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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Gene Bleuer - Korean War

Army infantryman and POW in Korea

John Block - Modern Era

Former Secretary of Agriculture for the Reagan Administration.

Scott Blomberg - War On Terror

Army optometrist who participated in a deployment to Kosovo in 2001 and the initial occupation of Iraq in 2003

Thomas Boaz - Vietnam War

A non-combative conscientious objector during the Vietnam War

Keith Bolin - School District Reorganization

A farmer and supporter of school consolidation in Bureau County, IL.

Mildred Louise Bond - Delta Sigma Theta

Charter member of Springfield Decatur Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and retired educator from Decatur, Illinois

Thelma Bonds - Delta Sigma Theta

Illinois Power employee and a charter member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Springfield Decatur Area Alumnae Chapter

David Bone - Vietnam War

Platoon leader in a Marine recon platoon during early period of Vietnam War

Mark Boozell - Governor Jim Edgar Project

Legislative liaison for Governor Jim Edgar

Major General John Borling - Vietnam War

Career Air Force Officer and Vietnam War era POW

Major General John Borling - Gulf War

Senior SAC Officer during the Gulf War, 1990-1991

Randolph A Boschulte - Vietnam War

Army Ordnance officer during Vietnam War, and with the U.S. Army Reserves

Ron Botz - Vietnam War

Huey pilot with the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1968-69

David Bourland - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Long-time curator of the IL Executive mansion, and friend of Gov. Jim Thompson

Thomas Bowman - Vietnam War

Medical Specialist who served in Vietnam from late 1968 thru 1969

Thomas Bowman - War On Terror

Commander of an Illinois contingent working with Multinational Division in Iraq

Tom Jones, Patrick Lam, Pham Thien Khac and Tom Bowman - Vietnam War

Vietnam veterans and Vietnamese boat people reflect on their experiences

George Boyd - World War II

Child during World War II

Greg Bradley - IHSA

Former athlete, coach, principal and IHSA treasurer shares his experiences.

Rich Bradley - Governor Jim Edgar Project

Long-time News Director for WUIS, Springfield's public radio station

Rich Bradley - Journalists View

Long-time News Director for WUIS, Springfield's public radio station

Philip Bradshaw - Modern Era

Farmer discusses his life in community affairs and ag issues.

Brian Brady - Civics Education

President of the Mikva Challenge program promoting civic involvement among youth.

Parris Brewer - Modern Era

A city boy in trouble becomes a businessman with Growing Homes.

Kirk Brown - Governor Jim Edgar Project

Engineer and IDOT secretary under governors Edgar and Ryan

Magda Brown - World War II

Young Hungarian Jew and Holocaust Survivor

Roger Brown - Modern Era

Life of a grain and livestock farmer from central Illinois.

Beverly Bruce - Korean War

Marine with Reconnaissance Platoon during the Korean War

Terry Bruce - Community College Project

CEO for the Illinois Eastern Community College System for 17 years.

Charles Bruns - World War II

Engineer in the 3rd Infantry Division during World War II

Iris Bryan - Community College Project

History of McHenry County College from several perspectives.

Bon Bui - Vietnam War

South Vietnamese Army commander and a post-war prisoner of war

Ola Bundy - Girls Basketball

An interview with the 'First Lady of Girls Athletics in Illinois.

Jennifer Burdette - Civics Education

Rural school civics teacher and civics teaching mentor.

Norman Burdick - Community College Project

History of Carl Sandburg College from 1980 to 2013.

Gary Burgard - Vietnam War

Army infantryman serving near Saigon, South Vietnam in 1968-1969

Hale Burge - World War II

Airplane mechanic in the Army Air Force during World War II

Shirley Burkovich - Baseball

Player in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1949-1951.

Dr. Michael Burlingame - Historians Speak

Renowned historian and Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS discusses a life spent studying Lincoln .

Kristin Burns - Alternatives in Education

Teacher at Keith Country Day discusses the school's history and operation.

Jim Burrus - Modern Era

Raising beef and chickens 'home on the range'.

Christopher Busse - Civics Education

Teaching civics at O‘Fallon Township High School.

Cindy Butkovich - Girls Basketball

Former Assistant Executive Secretary of the Illinois High School Association.

Francis Callaghan - World War II

Combat engineer with bridging company finds his relatives in Japanese camps in the Philippines

Gerald Campbell - Rochester

Life-long resident of Rochester shares family stories of the town

Shegan Campbell - Alternatives in Education

Co-founder and CEO of Kids Science Labs discusses their innovative programs.

William 'Bill" Cantrall - World War II

Service with the British 8th Army in Italy with the American Field Service

Dean Cantù - Civics Education

Department of Education director discusses civics education for teachers.

John Capasso - School District Reorganization

Superintendent of the Fieldcrest Community Unit School District discusses the school's creation.

Charles Carey - Modern Era

Former Chairman for the Chicago Board of Trade explains commodity trading

Velma Carey - Springfield African-American History Foundation

Parent and community volunteer; plaintiff in school desegregation lawsuit

Carolyn Carlson - Rochester

Grade school teacher and longtime resident of Rochester

Richard J. Carlson - Governor Jim Thompson Project

A member of Gov. Jim Thompson’s program staff and director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Margaret Carter - Modern Era

Discussion regarding farm life pre-power, family present.

Lt. Lauren Carthan - Alternatives in Education

Senior Naval Science Instructor for the East Aurora Naval Junior ROTC.

Dr. Richard Carwardine - Historians Speak

Welsh-born Lincoln Scholar and author of a book on Lincoln humor.

Jay Castro - Vietnam War

Navy frogman and later a crewman on a river patrol boat during Vietnam War

Morrie Caudill - Korean War

The Armistice in Korea

Don Cavallini - Community College Project

Archivist at Heartland Community College discusses school's history.

Janis Cellini - Governor Jim Edgar Project

Director of Personnel and Labor Relations for Governor Jim Edgar

Julie Cellini - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Long-time Chair of the IHPA Board of Trustees talks about the creation of ALPLM

Linda Chapa-LaVia - School District Reorganization

Illinois state Representative's perspective on the subject of school district reorganizations in Illinois.

Dr. Dale Chapman - Community College Project

History of Lewis and Clark College in southwestern Illinois.

Gertrude Childers - Ronald Reagan In Dixon

A native of Dixon who was saved by Ronald Reagan when he was a lifeguard.

Olive Clark - World War II

Wife of World War II veteran George Cocker

Lynne Cleverdon - Civil Rights Stories

1964 Mississippi voter registration drive

Darrell Clevidence - Community College Project

History of Carl Sandburg College from 1969 to 2010.

Robert Clifton - School District Reorganization

Western Illinois teacher and school administrator discusses school reorganization.

Deborah B Cole - Delta Sigma Theta

Delta Sigma Theta sorority member at Bradley University

Edyth Cole - Delta Sigma Theta

Charter member of Springfield-Decatur Alumnae of Delta Sigma Theta

Rick Collins - Modern Era

Restoring old barns and homes.

Evelyn Conboy - Rochester

Farm wife who raised her seven children in Rochester after her husband's death

Kristine Condon - Civics Education

A review of the Illinois Civics Academy for Secondary Teachers.

Hilary Conklin - Civics Education

DePaul University professor training teachers in the social studies and civics education.

Linda Connelly - Girls Basketball

First girl’s basketball coach at Mattoon High School in Mattoon, Illinois.

 Connie Edwards, Tim Kendall, Patrick Lam, John Rascke - Vietnam War

Vietnam veteran panel discussion in conjunction with the public debut of Ken Burns' Vietnam War documentary

Ralph Contreras - World War II

World War II Marine who served with the 6th Marine Division at Guam and Okinawa

Kevin Corbin - Baseball

St. Louis Cardinals bat boy tells stories from the late 1990s.

Dorothy Cordier - World War II

Family separation during WWII

George Cordier - World War II

WW II Marine, enlisted man in Pacific theater, Battle of Guam

James 'Jim' Corsi - IHSA

Hall of Fame high school soccer coach at Gibault Catholic High School.

Dr. Georgia Costello - Community College Project

President of Southwestern College discusses the school's history.

Carl Cottingham - Community College Project

History of John Logan Community College since its creation in 1968.

Walter W. Covert - World War II

14th Armored Division half-track driver's memories of combat in Germany

Dan Cox - School District Reorganization

Superintendent of Jasper County #1 School Districts discusses school reorganization

Harold Cox - World War II

Infantryman who served in Patton's Third Army in Europe

Jim Creviston - Korean War

U.S. Army tank commander during Korean War

Dr. Clifford Crone - Community College Project

Administrator in the Freeport School District Which Operated Freeport Junior College Eventually Highland Community College

Dr. Clifford Crone - School District Reorganization

Superintendent at Indian Prairie School District #204

Robert J. Crowley - Korean War

Signal Corps officer who worked as an advisor to Koreans

Kathy Crum - Alternatives in Education

Former principal at Graham Elementary School discusses year-round schooling.

Theresa Faith Cummings - Springfield African-American History Foundation

Social services administrator and businesswoman

Eileen Cunningham - Modern Era

Early farm life, school, marriage and history of IL River Valley.

Barbara Flynn Currie - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Majority Leader Currie discusses her long career in the IL Legislature thru 1991

Barbara Flynn Currie - Educational Reform Act 1985

Illinois legislator's involvement with the Educational Reform Act of 1985.

Charles Curry - Williamsville

Last of an era - a mom-and-pop grocery in Williamsville

Lawrence Curtin - Modern Era

Life on a central IL farm during Depression & WW II

Lawrence Curtin - Korean War

Radioman with the 3rd Infantry Division in Korea from 1952-1953

Ted Curtis - Springfield African-American History Foundation

Realtor, school board member, state government administrator



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