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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Tour of the Vachel Lindsay home given by the site manager
Video tour of the Abraham & Mary Lincoln home in Springfield, Illinois
Field architect for Old State Capitol reconstruction in late 1960s
Site Manager Marcia Young gives a tour of Bloomington's David Davis mansion
Former legislative chair for the Retired State Employees Association
Three Blending Committee members discuss the process of combining three churches into one.
Journalist for the Suburban Tribune during the Walker administration
Early days of Girls' & Women's Basketball
Cold War Beckwith was as a Priest, Bishop, and officer in the Navy Reserve
Assistant Press Secretary for Gov. Pat Quinn from 2013-2014
ALPLM Communications Manager
A journalist/educator's view on the 1982 ERA fight in the IL Legislature
Illinois politicians career on Sangamon County Board and IL Senate
Former Illinois Governor (1991-1999)
An intern's/aid's perspective of the Gov. Quinn administration
Illinois's governor from January, 1977 to January, 1991
Associate Dir. of State and Local Research at Boston College's Center for Retirement Research
Jon and Jeanne Berg served as missionaries in west Africa during the 1970s and ‘80s.
Cold War era artilleryman who finished career as USP&FO in IL National Guard
Illinois State Senator and colleague of Obama
Mary (Cagle) Horman Bremer shares her family's history through the depression, WW II and the good times.
A policeman's perspective of the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago
Reflections on the movement to pass ERA since 1982
Illinois educator, administrator and artist discusses the ERA fight in Illinois
Long-serving legislator and IL Senate President from 2009 to 2020
Majority Leader Currie discusses her long career in the IL Legislature
Assistant to Governor Dan Walker from 1973 to 1977
Governor Jim Edgar Series
An Evening with Jim Thompson
Expert on local government and staffer at IL ConCOn discusses pension issues
Career Air Force Officer, Vietnam War era POW, and 2004 Senate Candidate
Soldier stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War
Jazz musician and music teacher.
Political staffer and advisor to Paul Simon, Alan Dixon and Major League Baseball
ERA fight in Illinois from 1978 to June, 1982
Long-serving Republican leader in the IL House of Representatives
Minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield, IL.
Governor Jim Edgar Series
Governor Dan Walker's Legal Counsel and long-time friend
Governor Quinn's first Chief of Staff and then Budget Director
Site Manager for Vachel Lindsay home and IHPA employee from 1986-2014
Director of Budget at WIU and a Macomb School Board member discusses pensions
Senator Cullerton's experiences with then IL State Senator Barack Obama
House Majority Leader and representative from Obama's legislative district
Republican legislator from Kane County, 1981 to 1999
Peace Corps experiences throughout the world, and a Mother by Choice.
Assistant to Governor Otto Kerner from 1963 to 1968
History of Faith Lutheran Church of Springfield, Illinois.
Teacher, lobbyist, public affairs consultant and activist for women’s equality
Growing up with a fallout shelter in the basement
Long-time friend and public relations advisor to Governor Dan Walker
Gov. Pat Quinn's budget director and life-long friend
Former head of Education Services with the IHPA at the Presidential Library and Museum
Illinois State Senator discusses the origins of the state's pension crisis
Democratic state legislator representing the Decatur area from 1975 to 1995
Former Illinois Governor (1991-1999) and potential opponent in 2004 Senate Race
U.S. Congressman from west central Illinois during 1960s thru 1982
A National Organization for Women staff member discusses ERA fight in Illinois
Life on a depression era Mississippi farm and in the Cold War Army
An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s
A career Christian Church-Disciples of Christ minister and Army National Guard chaplain
Executive Director of the State Retirement System of IL talks pensions
Communications Manager (Public Information Officer) for IHPA and ALPLM
Illinois Republican legislator from 1975-1991 and in U.S. House until 2000
Gold Star father and speaker at Obama campaign events in 2008
Burnell's early life in Freeburg, IL and education.
Daughter of photographer ‘Doc’ Helm, and admin asst to state Senator Barack Obama from 2001 to 2004
A feminist activist discusses her role in the fight for ERA passage in 1982
An attorney's involvement in the Dan Walker administration and in landmark Supreme Court cases
Air Force veteran during Cuban Missile Crisis and in Vietnam
Long-time member of Luther Memorial Church discusses the congregation's history.
Public Information Officer for IHPA discusses creation of ALPLM
Former Republican State Senator talks about the pension fights of the 1990s and 2000s
An Illinois legislator from 1981 through 1986 before heading to the U.S. House
Administrative assistant to State Senator Barack Obama
Plaintiff in the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court case in 2018
The General Manager and Superintendant of the Rail Golf Course of Springfield, Illinois.
Folksinger for the ERA movement in the 1970s, 1980s and today
Rabbi for the Temple Israel in Springfield, IL for 43 years.
Cold War era Navy veteran
Journalist and author reporting on the Illinois Political Scene
Participant in 1970 IL State Constitutional Convention discusses its impact on pensions
Long-time Chair of the IHPA Board of Trustees talks about the creation of ALPLM
IL State Senator and friend of Barack Obama
Democratic mayor of East Moline before becoming an IL State Senator
Executive Director of Oak Ridge Cemetery -Lincoln's final resting place
Illinois political consultant from the late 1960s thru the early 2000s
AME Presiding Elder who ministered to public congregations and within the halls of the IL Legislature
Baptist pastor's ministry in Kansas, Texas and in Springfield, Illinois
IL State Senator during Illinois Legislature's ERA battles
Personnel specialist stationed in Okinawa during Vietnam War
Dave Vaught's work on Dan Walker's 1972 gubernatorial campaign
Efforts to reform Illinois's pension system while Senate President, 2009-2019
Former director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency from 2004-2007
Vice President of Illinois Policy Institute explains the origins of Illinois's pension crisis
Long-time IL State Senator, Senate President from 2003-2008
World-class Blues musician, educator, and songwriter
Asst. Secretary of the Army during the Barack Obama administration