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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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 | |
Edward Fetzer Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Edward Fetzer was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Edward J.F. Fetzer, Jr. was born on April 21, 1921. This interview focuses on his experience as a B-26 “Marauder” in World War II. The interview also includes other phases of his life, such as growing up on a farm in Illinois, moving to California to work in commercial aviation and then joining the air service in September of 1941, completing military training, and flying 75 bombing missions in occupied western Europe. He mentions his insurance career in the Midwest until his retirement in 1985 followed by retirement living in northern Wisconsin. |
October 6, 2001 | March 4, 2018 | |
Eleanor Todoroff Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Eleanor Todoroff was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Eleanor Todoroff was born and raised in the Lincoln Place community. In this interview, she talks about her father's emigration from Armenia and involvement in World War I, the role of the Macedonian Church in Lincoln Place, and the “Macedonian Bulgarian Ladies Aid Society. |
December 5, 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 | |
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 | |
Ione Gorham Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Ione Gorham was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. | November 17, 2001 | June 13, 2018 | |
Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott are the daughters of Armenian immigrants who have been lifelong residents of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. In this interview, they talk about their parent's experience in Armenia during World War I and immigration to the United States, their participation in the Armenian Orthodox Church, growing up as the children of immigrants, involvement in the local community center, and the diversity of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. |
October 10, 2001 | March 18, 2018 | |
Jack Vizer Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Jack Vizer was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Jack E. Vize was born on October 3, 1928, to Hungarian immigrant parents and has been a lifelong resident of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. In this interview he talks about his childhood, working with his father at the Commonwealth Plant, his time in the Korean War, working for the U.S. Corp of Engineers, and his involvement with the Boy Scouts. |
October 29, 2001 | March 18, 2018 | |
John Percy Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with John Percy was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. In this interview, John Percy describes his experience as a P-47 Fighter-Bomber Pilot in the European theater of World War II, his childhood in rural Illinois, learning to fly, his career after the military as a corporate pilot for State Farm Insurance, and his involvement on the board of the Prairie Aviation Museum. |
October 6, 2001 | March 17, 2018 | |
Leland Ambuehl Oral History Interview | This oral history interview with Leland Ambuehl was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Leland Ambuehl came to Lincoln Place as an adopted child from Eastern Europe. In this interview, he talks about his adoption, his experiences in World War II, the diversity of Lincoln Place, and the Lincoln Place Athletic Club. |
October 28, 2001 | February 16, 2018 |