The allure of Baby Boomer childhood and youth is enduring. It’s fun to revisit pop culture artifacts from the 1950s and 1960s. But the motivating question of this oral history project is something more specific: what difference did it make to grow up in West Central Minnesota during those years? Our research will move back and forth between well-known national stories of youth culture and the specific sites, institutions, and activities that drew kids and teens in our region.
An exhibit of this event walks through topics of interest, such as childhood, schooling, pop culture, fashion, and family life.
This activity is supported by the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Advanced Study as a Research and Creative Collaborative.
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Dawn Benson Interview, 2025
Dawn Benson and Lex Lhotka
Dawn Benson discusses her childhood growing up on a farm in Chippewa County, Minnesota. She discusses going to school in Murdock, Minnesota.
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Vern Brown Interview, 2025
Vern Brown and Ward Voorhees
Vern Brown discusses his childhood in the 1950s and '60s three miles southeast of Hancock, Minnesota.
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LeAnn Dean Interview, 2025
LeAnn Dean and Mary Klauda
LeAnn Dean discusses growing up in the 1950s and '60s on a farm five miles north of Kerkhoven, MN.
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Thomas Harren Interview, 2025
Thomas Harren and Seth Schmidt
Tom Harren discusses his childhood in the 1950s in Morris, Minnesota.
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Linda Krogsrud Interview, 2025
Linda Krogsrud and Jason Frank
Linda Krogsrud discusses her childhood in the 1950s and '60s on a farm nine miles east of Ortonville, MN.
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Carla Riley Interview, 2025
Carla Riley and LeAnn Dean
Carla Riley discusses her childhood and youth growing up in Morris, Minnesota.
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Joe Riley Interview, 2025
Joe Riley and Sarah Backman
Joe Riley discusses his childhood in the 1950s and '60s on a farm northwest of Morris, MN.
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Jay Ross Interview, 2025
Jay Ross and Jason Frank
Jay Ross discusses his childhood in the 1950s in Ortonville, Minnesota.
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Carol Swenson Interview, 2025
Carol Swenson and Seth Schmidt
Carol Swenson discusses her childhood living on a farm in Swift County, Minnesota, including going to school in Murdock, Minnesota, and her time in college at the University of Minnesota Morris.
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Annegine Vipond Interview, 2025
Annegine Vipond and Jodi Sperr
Annegine Vipond, from Eldorado Township in Stevens County, describes her childhood and youth in Stevens County, Minnesota.