Bluffs and Piasa Bird, 2016

Browse Items (1532 total)

Thumbnail Title Description Date Date Added
Scaffolding on the back of the Stephenson House during resoration in the early 2000s This photograph shows the back Stephenson House during its renovation in the early 2000s. Scaffolding has been put up around the house. Circa 2001 October 17, 2018
2001 Edwardsville High School Women's Tiger Softball Team This is a photograph of the 2001 Edwardsville High School Women's Tiger Softball Team. 2001 December 1, 2018
2007 Edwardsville High Yearbook This is Matthew Spohr's 2007 Sophomore yearbook from Edwardsville Hish School. On the cover, it says, "1000 Tales" alongside the image of a tiger tail on the cover. Inside, the books are memories from his high school years.

This book was digitized as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. It was brought to class by Anna Spohr.
2001 March 4, 2020
Scaffolding on the Stephenson House during resoration in 2001 This photograph shows the Stephenson House during its renovation in 2001. Scaffolding has been put up around the house. September 9, 2001 October 17, 2018
Edward Fetzer Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Edward Fetzer was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Edward J.F. Fetzer, Jr. was born on April 21, 1921. This interview focuses on his experience as a B-26 “Marauder” in World War II. The interview also includes other phases of his life, such as growing up on a farm in Illinois, moving to California to work in commercial aviation and then joining the air service in September of 1941, completing military training, and flying 75 bombing missions in occupied western Europe. He mentions his insurance career in the Midwest until his retirement in 1985 followed by retirement living in northern Wisconsin.
October 6, 2001 March 4, 2018
John Percy Oral History Interview This oral history interview with John Percy was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

In this interview, John Percy describes his experience as a P-47 Fighter-Bomber Pilot in the European theater of World War II, his childhood in rural Illinois, learning to fly, his career after the military as a corporate pilot for State Farm Insurance, and his involvement on the board of the Prairie Aviation Museum.
October 6, 2001 March 17, 2018
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
Betty Siemer Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Betty Siemer was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Born in the 1940s, Betty Siemer talks about growing up in Alton, IL and witnessing the transformation of a small rural town to a budding suburban environment. She describes not only her life but also the changes to the downtown business district, movie theatres, and her experience working in funeral homes throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
October 16, 2001 March 17, 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