Oral history interviews

Collection

Identifier: MSS 291

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Oral history interviews, 1983-2021 and undated, consists of oral histories of various Augustana alumni, Augustana faculty, Quad Cities residents, and former Rock Island Arsenal employees. Interviews may include audio recordings, typed transcripts, or both. Many of the interviews and transcripts have been digitized and made accessible in Digital Special Collections. Each digitized interview's record contains biographical information about the interviewee, an interview index, interview notes, and a transcript of the interview. Some records also include a copy of the original audio available for download. To access a digitized interview, click on the interview's title in the record tree below, then click the link in the "Link to Record" field.

Dates

Creation: 1980-2023 and undated

Conditions Governing Access

Original transcripts of interviews with Marilyn Frost and Anonymous (box 4) and CD-0291/27 are closed to reasearchers for 150 years from the date of creation. Redacted transcripts of these interviews are available in boxes 1 and 3.

Audiovisual materials may be inaccessible pending reformatting. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from Augustana College Special Collections and the copyright holder.

Historical Note

The oral histories in this collection were created for various projects conducted by Augustana College students, faculty, and staff. The bulk of the content was created for HIST369 Oral History and Testimonio, a course first taught by Dr. Molly Todd during Winter term of the 2008-2009 academic year. The class focused on the oral history tradition in both theory and practice. Students in the 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 classes conducted oral history interviews with Augustana alumni to piece together "the Augustana Story." The 2012-2013 course was taught by Dr. Brian Leech. This class conducted interviews with Augustana alumni, Quad Cities residents, and former Rock Island Arsenal employees to answer the question "What were the effects of World War II on residents of the Quad Cities?" The 2013-2014 course conducted interviews with Augustana alumni, Augustana staff, and Quad Cities residents to reserarch reactions to the September 11th terrorist attacks at Augustana and in the Quad Cities. This same course (2013-2014) also conducted interviews with local Latino and Latina leaders regarding the contributions of the hispanic community to the Quad Cities.

The Augustana faculty biographies were written in 2011 based on interviews with retired Augustana College professors. The papers were part of an assignment for a rhetoric course in the first-year liberal studies (LSFY) program. This LSFY course was taught by Dr. Ellen Hay of the Communications Department.

The Augustana faculty interviews were conducted between 1983 and 1985. Most of the interviews were conducted by Augustana College English Professor, Dr. Ann Boaden. Little is known about the circumstances of why these interviews were conducted.

The Other interviews series (2010-2011) contains a recording of a series of interviews conducted by Rebecca Hopman with Steve Drucker, former president of the Quad Cities chapter of the National Organization for Women, about the history of the organization, and an interview for the Moline Dispatch about the Quad Cities in World War II. The series also includes one interview with John Richard (Ritchie) Erickson (Class of 1951) conducted by leaders from the 2022-2023 baseball team, Harrison Boushele, Alec McGinnis, Alex Simon, and Zach Vrbancic. The interview was facilitated by Kai Swanson, special assistant to President Talentino, and Professor Mark Safstrom, faculty mentor for the baseball team.

The interviews from Brian Leech's HIST 260 course (2021) included interviews with students, faculty, and staff regarding their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Extent

2.5 Cubic Feet (/ 5 boxes and 4 AV boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interviews, 1980-2023 and undated, contains recordings and transcripts from several oral history projects conducted by or in conjunction with Augustana College. Many of these projects were conducted by students for HIST369, Oral History and Testimonio, from 2008 to 2014. Interview topics include Latino leadership in the Quad Cities, World War II in the Quad Cities, remembrances of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Augustana College history, recollections of Augustana College faculty, the history of the National Organization for Women, Quad Cities chapter, winter traditions, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arrangement

Materials are grouped together by project and arranged loosely by date. Recordings of interviews have been physically housed in separate AV boxes but grouped with related transcripts in this finding aid. Original order within series has been maintained.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials in the "What is the Augustana Story?" series received from Molly Todd, 2009 and 2011. Materials in the "World War II on the Quad Cities Homefront" series, "9/11 at Augustana and in the Quad Cities" series, and "Latino Leadership in the Quad Cities" series received from Brian Leech, 2013 and 2014. Materials in the Augustana faculty biographies series received from Ellen Hay, 2011. Materials from "COVID-19 at Augustana College" received from Brian Leech, October 2021. Interview with John Richard (Ritchie) Erickson received from Mark Safstrom, April 2023.

Existence and Location of Copies

Most materials in this collection have been digitized and made accessible in Digital Special Collections at the following link: http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/aug_oralhis

Other digital materials and copies are available in Special Collections upon request.

Processing Information

Processed by Allison James, 2009. Updated by Helen Reinold, 2011, Julia G. Westblade, 2012, and Gina Balestri, 2013. Revised by Micaela Terronez, 2014; Updated by Caroline McPherson, February 2015. Updated by Micaela Terronez, 2023.