Madison County Oral Histories (66 total)

These oral history interviews were conducted by interviewers associated with Madison Historical and touch on various topics in Madison County history. These topics vary by interviewee.

Thumbnail	Title	Description	Date	Date Added
	Hal Patton Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Hal Patton describes growing up in Edwardsville as a young boy. He details his educational path and the challenges and success he has encountered through his career as a dentist and local politician. He talks about his time as a city alderman as well as his time as the mayor of Edwardsville. He explores the success of the community of Edwardsville and how he has helped aid in that process.	February 27, 2018	April 17, 2018
	Eleidys Guerra Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Venezuelan student Eleidys Guerra discusses moving to Madison County to study English, leaving behind a job and large family in Venezuela. She describes how she and her son have adapted to their new circumstances with no familiarity with English.	November 20, 2017	April 11, 2018
	Tom Pile Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Tom Pile discusses his career as the head baseball coach at Edwardsville High School and details how the baseball team became one of the most successful in the country. He describes the various awards that he won over his career, as well as the impact that coaching has had on his life.	July 11, 2017	February 2, 2018
	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
	Jeffrey Halcom Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Jeffrey Halcom describes growing up and attending Edwardsville Schools. He details his family's farm work and his later career with Granite City Steel. He discusses the various technological changes in farming and the steel industry. He also talks about the Bethalto Homecoming celebrations.	July 11, 2017	October 9, 2017
	John Elliff Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, John Elliff describes living in Glen Carbon and his role in helping to plan the surrounding housing developments. He speaks to the rivalries between Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, as well as the various festivals in Glen Carbon.	July 13, 2017	October 9, 2017
	Mike Picchioldi Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Mike Picchioldi describes his experiences as a firefighter in Maryville and Edwardsville. He highlights his involvement with the Maryville historical society and his role in helping to preserve its history. He highlights the histories of Chinatown, the Donk Brothers Mine, the Homecoming Parade, as well as his grandparents mercantile business.	July 10, 2017	October 9, 2017
	Bob Daiber Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Bob Daiber describes his experience as a teacher and the transition to becoming the Superintendent of Schools in Madison County. He also discusses the evolving technology in education settings and growing up in Marine, as well as his run for governor of Illinois in the 2018 election.	July 11, 2017	September 26, 2017
	Bob Gibson Oral History Interview	An oral history interview with Robert "Bob" Gibson, an expert on mine subsidence. Gibson describes his career with the Illinois and federal governments working on abandoned mine lands projects. He also describes several notable cases of mine subsidence from old coal mines in Madison County.	March 11, 2017	June 14, 2017