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Kathy Childers Oral History Interview |
In this oral history interview, Kathy Childers discusses her family's Macedonian heritage and her father John Bellcoff, who was the mayor of Madison, Illinois from 1985 to 1997 and the Madison County Democratic Chairman from 1990 to 1994. She discusses how her family continues to practice Macedonian cultural traditions, including food, clothing, and dancing. She also describes her father's political career, including his role in establishing the Gateway Racetrack in Madison. She also discusses her grandfather's grocery store in Madison, Bellcoff and Son, and her and her father's work with funeral homes. |
July 17, 2019 |
November 4, 2019 |
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Mary Huntley Oral History Interview |
In this oral history interview, Mary Huntley describes her career as the director of the Hayner Public Library system in Alton, as well as her and her husband's involvement in the Civil Rights movement when they lived in Alabama. She also discusses her involvement with the local Democratic Party, her husband's role as director of the SIUE University Museum, and her childhood in North Carolina. |
May 27, 2019 |
August 29, 2019 |
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Beth Warnecke Oral History Interview |
In this oral history interview, Beth Warnecke discusses growing up in Glen Carbon, having a father active in law and the Democratic Party, going to high school in Highland, working for the Cardinals and the Blues, and starting and managing her own art business: Classic Creations Painting. |
October 7, 2018 |
December 6, 2018 |
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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 |
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Stephanie Robbins Oral History Interview |
In this oral history interview, Stephanie Robbins describes her experiences as an attorney in Madison County. She discusses her role as the first female assistant state's attorney in Madison County in the 1970s, particularly her success in helping to achieve rape convictions. She further talks about her experience as a special public defender, as well as the Democratic Party Machine in Madison County in the 70s and Madison County's reputation as a "judicial hellhole." She also briefly discusses her short time as a Spanish professor at SIUE in the early 70s and her experiences as a woman in law school. |
January 30, 2018 |
May 7, 2018 |
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Phil Smith Oral History Interview |
In this oral history interview, Phil Smith describes growing up in Venice, Illinois, in the 1950s-1970s. He discusses organized crime and gambling in the city, the Democratic Party, and the police. He also describes his career as an educator and changes in the schools over time, including changes that accompanied racial integration in Venice and Madison. Finally, Smith describes his work with the Venice Historical Society and efforts to preserve the city's history and traditions. |
October 18, 2016 |
February 3, 2017 |
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Political Business Card for Dick Mudge for the 1970 Democratic Primary State Senator Campaign |
This a political business card for Dick Mudge for the 1970 Illinois Democratic primary state senate campaign. It states: "Please vote for Dick Mudge for State Senator. As States Attorney he brought law and order to Madison County, 1956-1964. Democratic Primary March 17, 1970." |
1970 |
March 15, 2019 |
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Letter from Franklin D. Roosevelt to D. H. Mudge Sr. |
This is a letter from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Dick Howard Mudge Senior, a prominent attorney and member of the local Democratic Party. At this time Roosevelt won the 1932 Presidential Election, beating incumbent Herbert Hoover. Writing in response to a telegram from Mudge, Roosevelt acknowledges congratulations on his victory. Looking towards the future, Roosevelt reaffirms the Democratic Party's values and policies in hopes to establish an ordered economic life with continued support from Mudge. |
November 17, 1932 |
January 24, 2018 |
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Letter from Franklin D. Roosevelt to D. H. Mudge Sr. |
This is the second letter from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Dick Howard Mudge Senior, a prominent attorney and member of the local Democratic Party. At this time Roosevelt was the Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New York. In the letter Roosevelt acknowledges Mudge's encouraging response from October 18. Brief in his reply, Roosevelt is preoccupied with the closing week of his campaign and unable to write further. Roosevelt went on to be elected governor of New York. |
November 2, 1928 |
November 30, 2017 |
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Letter from D. H. Mudge Sr. to Franklin D. Roosevelt |
This is a carbon copy letter from Dick Howard Mudge Senior responding to Franklin D. Roosevelt. During this period Roosevelt was the Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New York. In the letter Mudge, a prominent attorney and member of the local Democratic Party, discusses his decision to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Al Smith in the upcoming 1928 election. Optimistic, Mudge predicts Madison County will sway from its Republican voting tendencies to support Smith. Ending the letter, Mudge expresses gratitude for Roosevelt's communication and applauds his speech given in Houston at the 1928 Democratic National Convention. Smith went on to lose the 1928 election to Herbert Hoover and Republicans won the Madison County majority vote. Despite these Democratic loses, Roosevelt was elected governor of New York. |
October 18, 1928 |
January 24, 2018 |
