This collection contains oral histories pertaining to life and events in Stevens County, Minnesota. The oral histories range greatly in topic and time period. These oral histories were digitized in part... grant...
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Gordon (Rock) Allen Interview, 1976
Gordon Allen
Mr. Allen was born on May 27, 1925 in Graceville, Minnesota. He went into the Navy when was 18, and was discharged on his 21st birthday. He spent a year in the Veterans Hospital after a plane accident. After his recovery, he farmed for 13 years, during which time he became an alcoholic. At age 33 he recovered from alcoholism and farmed for 7 more years. In 1968 he took his first job as a counselor after training at Willmar State Hospital. He has worked in Big Stone, Traverse, and Stevens Counties, and had worked in Stevens County for 3 years as an alcohol and drug counselor.
In this interview, Mr. Allen discusses alcoholism in Stevens County and some of its historical perspectives.
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Gust A. Anderson Interview, 1978
Gust A. Anderson
Mr. Anderson discusses his use of the Morris Senior Citizens Center and what aspects of the center he enjoys.
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Rosalie Anderson and Kathryn Sunquist Interview, 1977
Rosalie Anderson and Kathryn Sunquist
Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Sunquist are sisters and grew up in rural Stevens County. They attended the District 8 rural school near Morris in the 1920s-1930s.
In this interview, Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Sunquist discuss their years attending the District 8 school, concentrating on academics and social activities. They discuss the differences between rural schools and the schools in towns.
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Willard Anderson Interview, 1978
Willard Anderson
Willard Anderson was one of the key founders of the Federated Telephone Cooperative of Chokio, Minnesota.
In this interview, Mr. Anderson discusses the development of the Federation, why a centralized telephone cooperative started in this area, and the problems the founders encountered with the Bell system and the Rural Electrification Administration (REA).
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Gerald Babb Interview, 1979
Gerald Babb
Gerald Babb was a newspaperman for more than 40 years.
In this interview, he discusses his experience in the newspaper business, particularly in Hancock, Minnesota. He notes changes in many facets of the industry with which he was related such as printing and advertising.
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Viola Bergherr Interview, 1978
Viola Bergherr
In this interview, Ms. Bergherr discusses the Morris Senior Citizens Center. She was the recently elected Treasurer of the organization and discusses her perspectives as an officer. She also discusses federal programs and financing the Center.
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Charles Broten Interview, 1978
Charles Broten
Mr. Broten is the Director of the Older American Program and had observed and contributed to the development of the Morris Senior Citizens Center.
In this interview, Mr. Broten discusses the financial aspects of the Morris Senior Citizens Center. He discusses how the Center was funded and its activities, programs, and special services to the elderly.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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George Dieter Interview, 1978
George Dieter
Mr. Dieter was the principal of the Chokio-Alberta Junior High School. Prior to becoming principal, he was a social studies teacher and athletic coach.
In this interview, Mr. Dieter discusses the need for the merger of the Chokio and Alberta schools and the benefits since the consolidation took place.
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Henry A. Dosdall Interview, 1976
Henry A. Dosdall
In this interview, Henry Dosdall reminisces about early farm life and early school days. He discusses his first ride in a car and threshing. He speaks about farm equipment and the change from horses to steam to tractors. He discusses Federal land bank loans, interest rates, and his acquiring of land. He discusses the Great Depression and droughts during that time, as well as government programs during the Depression (wheat subsidies). He discusses the establishment of the Farmer's Union Oil Station in Starbuck and his ideas on farm cooperatives.
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Otto Drewes Interview, 1975
Otto Drewes
Mr. Drewes was born in 1908 near Colman, South Dakota. In 1912 he moved to Minnesota and began farming, which he has done all of his life. He was president of the Stevens County Farmer's Union from 1963 to 1967.
In this interview, Mr. Drewes discusses farming and the Farmer's Union in Stevens County.
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Otto Drewes Interview, 1984
Otto Drewes
Mr. Drewes was born in 1908 near Colman, South Dakota. In 1912 he moved to Minnesota and began farming, which he has done all of his life. He was president of the Stevens County Farmer's Union from 1963 to 1967.
In this interview, Mr. Drewes discusses the Farmer's Union in Stevens County.
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Camilla Eames Interview, 1975
Camilla Eames
In this interview, Mrs. Eames discusses a variety of organizations to which she belonged in Morris, Minnesota. These organizations include the local literary society, American Legion Auxiliary, First Lutheran Church and Ladies Aide organization, League of Women Voters, and the Morris Public Library Board. The particular activities the clubs engaged in were the main center of questioning.
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Earl Eames Interview, 1976
Earl Eames
Mr. Eames was born outside of Morris in 1893. Having served overseas in World War I, he returned to Morris where he and his father purchased and operated a grain elevator. He subsequently sold the elevator and started the first "jobbing" operation in West Central Minnesota. In this interview, Mr. Eames talks about public sentiment prior to the United States' entry into World War I and his experiences in France during the war. Other topics discussed include farming and the grain elevator business during the 1920s, prohibition, the depression and its effects on the grain business and farm subsidies.
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Earl Eames Interview, 1976
Earl Eames
Mr. Eames was born outside of Morris in 1893. Having served overseas in World War I, he returned to Morris where he and his father purchased and operated a grain elevator. He subsequently sold the elevator and started the first "jobbing" operation in West Central Minnesota.
In this interview, Mr. Eames describes the development of his business, which ultimately became the largest Northrup King distributor in the nation. Other subjects discussed include: the Farmer's Coop Grain Elevator, the electric power dispute 1932-1934, and the importance of local enterprises to rural areas.
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Josephine Eddy Interview, 1975
Josephine Eddy
Mrs. Eddy was born March 15, 1889 at Verndale, Minnesota. After working with War Risk Insurance during World War I in both Washington D.C. and Minneapolis, she attended the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1925. She then taught for 11 years in Minnesota. After that, she returned to the University of Minnesota and took courses related to social work and came back to work in both Swift and Stevens Counties. Upon retirement, Ms. Eddy has become involved in a number of women's organizations.
In this interview, Ms. Eddy talks about her early life and working with women on WPA. She discusses the various women's organizations she is involved with, including: the American Association of University oWomen, the Student Club, the Literary Club, the League of Women Voters, the Cancer Society, and the Hospital Auxiliary. She concludes the interview with comments on the status of women in the United States.
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William H. Ernst Interview, 1977
William H. Ernst
William Ernst was born on June 30, 1899 in Alberta where he remained throughout his life. He graduated in 1919 from high school in Alberta. From 1942-1955 he was chairman of the school board and from 1961-1967 he was a member of the school board. He is now a semi-retired farmer in the Alberta area.
In this interview, William Ernst discusses the consolidation of the Alberta school, the effect it had on the town and its people, the social activities involved with the school, the Manse (teacher's home) and its effects on Alberta's education system, the model of the school at the 1915 World's Fair, the growth of Alberta and the constant desire for excellence in education. He also discusses his activities as a student, a basketball player, a bus driver, and a school board member.
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Lewis Fults Interview, 1974
Lewis Fults
Mr. Fults was born in Hampton, Iowa. He moved to Minnesota in 1940, and was a farmer for most of his life. He was president of the Stevens County Farm Bureau from 1953-1957.
In this interview, Mr. Fults discusses farm organizations, centering on the Farm Bureau from 1953-1957.
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Margaret (Peg) Gramm Interview, 1975
Margaret Gramm
Ms. Gramm was born in 1954 in Bloomington, Illinois. She and her family moved to Hancock, Minnesota in 1960. At the time of the interview, she worked for the University of Minnesota Morris and had been a member of the Apostolic Christian Church since 1971.
In this interview, Ms. Gramm discusses the customs of the Apostolic Christian Church and the philosophies and activities of the church. Special emphasis is placed upon the role of women within the church and the social customs.
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Cora Grove Interview, 1973
Cora Grove
Ms. Grove was born and raised in the Morris area and was a former librarian for the city of Morris.
In this interview, she recalls the social life in Morris at the turn-of-the-century, including the fair, community clubs, and her own experiences.