Scope and Contents

SANGAMON RIVER PROJECT Dorothy Britz recalls her life growing up on the Sangamon River in the town of Riverton. She discusses work and play on the river, dangers on the water, the flood of 1926, the landscape, plants and animals in the area, and river pollution.

Interview by Judy Haynes, 1980 OPEN Memoir included in B778.1 See collateral file: interviewer's notes, photocopied pictures, and samples of Britz's poetry

Scope and Contents SANGAMON RIVER PROJECT Lloyd and Shirley Brumfield, owners of "Brumie's Bait Shop" near Mahomet, Illinois, discuss life along the Sangamon River. They discuss the fish and wildlife in the area, raising their children on the river, the change of seasons, trapping, hunting, fishing, fish fries and camping as well as the river's dangers. 1 tape, 90 min., 25 pp. Interview by Judith Haynes, 1980 OPEN See collateral file: interviewer's notes, correspondence regarding interview and...

Scope and Contents ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM Catania, member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1973-83, discusses her years in the General Assembly: accomplishments, women's issues, women in the legislature, Equal Rights Amendment, civil rights, and practical politics. She also discusses her years before the General Assembly: family, Chicago, college education in chemistry, the League of Women Voters; and political experiences with sex discrimination in unemployment compensation...

Scope and Contents

SANGAMON RIVER PROJECT Bertha Craig discusses life along the Sangamon River at Petersburg, Illinois: the floods of 1926 and 1943, fishing and swimming, plants and animals along the river, Lake Springfield, Lake Petersburg and its dam, farmer's dams, and home remedies.

1 tape, 60 mins., 19 pp. Interview by Judith Haynes, 1980 OPEN See collateral file: interviewer's notes and articles on the Sangamon River.

Scope and Contents Bertha Craig discusses life and in Petersburg, Illinois during the early and mid 20th century. She recalls growing up as an illegitimate and interracial child, her family, racial discrimination, African-Americans, poor whites, and work as a housekeeper; marriage, family planning, and children; WWI and black soldiers; the 1918 influenza epidemic; 1920's and the Depression; homemade foods; the Sangamon River and Lake Springfield; WWII; and trips to Springfield. She also discusses her family...

Scope and Contents Eldridge, blind since childhood, discusses his music teaching career as a choir director and performer, and recalls his childhood and education at an East Lansing, Michigan school for the blind, WWI homefront, 1918 influenza epidemic, postwar society and automobiles, effects of the Depression and WWII, and life in Springfield. He recalls how blindness has affected his life and career, his career at Springfield College, the quality of education, and the use of the Braille system in music....

Scope and Contents

SANGAMON RIVER PROJECT Alfred Gerdes discusses his experiences living near the Sangamon River: wildlife, floods, fishing, alterations of the natural environment, changes in rural life and farming, trespassers and dangers of the river. Also mentions the Sangamon River Improvement Association.

1 tape, 65 mins., 28 pp. Interview by Judith Haynes, 1981 OPEN See collateral file

Scope and Contents

SANGAMON RIVER PROJECT Weldon Gerdes, farmer on the Sangamon River near Petersburg, Illinois, and his son Gary discuss living near the river for 50 years, floods, levee construction, fishing and recreation, wildlife, pollution, Springfield's Lake Two, the Sangamon River Valley Organization, and the Green Belt Zone Project of the Army Corps of Engineers.

1 tape, 40 mins., 22 pp. Interview by Judith Haynes, 1981 OPEN See collateral file