Browse Items (45 total)

Thumbnail	Title	Description	Date	Date Added
	Norma Mendoza Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Norma Mendoza was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Norma Mendoza moved to Lincoln Place after she got married in 1960 and lived there until 1966. In this interview, she describes her experience working with the Mexican Honorary Commission, the diversity of the community, food and entertainment within the community, arranged marriages, different aspects of her career, and the local army depot.	November 28, 2001	March 15, 2018
	Charles Merzian Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Charles Merzian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Mr. Charles Merzian is a second generation American. His father emigrated from Armenia in 1910, and his mother emigrated from Armenia shortly later. They were married in 1925 and became naturalized American citizens in 1945 and 1946 respectively. They had two children, Charles (born in 1928) and Nell (born in 1933). In this interview, Mr. Merzian describes life while growing up in Lincoln Place in two primary locations for socialization, the community center (the clubhouse) and Sim’s place (later honored as Sim’s college), and how they impacted the lives of virtually everyone living at Lincoln Place. Mr. Merzian stresses that the multi-ethnic relationships established when growing up were a definite asset in preparing him for his working career.	November 1, 2001	March 16, 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
	Theresa and Ronald Petras Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Theresa and Ronald Petras was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. She recalled several childhood memories of life in Lincoln Place (e.g., taking a bath in a barrel, changing the way she wore her long underwear on the way to school), as well as some of the business people who traveled around the community (e.g., the rag man, the vegetable and fruit vendor, and the Iceman) and regular visits to her cousins' house. She also described several holiday traditions, particularly Easter.	October 25, 2001	March 17, 2018
	Vicky Siers Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Vicky Siers was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Vicky Siers has lived most of her life in Lincoln Place and was born to Hungarian immigrant parents in the 1940s. In this interview, she describes her childhood, family history, the pride people from Lincoln Place have in their community and its diversity, and special community organizations such as the community center at Lincoln Place.	November 5, 2001	March 17, 2018
	Annette Simpkins Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Annette Simpkins was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Annette Simpkins was born to Armenian immigrant parents and lived her whole life in Lincoln Place. In this interview, she describes her childhood, her parent's emigration from Armenia before the genocide, her father's job at American Steel, her employment at the Army Depot, the diversity of the Lincoln Place community, and her time at the local theater.	November 26, 2001	March 18, 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
	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
	Sandor Toth Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Sandor Toth was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Sandor (Alexander) Toth is the son of Hungarian immigrants and has been a lifelong resident of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. In this interview, he talks about his childhood at Lincoln Place, the diversity of the community, and his career at the Commonwealth Steel Mill.	October 27, 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