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  Neal Brown Interview, ca. 1977

  Neal Brown

  Neal Brown was originally from Minneapolis. He moved to Alberta, Minnesota in 1966, and he also spent some time working in Wales Wisconsin at the Wisconsin State School for Boys. He worked in security at the University of Minnesota Morris when he moved back to Minnesota until his retirement.

  In this interview, Neal Brown discusses his work at the First National Bank and his work with bonds and securities. He talks about his work with delinquent boys in the Wisconsin State School for Boys. He then talks about working as a security officer at the University of Minnesota Morris. Finally, he talks a little bit about his political views and philosophy.

  Stevens County

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  Ed Buntje Interview, 1978

  Edward Buntje

  Ed Buntje was born in 1916 south of Morris and grew up in the Morris area. He worked as a truck driver until 1958 when he began doing construction work with John Naegle, a large Morris contractor. Ed Buntje discusses changes in construction in the previous 20 years, different types of materials used, specialization of labor, and old hotels in Morris.

  Stevens County

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  Helen Burfiend Interview, 1973

  Helen Burfiend

  Helen Margaret Allanson Burfiend was born on July 4, 1901 in the town of Wheaton, Minnesota to George and Bertha Allanson. Her great grandfather, Major Joseph Brown, was the founder of Browns Valley and Henderson, Minnesota.

  In this interview, Helen Burfiend discusses her family history, including Major Joseph Brown and his wife Susan Frenier Brown, her grandfather John S. Allanson and his wife Ellen Brown Allanson, and her father George Gray Allanson. She discusses her father's storytelling, the family home, her grade school and high school experience in Wheaton, Minnesota, and social activities and sports. She discusses train travel, the Wheaton Post Office in the 1920s, organization memberships, World War I, and the Depression. She discusses her father's history, newspaper business, politics, jobs as fire chief and justice of the peace, and history collection and job with the Works Progress Administration. She discusses Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Sinclair Lewis, World War II, and Hubert Humphrey. She talks about her father's illness and death, her own personal life, and her plans for her father's papers.

  Traverse County

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  Helen Burfiend Interview, 1973

  Helen Burfiend

  Helen Margaret Allanson Burfiend was born on July 4, 1901 in the town of Wheaton, Minnesota to George and Bertha Allanson. Her great grandfather, Major Joseph Brown, was the founder of Browns Valley and Henderson, Minnesota.

  In this interview, Helen Burfiend discusses her great grandfather Major Joseph Brown at Lake Traverse, Native American relations, her family history, the Wheaton-Browns Valley fight for the county seat, Fort Sisseton, and her father George Allanson.

  Traverse County

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  Fred Burns Interview, 1972

  Fred Burns

  Fred Burns was born in 1886 and raised near village of Pomme de Terre. His parents came to Grant County in 1852.

  In this interview, Fred Burns talks about his early neighbors, grasshoppers on the farm, his school experiences, the Pomme de Terre Fort and the businesses in the village of Pomme de Terre.

  Grant County

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  Larry Busch Interview, 1975

  Larry Busch

  Mr. Busch was born on March 28, 1908 in Pepperton Township. He lived in the area most of his life and held a number of different jobs.

  In this interview, Mr. Busch reminisces about his early life and experiences. He discusses his time in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He also discusses WPA, the National Guard, his hobbies, and his present activities.

  Stevens County

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  Adeline Carbert Interview, 1977

  Adeline Carbert

  In this interview, Mrs. Carbert discusses her years as a school teacher in District 8, near Morris. She taught from 1928 through the 1930 school year. She discusses all aspects of teaching at District 8. She also touches on her years as a member of the school board in District 8.

  Stevens County

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  Art Carlson Interview, ca. 1976

  Art Carlson

  Art Carlson was 82 years old. His father ran an electric light plan for Stuart. Art worked as a messenger boy on the Benson-Huron Railroad and later became an electrical contractor following the introduction of electricity to West Central Minnesota. He acquired the Coast to Coast franchise in 1932.

  In this interview, Art Carlson reflects on merchandizing then vs. now. He recalls the old flour mill and the pre-WPA dam. He remembers the first car in Morris in 1901. He also talks about the operation of the railroad in Morris.

  Stevens County

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  Mabel Cartwright Interview, 1976

  Mabel Cartwright

  Mabel Stone Cartwright discusses her own personal history, giving some insight into the social history of the community.

  Stevens County

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  Blanche Casanova Interview, 1977

  Blanche Casanova

  Blanche Casanova was born in 1912, grew up near Sisseton, South Dakota, and lived in Morris from 1938 until the time of the interview.

  In this interview, she discusses her childhood near Sisseton, South Dakota, her high school years on the iron range, the Sisseton hospital, home medical care, the years of the Depression, prostitution in St. Paul during the Depression, and the Yugoslavians during World War II.

  Roberts County, South Dakota

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  Erland Charles Interview, 1975

  Erland Charles

  Mr Charles was involved in politics from the 1940s to the 1970s for the Republican Party. He was the County Chairman from 1959-1962 and chairman of the 6th District from 1961-1968 for the Republican Party.

  In this interview, Mr. Charles discusses U.S. elections from 1948-1960 and politics and politicians from 1938-1968. He also discusses the CIO, Henry Wallace, the 1948 election, the Democratic and Republican Parties, farming, and the American Communist Party.

  Stevens County

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  Ruby Charles Interview, 1978

  Ruby Charles

  Mrs. Charles was born in Morris in April 27, 1895. She went to school in Morris and acquired her teaching certificate from Morris High School in 1913. She taught in six schools around the area for about thirty five years. She lives today on a farm outside of Hancock.

  In this interview, Mrs. Charles discusses information on rural schools in Stevens County and their general organization. She also discusses the life of a teacher in rural Minnesota.

  Stevens County

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  Jack Christensen Interview, 1983

  Jack Christensen

  Jack Christensen was born and raised in Battle Lake, Minnesota. He went on to become a life long member of the community and has always been actively involved in farming. He became a member of the National Farmers Organization in 1969.

  In this interview, Jack Christensen discusses his role in the National Farm Organization (NFO) from 1969 to the time of the interview. Among the topics discussed are the NFO's prime objectives, recruitment policies, and the future of the NFO.

  Otter Tail County

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  Charles Christianson Interview, 1973

  Charles Christianson

  Charles Christianson was born in Roseville Township on December 19, 1893. His father was a Norwegian immigrant. Charles Christianson was a farmer in Grant County.

  In this interview, Charles Christianson discusses farm mortgages, steam engines and threshing, Bill Moses' farm, the Farmer's Union in Elbow Lake, and a cooperative health insurance group he helped organize.

  Grant County

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  Charles Christianson Interview, 1975

  Charles Christianson

  Charles Christianson was born in 1894 and was a long-time resident of Grant County.

  In this interview, he tells the story told to him by his uncle about the time the county records were moved from Herman to Elbow Lake

  Grant County

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  Chris Christianson Interview, ca. 1979

  Chris Christianson

  Chris Christianson was born in Denmark and lived there until he was 19. He moved to Iowa when he came to the United States, where he did work digging ditches and started farming in 1915. He volunteered for the army in World War I and served as an ambulance driver. After the war, he married and moved to Stevens County working as a thresher. At the time of the interview, Chris was 86 years old.

  In this interview, Chris discusses his schooling in Denmark and the differences between farming in Denmark versus the United States. He discusses the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and his cross-country trip to Iowa. He talks about his work digging ditches, and some of the issues they encountered such as quicksand. He discussed ambulance driving during World War I and his work in the Medical Corps during the war. He discusses his citizenship proceedings after the war. Then he mentions the transition from use of horses to the use of tractor machinery.

  Stevens County

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  Edwin Christianson Interview, ca. 1977

  Edwin Christianson

  Edwin Christianson was 81 years old and from Morris, Minnesota. He moved to Morris in 1903 from Rock County in southern Minnesota. He grew up on a farm and ended up farming himself.

  In this interview, he talks about World War I and his patriotic reasons for enlisting. He talks about the influenza epidemic in 1918. He relates farming experiences and talks about changes that have occurred. He talks about harvesting corn by hand and threshing. He discusses some of the items and implements he invented. Finally, he mentions his hunting, fishing, and trapping experiences.

  Stevens County

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  Rev. Elias Christianson Interview, ca. 1979

  Elias Christianson

  Rev. Elias Christianson was 81 years old and was from Starbuck, Minnesota. He was born in China in 1898 to missionary parents. His father was from Norway. He spent most of his life working in churches in North Dakota. After his retirement, he became a chaplain at the nursing home in Starbuck, Minnesota.

  In this interview, Elias discusses missionaries in China and growing up in China. He discusses going to seminary and becoming a reverend. He discusses preaching in Norwegian and the churches that he preached at in North Dakota. He discusses the effects of the Depression on the church and the people in his congregation. He discusses what he has been doing since his retirement, including being a chaplain at the nursing home in Starbuck. Finally, he talks about his hobbies, including diary writing and writing a memoir.

  Pope County

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  Terry P. Collins Interview, 1978

  Terry P. Collins

  Mr. Collins is an attorney in Morris, Minnesota.

  In this interview, Mr. Collins discusses his involvement in making the Morris Senior Citizens Center a corporation and discusses that process.

  Stevens County

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  Lillian Cook Interview, ca. 1979

  Lillian Cook

  Lillian Cook was 95 years old and lived in Alberta, Minnesota. Her parents homesteaded in Stevens County, where she was born. Her mother was Norwegian and her father was English.

  In this interview, Lillian discusses her ethnic background, threshing experiences, prices, and her farm wife experiences including baking bread, milking, canning, and gardening.

  Stevens County

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  Robert B. Coy Interview, 1976

  Robert B. Coy

  Robert Coy was born in 1894 and came to Danvers Minnesota with his family in 1905. His father had purchased both a lumberyard and later a general store. His father subsequently sold the lumberyard and in a few years, his father died. The store was managed by a guardian who turned it over to the elder Coy's sons once the boys graduated from high school. Robert Coy lived in Danvers and managed the store until 1969.

  In this interview, Robert Coy discusses what Danvers was like in the early 1900s in terms of recreation, facilities, and employment. He mentions the changes the years have brought (for example: a large fire in 1931) and speaks briefly about his role as a businessman during the Depression and World Wars.

  Swift County

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  Agnes Cunningham Interview, 1973

  Agnes Cunningham

  In this interview, Agnes Cunningham discusses her family and personal history, her family in the early days of Big Stone County, school in Big Stone County, the effects of the Depression on teaching, differences in teaching from 1935 to 1955, World War II, and diseases and health problems, including polio.

  Big Stone County and Traverse County

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  Mrs. J.A. Dalziel Interview, ca. 1977

  Mrs. J. A. Dalziel

  Mrs. J.A. Dalziel was born in Illinois and was 83 years old. Her father brought her family to Minnesota because of the cheaper land prices in 1907. She taught in rural school for five years.

  In this interview, she describes travelling by train and her experiences teaching in rural schools.

  Traverse County

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  Keith Davison Interview, 2022

  Keith Davison and Miranda Jennings

  Keith Davison of Morris, Minnesota discusses his time in the Army during World War I. He talks about his position as a lawyer and judge in Morris, Minnesota. Keith discusses playing the tuba in community bands and music in the region. He also talks about the neighborhood swimming pool he built in his retirement.

  Stevens County

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  Grace DeWall Interview, 1980

  Grace Gardner DeWall

  Grace DeWall was a member of the Wadsworth Trail Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Morris from 1931 to 1953 when the group was disbanded. She then became a member of the D.A.R. chapter in Ortonville.

  In this interview, Grace DeWall discusses the Morris chapter's activities, the Morris group's relationship with the national organization and talks about individual D.A.R. members in Morris.

  Stevens County