Bluffs and Piasa Bird, 2016

Browse Items (47 total)

  • Tags: immigration
Thumbnail Title Description Date Date Added
Arthur Vambaketes Follow Up Oral History Interview In this interview Brian K. Weaver, Sr. follows up a previous discussion with Arthur Vambaketes concerning the immigration process of his family from Greece at the turn of the 20th century. The interview delves deeper into the Greek heritage cultural patterns in Madison County and the greater St. Louis Metropolitan area. Special attention is given to the role that their family business, Tony's Ranch House Restaurant and Lounge in Godfrey, Illinois, plays in the social structure of northeastern Madison County and environs. June 10, 2024 July 30, 2024
Arthur Vambaketes Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Brian K. Weaver, Sr. describes the Greek American heritage of the Alton-Godfrey region. Brian Weaver also discusses immigration and entrepreneurship concerning the Greek community, as well as community change of the region from the 1960s to the 2020s. Arthur Vambaketes, part of the Vambaketes family owners of Tony's Ranch House Restaurant and Lounge, describes the Greek American experience in Madison County. May 28, 2024 July 30, 2024
Mary Spaich Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Mary Spaich was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

In this interview, Mary Spaich discusses growing up in the Lincoln Place neighborhood of Granite City. She was born in Granite City in 1916 to Serbian parents who had immigrated from Yugoslavia in 1914. She describes her life in Lincoln Place and changes in the area since her childhood.
November 16, 2001 April 29, 2020
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
Joann Condellone Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Joann Condellone describes growing up with her family of Italian immigrant coal miners in Collinsville. She talks about her struggles with misogyny as a woman in the military, as well as her career in midwifery and various travels around the world. February 14, 2019 September 4, 2019
Jim Baima Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Jim Baima discusses growing up in Collinsville as the son of Italian immigrants, his father's job as a coal miner, the Italian-American community in Collinsville, and studying at SIUE. October 10, 2018 January 24, 2019
Arthur Bedian Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Arthur Bedian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Author Bedian lived his whole life in Lincoln Place and was born to an immigrant father from Armenia. In this interview, he talks about his father’s experience immigrating through Ellis Island, growing up in Lincoln Place, the community center, and his time and service in the Armenian Orthodox Church.

There was no audio recording of this interview in the original archive, but there is a transcript and biographical summary.
November 18, 2001 September 2, 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
Marvin Moehle Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Marvin Moehle was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Marvin Moehle was born and raised in Lincoln Place. In this interview, he talks about his family business, the diversity of the Lincoln Place community, and his Macedonian heritage.

There is no transcript with this interview but there is a biographical summary.
December 1, 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