Bluffs and Piasa Bird, 2016

Browse Items (61 total)

  • Tags: Alton
Thumbnail Title Description Date Date Added
Ruben Mendoza Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Ruben Mendoza was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

In this oral history interview, Ruben Mendoza discusses his career as a soccer player and coach. He describes growing up in Lincoln Place and moving to Mexico at the age of eight in the late 1930s, where he discovered soccer. After moving back to Lincoln Place, he played soccer for St. Louis teams and played for the United States in the 1958 World Cup and in the 1952, '56, and '60 Olympics. He also discusses how he expanded soccer programs in Lincoln Place, Granite City, and the larger Metro East region as a coach starting in the 1960s. This interview had no transcript in the original archive. It was transcribed by Madison Historical staff.

There were two interviews conducted with Ruben Mendoza as part of the course. The other interview was conducted by Lisa Smithe.
October 30, 2001 September 2, 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
Rita Bonds Oral History Interview Rita Bonds describes her experiences living in different states with her husband, who was in the Air Force. She also describes working for Owens-Illinois Glass Company in Alton, Illinois. She briefly discusses her work as secretary for the NAACP in Alton. October 16, 2016 January 27, 2017
Dave Knoche Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Dave Knoche describes growing up in the Alton and Godfrey area in the 1980s and 90s as well as some of his education and experience in Montana and California. He also describes working for ADT Security, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Dow Screw Products in the Metro East. He then discusses joining his father's business, HGH Products, which manufactures steel and graphite parts for the glass bottle industry. October 17, 2016 January 30, 2017
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
Ed Hightower Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Ed Hightower describes growing up as an African American in the South. He details the adversity he faced throughout his career in education, often being the only African American administrator within the district. He highlights his achievements at the Edwardsville superintendent and discusses his involvement with the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities. September 28, 2017 January 10, 2018
John Cunningham Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, John Cunningham describes his experiences as the president of the Edwardsville branch of the NAACP. He begins by discussing his youth in Missouri, Alabama, and East St. Louis, and going to college at Southern Illinois University Carbondale as a young African American. He describes his career as a teacher in East St. Louis and as various administrative positions in Alton schools. January 24, 2018 May 7, 2018
Herman Shaw Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Herman Shaw describes his experiences with segregation and racial adversity throughout his life, both in his community and throughout his travels. He describes his experience as a young boy growing up in Missouri during the Great Depression and World War II. He then discusses his life after moving to Edwardsville in 1944 and how things have changed in that community over time. He describes how his education, his participation in sports, his service in the military, and key people in his life have influenced him. He also discusses his work at the Alton State Hospital, at University City High School, and his volunteer work with the Human Relations Commission in Edwardsville. February 12, 2018 April 18, 2018
Edward Hatten Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Alton resident Edward Hatten discusses his experiences growing up during the Cold War.

This oral history was recorded as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Civic Memorial High School in spring 2018. It was conducted by William Davis.
April 22, 2018 August 9, 2018
William (Bill) Haine Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, State Senator William (Bill) Haine discusses his childhood in Alton, Illinois, his career in the law, and his time as an Illinois state senator. May 4, 2018 July 27, 2018