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.

Thumbnail	Title	Description	Date	Date Added
	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
	Venka Ambuehl Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Venka Ambuehl was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Born to Bulgarian immigrant parents in 1925, Venka Ambuehl spent her whole life in Lincoln Place. In this interview, she talks about growing up in this diverse community and how much it shaped the way she sees the world. From events at the local community center to an array of traditions this multicultural community used to celebrate Christmas, she talks in-depth about her younger years at Lincoln Place.	November 15, 2001	February 17, 2018
	Vartan Kassabian Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Vartan Kassabian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. In this interview, Father Kassabian talks about his calling to Christ, the role of the Church, the resilience of the Armenian people, the Armenian Genocide, and Armenian history.	October 29, 2001	March 14, 2018
	Tomea Kirchoff Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Tomea Kirchoff was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Tomea Loman Kirchoff speaks about her childhood, particularly her education, learning English, and her father’s employment at American Steel in Granite City. She discusses the Community Center as well as the Bulgarian-Macedonian Church located in Lincoln Place, as well as other aspects of Macedonian culture that she had experience with. Mrs. Kirchoff additionally speaks to World War II and contributions that women in Lincoln Place made to the war effort.	October 29, 2001	March 14, 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
	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
	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
	Ruben Mendoza Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Ruben Michael Mendoza was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. The interview centers on Mr. Mendoza’s life as a soccer player and coach. Mr. Mendoza begins his interview by painting a picture of what life was like living in Mexico, and his first encounters with the game of soccer at age ten. He moves back to Lincoln Place when he was sixteen. He tells about where soccer was being played back in the St. Louis area; describing his journey to the Public School Stadium where most of the soccer games were played. It was there that he reunited with his love for soccer, and decided to join a team in St. Louis. Mr, Mendoza tells about his experiences playing against teams from Germany, Mexico. Italy, and many others. There were two interviews conducted with Ruben Mendoza as part of the course. The other interview was conducted by Jennifer Haselhorst.	October 28, 2001	August 25, 2018
	Robert Burress Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Robert Burress was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. In this oral history, Alton resident Robert Burress discusses former businesses and buildings in the Alton area and changes in the community from the mid-20th century to 2001. This interview had no transcript in the original archive. It was transcribed by Madison Historical staff.	October 18, 2001	September 2, 2018
	Richard and Susan Depigian Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Richard and Susan Depigian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Richard and Susan Depigian discuss life in Lincoln Place and their Armenian heritage. They share information about the customs and traditions, as well as the “clans” that developed out of, their heritage. The ethnic diversity of Lincoln Place is addressed. Both Richard and Susan discuss their parents experienced during the Armenian genocide.	November 17, 2001	February 20, 2018