Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with Edward Russell
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Illinois
State Museum’s Oral History of Illinois Agriculture project
Interview # AIS-V-L-2008-092
Edward Russell, a vineyard and winery operator, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Oral History of Illinois Agriculture project.
Interview dates & location:
Date: July 29, 2008
Location: Creal Springs, Illinois
Interview Format: Digital video
Interviewer: Michael Maniscalco, Illinois State Museum
Technical Support: cameraman, Dr. Robert Warren, Illinois State Museum
Transcription by: Tape Transcription Center, Boston, MA
Edited by: Michael Maniscalco and Rachel Warren, Illinois State Museum
Video indexed by: James Oliver, Illinois State Museum
Total Pages: 21 Total Time: 1:15 + 1:11 / 1.25 + 1.18 hrs = 2.43 hrs
Session 1: Launching a southern Illinois vineyard and winery late in life
Session 2: Walking tour of wine bottling operation and vineyard
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on 11/20/2009.
The interviews are archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2008 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
Ed Russell, Agriculture in Illinois Oral History Project
Biographical Information Overview of Interview: Edward Russell was born in Lom Poc, California on September 22, 1943. Mr. Russell grew up in Oklahoma and went into the navy after graduating from high school. After the completion of his navy career Mr. Russell began work in the construction and iron industries. He worked in this field for 40 years. In the year 2000, Mr. Russell retired and decided he wanted to grow table grapes in southern Illinois. With minimal knowledge of the grape industry, Ed enrolled in a few college courses. He soon found that the table grape industry would not be easy since he would have to continually go to farmers markets and the grapes would not stay fresh very long. After discussions with classmates and teachers, Ed settled on a vineyard and wine making.
Edward Russell owns 170 acres on which he has a 15-acre vineyard and a 15-acre winery and retail shop. Mr. Russell grows six different types of grapes and can produce 13 different varieties of wine. Mr. Russell explained that to make the varieties one must blend the grapes to get a certain taste to the wine. Mr. Russell explains the life cycle of a grape from the time it is formed to the point that the wine is placed in the bottle.
Topics Covered: Grape Growing; Wine Making; Wine Culture;
Note 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