This collection contains interviews with important members of the University of Minnesota Morris campus, including many interviews done for the Promise of the Prairie documentary.
The digitization of some of these oral histories was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Any views, findings, opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society, or the Minnesota Historic Resources Advisory Committee.
Some additional interviews with UMN Morris faculty and administrators are available in the UMN Digital Conservancy, including interviews with Jack Imholte, Bettina Blake, Bill Stewart, and Bill and Ida Stewart.
This webpage includes archived web content, which may not meet accessibility standards. To request content in an accessible format, contact the University of Minnesota Morris Archives at [email protected].
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Fred Peterson Oral History, 2022
Fred Peterson and Mary Klauda
During this interview, Fred Peterson discusses his time as art faculty at the University of Minnesota Morris. He discusses the creation of the art discipline curriculum, the art gallery on campus, the changes after the Humanities Fine Arts Building was constructed, and his publications and research on vernacular architecture.
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Joe Pierret Oral History, 1978
Joe Pierret
During the 1977-78 school year, Joe Pierret was the manager of Agoraphobia: the student-operated record and magazine store on the UMN Morris campus. In this interview, Pierret comments on the responsibilities of the store's manager and reaffirms the need for a student store on the UMN Morris campus in light of the fact that no student union exists. Pierret also offers his opinions on why the store had problems in the past and suggests that given good management, the store has a promising future.
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Lowell Rasmussen Oral History
Lowell Rasmussen
Lowell Rasmussen, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Facilities, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Lowell Rasmussen Oral History, 2023
Lowell Rasmussen and Kayde Moore
Lowell Rasmussen discusses his time at the University of Minnesota Morris as the Vice Chancellor for Facilities and Finance. He primarily talks about campus buildings, construction and renovation of campus buildings, campus planning and finance, and sustainability initiatives.
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Dave Reikowski Oral History, 1979
Dave Reikowski
Agoraphobia was the name give in 1976 to the student-operated record and magazine store on the UMN Morris campus. Dave Reikowski, manager of Agoraphobia in winter and spring quarters of 1976, talks about his own goals for improving the image of the store by increasing advertising and providing the students with services they wanted. He also reflects on the store management in the previous 3 years and suggests consistency is the important factor for the store's future.
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Bill Rickmeyer Oral History
William Rickmeyer
Bill Rickmeyer, Morris community member, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Nick Ripperger Oral History
Nick Ripperger
Nick Ripperger '72 was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Windy González Roberts Oral History, 2026
Windy Roberts and Mary Klauda
Windy González Roberts discusses her time as a Spanish faculty member at the University of Minnesota Morris. She discusses moving to Morris, the Morris community and town, her experience as a Spanish-speaking community member and Venezuelan immigrant, her experiences teaching Spanish at the high school and at the University, past students who became Fulbright scholars, and her community engagement with the Hispanic community, including the Jane Addams Project and LAZOS.
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Remembering Bill & Ida Stewart: Jeffery Robinson 2023
Jeffery Robinson and Sue Dieter
Reminiscences about William B. Stewart by UMN Morris alumni during the dedication for William B. and Ida B. Stewart Hall on September 9, 2023.
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Gwen Rudney Oral History, 2023
Gwen Rudney, Christian Diederich, and Naomi Skulan
Gwen Rudney, retired education professor and past Division of Education chair, discusses her time at the University of Minnesota Morris, the Education Division, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on education.
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Seth Schmidt Oral History, 2024
Seth Schmidt and Jennifer Antonsen
Seth Schmidt discusses his time as a student at the University of Minnesota Morris in the 1970s and his involvement in the student newspaper, the Campus Community Writer.
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Ray Schultz Oral History, 2024
Ray Schultz and Christian Diederich
An oral history with Ray Schultz, theatre professor from 2000-2025. In this oral history, Ray Schultz discusses the community life at the University of Minnesota Morris, including SOFA, the theatre discipline, the impacts of COVID-19, sustainability and theatre, and some controversial plays that were done.
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Doug Smith Oral History, 1979
Doug Smith
In the fall of 1973, Doug Smith (Director of Student Activities from July, 1973-May, 1975) was commissioned by the Provost to investigate the financial management difficulties experienced by the student-operated record and magazine store on the UMN Morris campus. Smith comments on the reasons for the founding of the student store, mentioning both administration and student concerns at the time of the store's establishment in 1971. There is also an account of the findings of the investigative commission be served on along with his own reflections on the need for and purpose served by a student-run store on campus.
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W. Donald Spring Oral History, 1976
W. Donald Spring
In this interview, W. Donald Spring discusses his first years at the University of Minnesota Morris, often in comparison with subsequent years. He discusses his perceptions of students, faculty, and early organizational problems, as well as his role in helping to develop the early curriculum. He briefly discusses his educational background.
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Bill Stewart Oral History
William B. Stewart
Bill Stewart, Director of the Minority Student Program, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Jerry Swenson Oral History 2023
Jerry Swenson and Christian Diederich
Jerry Swenson '70 discusses his time as an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota Morris in the 1960s. He discusses faculty he worked with, dormitories, student life, and the Vietnam War.
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Pat Tanner Oral History
Pat Tanner
Pat Tanner, secretary to the chancellor, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Ruth Thielke Oral History
Ruth Thielke
Ruth Thielke, past registrar, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Ruth Thielke Oral History, 1986
Ruth Thielke
Ruth Thielke discusses the Vietnam War and the University of Minnesota Morris.
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liz thomson Oral History, 2023
liz thomson and Lex Lhotka
In this oral history, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion liz thomson discusses their time at the University of Minnesota - Morris, including how their identity as a disabled, bi, queer, gender nonconforming, Vietnamese person has impacted their time at Morris. They discuss the Morris community, equity and diversity in curriculum, and microaggressions.
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Bonnie Tipcke Oral History, 1986
Bonnie Tipcke
Bonnie Tipcke discusses the Vietnam War and its effects on the University of Minnesota Morris.
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Jim Togeas Oral History
James B. Togeas
Jim Togeas, professor of chemistry, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Jim Togeas Oral History, 2016
Jim Togeas
Jim Togeas, professor emeritus of Chemistry, discusses his education and career path that eventually lead him to University of Minnesota, Morris. He talks about the early years of UMN Morris, campus planning and growth, and his thoughts on a what a liberal arts education should envision.
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Carol Wilcox Oral History
Carol Wilcox
Carol Wilcox, former mayor of Morris, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Ralph Williams Oral History, 1978
Ralph Williams
Ralph Williams was born in 1916 in the Glenwood area. He first traveled to Morris in 1928 to a regional music contest. After graduating from college, he became a teacher of music at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, eventually coming to Morris in 1960 to teach at UMN Morris. Ralph Williams has written and published over 100 choral or band works, mostly of a spiritual or religious nature. The interview discussed his musical career from the early days to the present, UMN Morris, the area's growth and development, jazz, and composition.