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  Ann Swanke Interview, 1973

  Ann Swanke

  Ann Swanke was a teacher in Browns Valley for many years. Her husband moved to Browns Valley in 1886 at the age of six months.

  In this interview, Ann Swanke discusses her early family history, her education, her early teaching experiences, World War I, her home and social life as a child, her family's bakery, her church, going to college, the methods she used in her teaching, and her writings.

  Traverse County

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  Ann Swanke Interview, 1973

  Ann Swanke

  Ann Swanke was a teacher in Browns Valley for many years. Her husband moved to Browns Valley in 1886 at the age of six months.

  In this interview, she discusses the presidents from McKinley-Nixon, roads, electric lights, radios, automobiles, storms, World War I and II, fires, and the Depression.

  Traverse County

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  Fred Swanson Interview, 1990

  Fred Swanson

  In this interview, Fred Swanson discusses his experiences as a soldier during World War I. He discusses his training at Camp Grant, fighting in the Argonne Forest, and living in Germany for a few months after the armistice. He talks about the artillery, the people who were left homeless by the bombing and his return to the United States.

  Stevens County

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  Henry Swanson Interview, 1973

  Henry Swanson

  Henry Swanson was born in 1892 and was Swedish. He farmed in the White Rock, South Dakota and Munson Township area.

  In this interview, Henry Swanson gives a brief history of Munson Township, the opening of South Dakota's Sisseton Indian Reservation, and White Rock, South Dakota. He discusses farming, the Great Depression, storms, diseases and medicine, the Hutterite Colony, and farm and labor movements.

  Stearns County

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  Rose Taffe Interview, ca. 1979

  Rose Taffe

  Rose Taffe was 80 years old and was born in Nebraska. Her family moved to Minnesota to get away from the drought. She lived in Barry at the time of the interview. She worked in a bank for three years.

  In this interview, she talks about working in the bank in Barry and describes what main street used to be like in Barry. She talks about what housekeeping was like before electricity, especially concerning washing clothes, ironing, butchering, and gardening. She discusses the school her children went to and her introduction to radios.

  Big Stone County

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  Orville Tatge Interview, 1973

  Orville Tatge

  Orville Tatge was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1920 and moved to Minnesota in 1927. He served in the Armed Forces in World War II. He has been active in the National Farmers Organization (NFO) since 1962, and was elected President of the Swift County NFO in 1963. He was appointed County Treasurer in 1969.

  In this interview, Orville Tatge discusses the Farmer's Holiday Movement and life during the Great Depression. He compares different farmers organizations and their functions. He then goes into his activities in the NFO, and the meat holding of 1964.

  Swift County

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  Robert Thedin Interview, ca. 1977

  Robert Thedin

  Bob Thedin was 86 years old and was born in Kensington, Minnesota. He farmed in Kensington for many years, then became an insurance agent for hail insurance. He also got into the real estate business in the Morris area.

  In this interview, he discusses his work as an insurance agent for hail damage. He talks about what interesting items he was paid with as an insurance agent. He talks a little bit about car insurance as well. He talks about running a real estate agency, particularly selling farmland.

  Douglas County

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  Olin Thompson Interview, 1972

  Olin Thompson

  Olin Thompson was born on May 1, 1888 and lived across the river from the old site of Pomme de Terre village. His father was Michael Thompson. He married Elaine Brown.

  In this interview, Olin Thompson discusses his first teachers and the school he attended. He talks about Pomme de Terre village and the businesses that were there, as well as the stagecoach from Herman to Ashby.

  Grant County

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  Otto Thurmer Interview, 1978

  Otto Thurmer

  Otto Thurmer was born in 1904 in Jackson, Minnesota. He lived in Morris from 1922 onward. He learned carpentry from his uncle when he was 15 years old and worked as a carpenter since then with short periods of working on farms also.

  In this interview, Otto Thurmer discusses various aspects of construction carpentry from the 1920s to the time of the interview. He discusses tools, materials, methods of construction, composition of construction crews with degree of specialization, and other topics.

  Stevens County

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  Otto Thurmer Interview, ca. 1977

  Otto Thurmer

  Otto Thurmer was 72 years old and resided in Morris. He was born in Jackson, Minnesota and grew up on a farm.

  In this interview, he discusses his career in carpentry. He also relates his experiences in professional wrestling.

  Stevens County

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  Bill Torgerson Interview, ca. 1976

  Bill Torgerson

  Bill Torgerson was 92 years old and was born in Fargo, North Dakota and moved to Starbuck in 1914 to assume operation of the Starbuck bank. His father was a pioneer doctor and before coming to Starbuck, Bill Torgerson worked in a livery barn and as a carpenter. He operated an early filling station in Starbuck. As a former member of the school board, town treasurer and mayor, he was active in local affairs. He was instrumental in selling Starbuck a municipal power plant and the establishment of Lakeshore Park.

  In this interview, Bill Torgerson discusses his time working at the bank in Starbuck and operating the early filling station. He discusses all the things he did as school board member and mayor, particularly the power plant and the establishment of Lakeshore Park.

  Pope County

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  Bob Treischel Interview, ca. 1975

  Bob Treischel

  Bob Treischel was born in Oklahoma and he was 86 years old. He and his family moved to Morris where his father operated Morris Steam Laundry. He began farming outside of Morris in 1916 and also served in the Alberta Post Office from 1946-1963. He also talks some about hunting, fishing, and trapping in West-Central Minnesota.

  Stevens County

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  Alice Tripp Interview, 1979

  Alice Tripp

  This interview deals primarily with Alice Tripp's campaign for Governor in the 1979 DFL primary race (in which she won 20% of the vote, the first woman in the state to do so), but it also touches upon Tripp's family history, the development of her political ideals, and her role as a woman activist in West Central Minnesota. Some of the political issues and concerns which Alice Tripp comments on include: international politics, energy and corporate power, labor unions, and cooperatives.

  Stearns County

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  Walter Trost Interview, ca. 1976

  Walter Trost

  Walter Trost was 85 years old and was born north of Chokio. His grandfather homesteaded there. He farmed for a while, then became a butcher, and later worked for the Donnelly Creamery. He then opened a cabinet making shop. He was a mandolin player who played in a local group at social functions.

  In this interview, he talks about his farm life and the Chokio area as he remembers it. He discusses prairie fires and their prevention. He talks about playing the mandolin with a local group and the types of music they played. He discusses the various jobs he worked over the years, in particular the cabinetmaking shop and woodworking.

  Stevens County

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  Effie Tyberg Interview, ca. 1979

  Effie Tyberg

  Effie Tyberg grew up on a farm in South Central Minnesota. She was 86 years old and lived in Hoffman at the time of the interview.

  In this interview, she recalls farm life in the early years of the century. She talks about the dairy products made from the farm and going to a rural school. She was a farm wife for 45 years. She talks about the chores she did, including cooking, milking, and farming turkeys. She also recalls the first cars in the area. She talks about some of the dry-goods they purchased, such as coffee and flour. She discusses getting electricity as well.

  Grant County

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  Anne Stewart Uehling Interview, 1981

  Anne Stewart Uehling

  Anne Stewart Uehling was a homemaker and writer-educator. She helped to organize and was a charter member of the League of Women Voters' Morris chapter. She was also its president during 1981.

  In this interview, Anne Stewart Uehling gives a short history of the League in Morris (1970-1981) along with a description of the major projects the League had been involved in during the past decade. Included in these projects were the Education Survey and the Survey on the Economic Status of Women in Morris. Anne Stewart Uehling also discussed men's role in the League as well as the present status of the League in Morris.

  Stevens County

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  Edna Varnum Interview, 1979

  Edna Varnum

  In this interview, Edna Varnum discusses how she and her husband started their Main Street business that eventually became Varnum's Hardware. She discusses here role in buying and determining new product lines, the difficulties and changes World War II brought to the hardware business, and the reasons for the sale of their family-operated business.

  Stevens County

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  Emma Varnum Interview, ca. 1977

  Emma Varnum

  Emma Varnum was 95 years old and lived in Morris. She was born in Illinois and her father was a farmer. She knew Thomas Edison when she was a child. After she was married, she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico traveling by covered wagon. In 1906 she moved to Morris.

  In this interview, she discusses travelling by wagon train to New Mexico and what they ate and drank along the way. She discusses train robberies and what it was like to live in New Mexico, including how they got and rationed potable water. She talks about early Morris, the many liquor stores and the "red light" district.

  Stevens County

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  Howard Wagner Interview, ca. 1979

  Howard Wagner

  Howard Wagner was a life-long resident of Herman. Howard was on the Grant County Fair Board for 12 years.

  In this interview, Howard discusses the history of the Grant County Fair and his involvement in the fair through 4-H. In particular, he talks about horse racing and stock car racing at the fair.

  Grant County

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  Ed Weeding Interview, ca. 1977

  Ed Weeding

  Ed Weeding was 68 years old and lived in Chokio. He attended the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris.

  In this interview, he discusses some experiences about his time at the West Central School of Agriculture. He discusses the depression and farming. He relates his involvement in the group that brought the University of Minnesota to Morris. He mentions the friction with Montevideo.

  Stevens County

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  George Weick Interview, ca. 1979

  George Weick

  George Weick was 86 years old and lived in Graceville, Minnesota at the time of the interview. He was born in western Nebraska and moved to Minnesota when he was 21 years old. His family homesteaded in Nebraska.

  In this interview, he talks about his family homesteading, World War I, and his own farm in Minnesota. He discusses raising angus cattle, the price of land and the changes in farming.

  Big Stone County

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  Ernest Weiss Interview, ca. 1977

  Ernest Weiss

  Ernest Weiss was 83 years old and was born in Kingsbury County, South Dakota. His parents immigrated from Germany. He grew up on a farm in South Dakota. He farmed in both South Dakota and Minnesota in his life.

  In this interview, he discusses living on the farm as a child. He talks about going to country school. He then discusses World War I--he was in the service but never went overseas. He then moved to Minnesota to farm and talks about the droughts they had there. He mentions his horses and the training of them. He was a carpenter for some time and discusses those experiences.

  Pope County

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  Henry Wendt Interview, ca. 1977

  Henry Wendt

  Henry Wendt was 78 years old. His parents were born in Germany and immigrated to the United States. His father homesteaded in Stevens County in 1877, and Henry Wendt continued to live on the land at the time of the interview. He farmed the land from 1929-1963.

  In this interview, Henry Wendt discusses his family history and the process of filing for a homestead. He also discusses various stories of his father, including a story about how his father almost lost his money pouch while threshing. He then talks about his experiences farming, including the changes in farming equipment.

  Stevens County

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  Cleda Wernsing Interview, ca. 1979

  Cleda Wernsing

  Cleda Wernsing was born in Illinois and was 83 years old. Her father was a farmer and her family moved to Minnesota because of cheaper land.

  In this interview, Cleda discusses the changes Chokio and Johnson have undergone over the years. She discusses what they did for a social life. She also talks about some of the changes in home appliances over the years.

  Stevens County and Big Stone County

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  Clara Wheeler Interview, 1976

  Clara Torgerson Wheeler

  Clara Wheeler was born July 12, 1891 on a farm in Glenwood, Minnesota. Her father farmed 120 acres and raised cattle. She went to school in District 40 and was one of 14 children. She also taught school before her marriage, in a one-room schoolhouse. She also attended the Glenwood Academy.

  In this interview, she discusses farming, life on a farm, and around Glenwood in general. She also briefly discusses interactions with Native Americans in her childhood.

  Pope County