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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State Senator who served on the Classroom First Commission.
From auto mechanic to ag machinery, to restoration at Deere Collectors' Center.
Typist for the 149th Army Replacement Battalion in Naples
NFHS executive discusses the organization's relationship with IHSA.
William Rainey Harper College trustee discusses history of the school
Athletic experiences for hearing impaired student, coach and athletics director.
First girls’ basketball coach at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois.
Farmer & school board president for a district struggling with consolidation issues.
Founder of Families Against Rural Messes discusses her fight against large livestock operations
Discussion with a central Illinois grain farmer.
Veteran who served in the 83rd Division in Europe
Lifelong veterinarian who also served as the Illinois state Veterinarian.
DePaul University student discusses her experiences as a journalism major
Professor of Communications at Illinois State University discusses civics education.
Coaching and officiating girls sports at Illinois high schools.
Women's head basketball coach at IL State University.
Asst Superintendent at Kankakee District 111 discusses competency based learning.
President of the University of Illinois from 1979 to 1995
Executive Director of the Teachers' Retirement System on the IL pension crisis
POW sailor held by Japanese who worked on the Burma Railroad
Mayor of Aurora discusses the communities challenges with COVID-19 pandemic
Cahokia Mounds Senior Interpreter with over 45 years at the site
Principal of Eric Solorio Academy High School talks about its creation and educational mission.
School administrator & consultant on school reorganization issues in Illinois.
Social service worker, parent, plaintiff in Springfield school desegregation case
An interview with Jacqueline 'Jackie' Jackson, author of 'The Round Barn'. Jackie reflects in detail about the future of agriculture.
Len Jackson, a security guard at the IL State Capitol, recounts his experiences during the ERA protest in June of 1982.
Parent, community volunteer
IL State Senator and friend of Barack Obama
Democratic mayor of East Moline before becoming an IL State Senator
Director of UIUC’s Institute for Computational Redistricting and the Bedtime Research Institute
Executive Director of the IASBO who served on Illinois's Classrooms First Commission
Director of the IL Association of School Business discusses the evidence-based funding model
Naval officer on an LST at Sicily, Salerno & Normandy landings
Managing the IL baseball Pistol Shrimps during the pandemic
Relationship with Parkland College both as a student and as Chair of the IL House Higher Education Committee.
Agriculture In Illinois Diary farmer explains managing a large dairy operation.
Plaintiff in the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court case in 2018
Superintendent of Rockford School District #205, a district facing funding challenges.
Walk and talk interview with an Illinois hog farmer.
Discussion with a retired hog farmer from Delavan, Illinois.
President of Moraine Valley Community College discussing current initiatives.
Engineering Officer in Korea and Vietnam
High school history and civics teacher talks about civics education
DeKalb County Treasurer reflects on school funding in Illinois.
CEO of Tivoli Enterprises describes how the pandemic impacted the movie theatre business
Superintendent in Rossville-Alvin School District on high school deactivation.
Former Dept. of Revenue Director and IL Taxpayer Federation Pres. sheds light on the Pension Crisis
President and operator of Johnson Grain elevator terminal in Waverly, IL.
The General Manager and Superintendant of the Rail Golf Course of Springfield, Illinois.
The General Manager and Superintendant of the Rail Golf Course of Springfield, Illinois.
A family's multi-generational history on the farm and changes in agriculture
Executive Director of Oak Ridge Cemetery -Lincoln's final resting place
Life on Kline Creek Farm, an 1890s living-history farm.
Johnson grows trees and has a saw-mill producing furniture woods.
Life on a sustainable tree farm and sawmill.
Kishwaukee College trustee discusses the history of Kishwaukee College.
Thornridge High School teacher discusses the teaching of civics
Administrator for the IL HSA discusses the group's history.
Served in the Pacific as an engineer in the 3rd Engineer Special Brigade
Long-time IL State Senator, Senate President from 2003-2008
World-class Blues musician, educator, and songwriter
A Navy Corpsman (medic) with a Marine Long Range Reconnaissance Team
School superintendent of the Chenoa and Octavia school districts discussing reorg issues.
Elementary teacher, college administrator, school board member
Senior Medical Officer and Former Co-Lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health describes the impact of the pandemic
Owner of Jostes Garage in Rochester and Route 66 enthusiast
Summers in Rochester as a child led to her spending her adult life there
Career Army aviator who served in Vietnam in 1965 and again in 1968
Member of Illinois Civics Education Task Force
Cook County assessor discusses school funding
Illinois Bell employee who worked on several Illinois tourist commissions in Springfield, IL.
Delegate to IL ConCon talks about Education Funding
Delegate to IL ConCon, working on Education Committee, discusses Pension Clause
Governor Jim Edgar's first chief counsel (1990-1992)
Long-time friend and public relations advisor to Governor Dan Walker
Rob Karr, President and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association about the challenges faced during the Covid-19 Pandemic
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.
University of Illinois-Springfield professor discusses social studies teacher education
Civics training for the judicial branch of government at Kankakee Community College.
Director of the Office of Innovative Professional Learning at DePaul U.
Associate Professor at Eastern Illinois University discusses teaching journalism.
Marine tanker during the last year of the Korean War
An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s
An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s
An IL statehouse reporter for several radio stations from the 1970s thru 2000s
On-line education at secondary level and IL Virtual School.
Advocate of no-till farming talks about his early involvement.
An MP guarding North Korean prisoners during the war
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.