Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with Chris McGovern as Thor
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project
Interview # T20-V-L-2021-051
Chris McGovern, a microbiologist, and Thor role-player was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project.
Interview dates & location:
Date: October 19, 2021 Location: Illinois Information Services Central Management Services
Interview Format: Digital Video
Interviewer: Amanda Riggenbach, ALPLM
Technical Support: Mark Suszko, IL Information Service videographer
Total Time: 1:50 / 1.83 hrs.
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on December 14, 2021.
The interview is archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2021 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
Chris McGovern, Tumultuous 2020, T20-V-L-2021-051
Biographical Information/Overview of Interview: Chris McGovern was born in La Grange, Illinois in 1980. He is a microbiologist at the National Center for Agriculture Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois. McGovern started roleplaying as Thor Odinson, the god of thunder from Germanic mythology, in 2016 when his young sons saw the movie The Avengers and noticed the similarities between McGovern and Chris Hemsworth’s portrayal. This marked the beginning of McGovern’s community outreach as Thor.
The first portion of the interview includes McGovern portraying Thor, in full costume and manner. He describes his experiences in “Midgard” (earth) as well as the scope of his community outreach in the Peoria area, especially in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The second portion of the interview was from McGovern’s point-of-view; he describes the importance of role-playing as Thor for both himself and for those he seeks to help. He was recruited by a local non-profit, Heroes, Inc., which heightened his community engagement. With Heroes, Inc. he attends birthday parties and weddings free of charge. These experiences are different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but McGovern describes the positive impact of this work. He also describes the ways the pandemic impacted him and his family.
Subject Headings/Key Words: Peoria, IL; Thor Odinson; community outreach; COVID-19 pandemic; Hash House Harriers; Heroes, Inc; superheroes
Notes to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.
COPYRIGHT
The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone (217) 785-7955