Browse Items (19 total)

Thumbnail	Title	Description	Date	Date Added
	Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott are the daughters of Armenian immigrants who have been lifelong residents of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. In this interview, they talk about their parent's experience in Armenia during World War I and immigration to the United States, their participation in the Armenian Orthodox Church, growing up as the children of immigrants, involvement in the local community center, and the diversity of the Lincoln Place neighborhood.	October 10, 2001	March 18, 2018
	Andreas Matoesian Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Andreas Matoesian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Mr. Matoesian is a first-generation American. His father emigrated from Armenia in 1920 and settled in Lincoln Place Granite city. He related a story about his father’s experience coming through Ellis Island. His mother emigrated a little earlier and first lived in Davenport Iowa and then Lincoln Place after they were married. Mr. Matoesian was born in Lincoln Place in 1937 and lived there for 21 years. Mr. Matoesian is a Judge in Madison County Illinois. He worked his way through school as a barber in his father’s barbershop in Lincoln Place. Mr. Matoesian voiced memories about going to the community center in somewhat of a pre-school or day school setting during his pre-school years. He further related, during his grade school years that all of the teachers were very nice. He states that as an adult he found that they, the teachers, had been handpicked due to their sensitivity to the diverse ethnic group. Mr. Matoesian states that he feels that sports is the great levelizer. Being active in sports allowed people to break through other barriers. Mr. Matoesian states that he feels the exposure to multiple ethnic groups made him a more tolerant person, a person more accepting and appreciative of differences. Mr. Matoesian and I spoke briefly about the Armenian Genocide and his thoughts on the lack of publicity and acknowledgement of this horrific event.	October 11, 2001	March 15, 2018
	Mary Asadorian Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Mary Kambarian Asadorian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Mary Asadorian was born and raised in Lincoln Place, where she spent her life. In this interview, she talks about her childhood, the role of the Armenian Orthodox Church, the diversity of Lincoln Place, the community center, and her family heritage.	October 27, 2001	February 18, 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
	Anne Kovach Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Anne Kovach was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Anne Kovach was born in Macedonia in 1907 and immigrated to the United States with her father as a young child and has lived in Lincoln Place for most of her life. In this interview, she talks about her father’s career as an American Steel employee and saloon owner, the grocery store she owned with her husband, the education of girls learning English as a second language, the sowing girls did for the war effort during World War II, the Bulgarian-Macedonian Ladies Aid Society, and the Cyril and Methody Bulgarian-Macedonian Church in Lincoln Place.	October 29, 2001	March 14, 2018
	Nelle Bogosian Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Nelle Bogosian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Nelle Bogosian was born to Armenian parents and spent most of her life in Lincoln Place. In this interview, she talks about her parent’s escape from the Armenian Genocide and lack of US recognition for the event, her schooling and social experiences in Lincoln Place, the community center, pool hall, and different cultural celebrations within the Lincoln Place community.	November 1, 2001	February 20, 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
	Nazareth Donjoian Oral History Interview	This oral history interview with Nazareth Donjoian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History. Naz, as he is better known by, was bom November 22, 1924. His father was a chef and ran a tavern and boarding house for many years. Naz also owned and ran a tavern for a number of years. While in high school, Naz got a job at the U.S. Army depot just down the street and worked there for part of his senior year. After graduation, he worked there a short period of time at the depot before being drafted, he entered the U.S. Army in June 1943 and was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps. He received training as a airplane and engine mechanic and spent a total of32 months in the military. The war ended before he was shipped overseas and upon discharge he returned to Granite City. He had return rights to his former job at the depot. After being home for two weeks and listening to his dad constantly asking him when he was going to get a job, Naz returned to work a the depot. He held a number of jobs and over the years suffered a number of Reduction In Force (RIF) realignments of personnel. However, after each RIF he was fortunate enough to move up in pay grade and after forty two years of combined military and civilian service, retired as a GS-12.	November 3, 2001	February 20, 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