Bluffs and Piasa Bird, 2016

50th Anniversary of SIUE Oral History Collection (36 total)

  • Collection: 50th Anniversary of SIUE Oral History Collection
Thumbnail Title Description Date Date Added
Edward "Ed" Soliday Oral History This oral history interview with Ellen Nore-Nordhouser is part of a collection of oral histories conducted as part of a research project related to the 50th Anniversary of SIUE between 2005 and 2008.

This interview with Soliday discusses his youth growing up in the area and running the family hardware store in Granite City. Soliday closed the store and decided to apply for positions at SIUE working initially as Assistant to the Registrar but eventually managing a large portion of incoming endowments as well as the Arts and Issues Speaker Series.
June 27, 2006 April 25, 2021
Janet McReynolds Oral History This oral history interview with Ellen Nore-Nordhouser is part of a collection of oral histories conducted as part of a research project related to the 50th Anniversary of SIUE between 2005 and 2008.

McReynolds discusses the EHE, otherwise known as the Experiment in Higher Education which was the pilot program at the East St. Louis Campus and her later transfer to SIUE's Edwardsville campus in the Academic Resource Center. She candidly discusses racial tensions and the inequality between campuses. McReynolds, for example, mentions the fact that many of the courses within the EHE were coded by the university differently so when students left the EHE for the "main campus" they often received no credit for courses they had already taken because it was "experimental" and was considered prepatory. McReynolds also discusses the change in administration at the Edwardsville campus such as the difficulties Barbara Teters had in her position as Vice Provost under President Earl Lazerson.
May 20, 2006 April 25, 2021
Luther Statler Oral History This oral history interview with Ellen Nore-Nordhouser is part of a collection of oral histories conducted as part of a research project related to the 50th Anniversary of SIUE between 2005 and 2008.

During his interview Statler discusses the changes in culture and policy at SIUE between the late 1960s when he was hired and the late '80s. Statler worked at the Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville campuses in various capacities. The majority of his time was spent at Edwardsville, however, he had memorable interactions with notables such as the famous Katherine Dunham, and former university Presidents Earl Lazerson and John Rendleman.
April 3, 2006 April 25, 2021
John Twombly Oral History This oral history interview with Ellen Nore-Nordhouser is part of a collection of oral histories conducted as part of a research project related to the 50th Anniversary of SIUE between 2005 and 2008. June 22, 2006 May 6, 2021
Arthur Vambaketes Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Brian K. Weaver, Sr. describes the Greek American heritage of the Alton-Godfrey region. Brian Weaver also discusses immigration and entrepreneurship concerning the Greek community, as well as community change of the region from the 1960s to the 2020s. Arthur Vambaketes, part of the Vambaketes family owners of Tony's Ranch House Restaurant and Lounge, describes the Greek American experience in Madison County. May 28, 2024 July 30, 2024
Arthur Vambaketes Follow Up Oral History Interview In this interview Brian K. Weaver, Sr. follows up a previous discussion with Arthur Vambaketes concerning the immigration process of his family from Greece at the turn of the 20th century. The interview delves deeper into the Greek heritage cultural patterns in Madison County and the greater St. Louis Metropolitan area. Special attention is given to the role that their family business, Tony's Ranch House Restaurant and Lounge in Godfrey, Illinois, plays in the social structure of northeastern Madison County and environs. June 10, 2024 July 30, 2024