Madison County Oral Histories (66 total)

These oral history interviews were conducted by interviewers associated with Madison Historical and touch on various topics in Madison County history. These topics vary by interviewee.

Thumbnail	Title	Description	Date	Date Added
	Beth Warnecke Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Beth Warnecke discusses growing up in Glen Carbon, having a father active in law and the Democratic Party, going to high school in Highland, working for the Cardinals and the Blues, and starting and managing her own art business: Classic Creations Painting.	October 7, 2018	December 6, 2018
	Betty J. Vaughn Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Betty J. Vaughn discusses her role as the first female supervisor of Olin Brass in East Alton. She also describes her childhood growing up on a farm in Bethalto and changes in Madison County throughout her life.	2018-07-10	September 16, 2018
	Bob Daiber Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Bob Daiber describes his experience as a teacher and the transition to becoming the Superintendent of Schools in Madison County. He also discusses the evolving technology in education settings and growing up in Marine, as well as his run for governor of Illinois in the 2018 election.	July 11, 2017	September 26, 2017
	Bob Gibson Oral History Interview	An oral history interview with Robert "Bob" Gibson, an expert on mine subsidence. Gibson describes his career with the Illinois and federal governments working on abandoned mine lands projects. He also describes several notable cases of mine subsidence from old coal mines in Madison County.	March 11, 2017	June 14, 2017
	Bryan Mathis Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Bryan Mathis describes his childhood in Venice, Illinois, and his experiences as an African-American man growing up in the area during the era of desegregation. He describes the various forms of bigotry and racism he's faced in the communities of Venice, Madison, Granite City, and St. Louis, as well as his feeling about the communities of Venice and Granite City today. He also discusses his work as a paperboy in Venice, what it was like growing up in the Venice housing projects, getting cut from the Venice High School Basketball team the year they won the State Championship (1975), and going to SIUE and the Mississippi River Festival in the late 70s.	October 18, 2016	December 1, 2016
	Carol and John Fritsche Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, John and Carol Fritche describe growing up in Edwardsville, Illinois, in the middle of the twentieth century. They discuss attending Leclaire Academy and living in one of the first homes on Dunlap Lake. The interview continues to discuss Edwardsville’s growth and the relationship between SIUE and the city of Edwardsville. Finally, John discusses his career with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).	September 4, 2018	January 28, 2019
	Carol Dappert Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Carol Dappert discusses her childhood in Glen Carbon, Illinois, her career in the St. Louis region, and various developments in Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, and Collinsville during the 1970s-2000s.	June 12, 2025	August 27, 2025
	Carrie Davini Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Carrie Davini discusses her career as a tattoo artist and business manager at Evermore Gallery on Edwardsville's Main Street. Carrie covers her childhood in northern Illinois, moving to the St. Louis area, various tattoo businesses she has worked for, and her role at Evermore Gallery. Carrie also talks about being a woman in an industry dominated by men and being a small-business operator in Edwardsville.	October 11, 2018	December 11, 2018
	Charles Jackson Oral History Interview	In this oral history, Charles Jackson discusses his family's involvement with the Western Military Academy in Alton. He describes his experience of attending a military high school, as well as how the military academy prepped its cadets for careers in the service. He describes why the military academy was shut down, and later his career as an educator for Triad High School.	July 16, 2017	February 2, 2018
	Chuck Sanderson Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Chuck Sanderson describes his business and hobby of running multiple pinball-themed businesses in Madison County. He describes two businesses he's run and the community of pinball enthusiasts in the region during the early twenty-first century.	June 11, 2025	September 9, 2025