL ConCon, working on Education Committee, discusses Pension Clause
Governor Jim Edgar's first chief counsel (1990-1992)
Close friend and a key public relations advisor during Walker's run for governor
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.
Civics training for the judicial branch of government at Kankakee Community College.
Director of the Office of Innovative Professional Learning at DePaul U.
Marine tanker during the last year of the Korean War
Statewide reporter covering the Illinois Statehouse for forty years
He covered gubernatorial administrations from Dan Walker to George Ryan
Reporter for various radio stations and a statewide radio network for forty years
On-line education at secondary level and IL Virtual School.
International reputation for no-till farming
Military Policeman who served in Korea
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
Army Air Cavalry officer serving in the U.S. during Vietnam War
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
Childhood in Japanese internment camps in Philippines
Following his service in the Navy during WW II, he returned to the farm in Calhoun County
A career teacher discusses the early history of Illinois Valley Community College.
Broad overview of his entire career in politics
IL Adjutant General who spent a career as a minister and Army chaplain
History of Faith Lutheran Church of Springfield, Illinois.
Governor Jim Edgar's lieutenant governor (1991-1999)
Polish soldier and World War II emigrates to the U.S.
Polish soldier and World War II emigrates to the U.S.
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
Asst. Secretary of the Army during the Barack Obama administration
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
Recounts the impeachment process of Rod Blagojevich
Greek immigrant describes her childhood in Crete and life as an American soldier's wife.
A native of Dixon who is active in historical preservation and promotion.
U.S. Naval officer on board LCI ships in Europe
Austrian immigrant of Jewish descent whose family came to the United States prior to WW II.
History of Triton College in River Grove, Illinois.
Assigned to LST (Landing Ship - Tank) 1077
Rancher, breeding rodeo horses, and bulls and roping calves and supplying equipment for the U. S. rodeo market
High School sports official reflects on officiating football, basketball and baseball.
History/Social Studies Teaching Coordinator at Eastern Illinois University.
Jim Edgar's press secretary and closest advisor
im Edgar’s Secretary of State years and election campaign of 1990
A native of Dixon, Illinois who attended the Presidential Inauguration of Ronald Reagan.
Worked alongside German POWs on his family's farm
Former Executive Director/Chancellor of the Board of Governors discusses his years in higher ed.
Executive Director of the IL Principal's Association discusses school funding.
Service on Advisory Board for Gov Rod Blagojevich’s transition team
Worked on Blagojevich transition team.
President of Oakton Community College traces the school's history.
History of Moraine Valley Community College.
Assigned to the USS Boxer, an Essex class aircraft carrier
Illinois State Superintendent from 1988 to 1994 discusses school reorganizations.
A non-commissioned officer remembers his experiences during the Vietnam War
Folksinger for the ERA movement in the 1970s, 1980s and today
A discussion on school funding and the Committee for Educational Rights v Edgar lawsuit.
Immigrant from Venezuela who settled in Florida in mid-1990s.
Growing up in Venezuela and immigrating to the U.S. in 1995.
Air Force veteran during Cuban Missile Crisis and in Vietnam
Journalism teacher discusses the IHSA's journalism competitions.
President of the Reagan Home Foundation Board discusses the Ronald Reagan Centennial.
IL State University basketball star, Olympian and professional basketball player.
A retired teacher and charter member of Springfield Decatur Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta
Assigned to help defend the Pusan Perimeter in South Korea
Illinois State Senator discusses the legacy of the 1985 Educational Reform Act.
Former IBHE Dept. Dir. for Fiscal Affairs discusses budgeting and funding models.
East Aurora High School band director discusses music competitions.