Fall 2001 Granite City Oral History Interviews (43 total)
These oral histories were conducted for the History 447: Approaches to Oral History course taught by Anne Valk in the fall 2001 semester at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The majority of the interviews are with residents of Granite City, many of them residents of the Lincoln Place immigrant community.
- Collection: Fall 2001 Granite City Oral History Interviews
Thumbnail | Title | Description | Date | Date Added |
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Richard and Susan Depigian Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Richard and Susan Depigian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Richard and Susan Depigian discuss life in Lincoln Place and their Armenian heritage. They share information about the customs and traditions, as well as the “clans” that developed out of, their heritage. The ethnic diversity of Lincoln Place is addressed. Both Richard and Susan discuss their parents experienced during the Armenian genocide. |
November 17, 2001 | February 20, 2018 | |
Mary Spaich Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Mary Spaich was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. In this interview, Mary Spaich discusses growing up in the Lincoln Place neighborhood of Granite City. She was born in Granite City in 1916 to Serbian parents who had immigrated from Yugoslavia in 1914. She describes her life in Lincoln Place and changes in the area since her childhood. |
November 16, 2001 | April 29, 2020 | |
Michael Torosian Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Michael Torosian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Mr. Torosian is a first-generation American. His father emigrated from Armenia in 1913. His mother was a refugee; she emigrated sometime after the genocide of the Armenians in 1915. Mr. Torosian was born in Lincoln Place and describes growing up there as the most wonderful childhood anyone could have. He lived there for the first twenty-nine years of his life, excluding the time he was in the service. Mr. Torosian indicated that the community center played a major part in his life as a child. He states that from the age of eight or nine, he was there almost every night. He stated that the Community Center was the envy of the surrounding area. The combination of caring people, citizenship classes, sewing classes and a beautiful basketball gymnasium made the center a wonderful place. Additionally, the fact that it was paid for by Mr. Howard and constructed with local labor provided employment for many families in Lincoln Place during the depression. Mr. Torosian described the mix of different ethnic groups as educational. Lincoln Place provided the structure for education about many different cultures. Everyone learned from each other. The sense of community was very evident in Lincoln Place. Mr. Torosian and I also discussed the Armenian Genocide and issues surrounding its lack of acknowledgment and publicity. He graciously states that genocide was the responsibility of the regime in charge at the time, and not all the Turks. |
November 15, 2001 | March 18, 2018 | |
Venka Ambuehl Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Venka Ambuehl was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Born to Bulgarian immigrant parents in 1925, Venka Ambuehl spent her whole life in Lincoln Place. In this interview, she talks about growing up in this diverse community and how much it shaped the way she sees the world. From events at the local community center to an array of traditions this multicultural community used to celebrate Christmas, she talks in-depth about her younger years at Lincoln Place. |
November 15, 2001 | February 17, 2018 | |
Henry Ybarra Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Henry Ybarra was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Mr. Ybarra speaks about his time growing up in Lincoln Place as well as his family in and trips to Mexico. He utilizes photographs to guide his father, uncle, and other family members and their experiences in Mexico. Mr. Ybarra emphasizes his sense of pride about bring a resident of Lincoln Place. Among the many topics Henry Ybarra talks about are his lifelong residency at Lincoln Place, working at Prairie Farms Dairy, his Mexican heritage, yearly trips to Mexico, and his family. |
November 14, 2001 | March 18, 2018 | |
Edward Asadorian Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Edward Asadorian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Born to Armenian immigrant parents in the 1920s, Edward Asadorian talks in-depth about the importance of retaining his cultural roots and passing those traditions on to his own kids. He also explains how his father came to this country and his families close relationship to the local Armenian priesthood. |
November 14, 2001 | February 17, 2018 | |
Mary Bogosian Carson Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Mary Bogosian Carson was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Mary Carson was raised in Lincoln Place where she spent most of her life. In this interview, she talks about her childhood, the diversity of Lincoln Place, the “Clubhouse” where kids would spend their time, and the 1940s basketball championship team. |
November 10, 2001 | February 20, 2018 | |
Charles Woodford Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Charles Woodford was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Charles A. Woodford talks at length about his experience as a B-17 tail-gunner in World War II. He also discusses his childhood in Iowa, a career as an air force employee, and life in the Lincoln Place neighborhood. |
November 8, 2001 | March 18, 2018 | |
Hagop Varadian Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Hagop Varadian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Hagop (Jake) Varadian was born on April 12, 1938 to Armenian immigrants and has been a lifelong resident of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. In this interview, he talks about his parent's life in Armenia during World War One and his mother’s experience in the Armenian Genocide which resulted in her having to live in the desert where her sister was born. He also touches on aspects of his own life that include being in the Army and teaching school for the Granite City School District. |
November 6, 2001 | March 18, 2018 | |
Margaret Nonn Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Margaret Nonn was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Margaret Nonn was born in Lincoln Place to German immigrant parents and lived in the area for over eighty years. In this interview, she talks about the rivalry between Lincoln Place and West Granite, her life growing up in the Lincoln Place community, the diversity of the community and the struggles it experienced due to it, working in a ‘rag shop’ in St. Louis, becoming a bailiff at Madison County Jail, and religious aspects of her life. |
November 6, 2001 | March 17, 2018 |