Browse Items (1532 total)

Thumbnail	Title	Description	Date	Date Added
	Bryan Mathis Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Bryan Mathis describes his childhood in Venice, Illinois, and his experiences as an African-American man growing up in the area during the era of desegregation. He describes the various forms of bigotry and racism he's faced in the communities of Venice, Madison, Granite City, and St. Louis, as well as his feeling about the communities of Venice and Granite City today. He also discusses his work as a paperboy in Venice, what it was like growing up in the Venice housing projects, getting cut from the Venice High School Basketball team the year they won the State Championship (1975), and going to SIUE and the Mississippi River Festival in the late 70s.	October 18, 2016	December 1, 2016
	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
	Danny Gray Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Danny Gray describes his experiences working for Granite City Steel from 1978 to the time of the interview. He describes how steel production has changed in his 38 years working for the company, including the rise of automation and, in his view, the weakening of unions. He also discusses growing up in the St. Louis region and living in Madison County.	October 19, 2016	February 9, 2017
	Derek Mathis Oral History Interview	In this interview, Derek Mathis describes his youth in Venice, Illinois, including his experiences with racism in the era of desegregation. He also discusses changes to Venice and the town of Madison in his adulthood.	October 26, 2016	March 10, 2017
	Lisa Peck Oral History Interview	In this interview, Lisa Peck discusses working for both the Madison County government and the Highland government as a community planner. She discusses various changes to Highland in recent years.	October 30, 2016	March 10, 2017
	Pat Childers Oral History Interview	In this oral history interview, Pat Childers describes her experiences during the Great Flood of 1993 while living in West Alton, Missouri. Following the flood, she and her family moved to Collinsville, Illinois, which she describes. She also discusses growing up on a farm in Southern Missouri.	December 11, 2016	February 7, 2017
	Valorie Childers Oral History Interview	Valorie Childers describes her experiences of living in West Alton during the Flood of 1993. She also describes the circumstances surrounding the levee’s break, as well as the hardships faced for those flood survivors and their attempts to rebuild. She briefly discusses the involvement of the Red Cross and the Army Corp of Engineers during the flood.	December 11, 2016	February 14, 2017
	January 2017 Issue of "100 Years at the Wood River Refinery"	This newsletter, originally distributed by email, is part of a series of newsletters released by the Wood River Refinery History Museum on the refinery's centennial.	January 2017	May 3, 2017
	February 2017 Issue of "100 Years at the Wood River Refinery"	This newsletter, originally distributed by email, is part of a series of newsletters released by the Wood River Refinery History Museum on the refinery's centennial.	February 2017	May 3, 2017
	Paul Brazier Oral History Interview	In this oral history, Paul Brazier describes bicycling and bike culture in Madison County from the late-1970s to the mid-1990s. Brazier discusses recreational, BMX, mountain bike, and road cycling, as well as cycling before the Madison County trail system.	February 8, 2017	March 17, 2017