Scope and Contents This collection relates primarily to Knoepfle’s literary career, with a portion focusing on his military career, family, and activism. Largely documents, the collection also includes a small amount of photographs relating to Knoepfle’s family and media, including open reel audio tapes, floppy disks, cassettes, DVCAMs, VHS, CDs, and DVDs. The collection is divided into nine series: Poetry, Prose, Colloquies, Peoria-Miami Tales and Freeform Poems, Press and Reviews, Work Files,...

Scope and Contents

STEAMBOATS AND INLAND RIVERS Keller, a fisherman along the Illinois River in Mason County, discusses fishing, duck hunting, and recalls the sinking of an excursion boat and a levee breaking at Spring Lake, south of Pekin.

2 tapes, 20 pp. Interview by John Knoepfle, 1962 OPEN: released by John Knoepfle

Scope and Contents

STEAMERS AND INLAND RIVERS Kelley, riverboat pilot, discusses Ohio River traffic in the early 20th century. He recalls various boats, rivermen, upper Ohio River trade, cargo, and piloting conditions on the river.

1 tape, 17 pp. Interview by John Knoepfle, 1957 OPEN

Scope and Contents Knoepfle, poet and professor of English at Sangamon State University, discusses events and ideas which have influenced his life, writing, and teaching. He recalls his family background, Swiss-Irish parentage, education, childhood memories of the Ohio River and riverboats, and religious schooling. He also discusses naval service at Iwo Jima during WWII, family members and their influence on his life, various jobs he has held, producing a documentary on Ohio riverboats, teaching experiences,...

Scope and Contents

STEAMBOATS AND INLAND RIVERS Lyle, clerk and river agent, recalls the rivermen, boats, roustabouts, carpenters, wharfs, and wharf workers he encountered on rivers in Ohio and the Midwest. He also talks about boat building and the lumber industry in Cincinnati.

1 tape, 19 pp. Interview by John Knoepfle, 1957 OPEN: released by John Knoepfle

Scope and Contents

STEAMBOATS AND INLAND RIVERS Marshall discusses boats, whistles, smokestacks, floods, packet lines, his family, and stories about Ohio's rivers.

1 tape, 15 pp. Interview by John Knoepfle, 1957 OPEN: released by John Knoepfle

Scope and Contents

STEAMBOATS AND INLAND RIVERS McCann recalls his career as a riverboat clerk and purser: boats and personnel who worked in the Pittsburgh trade and the Greene Line on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

1 tape, 13 pp. Interview by John Knoepfle, 1957 OPEN: released by John Knoepfle

Scope and Contents

STEAMBOATS AND INLAND RIVERS Menke discusses the showboat entertainment business on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, showboats, the agent's work, scripts and casting, and St. Louis.

1 tape, memoir 15 pp. Interview by John Knoepfle, 1957 OPEN: Released by John Knoepfle

Scope and Contents

STEAMBOATS AND INLAND RIVERS O'Hearn discusses experiences on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers: towing timber and coal, various riverboats and people, and work on streetcars and at a card company.

1 tape, 21 pp. Interview by John Knoepfle, 1957 OPEN: released by John Knoepfle

Scope and Contents

STEAMBOATS AND INLAND RIVERS Ellen and Romain Proctor, proprietors of a traveling marionette show, discuss making puppets, performing shows, showboats and visiting Europe. They also discuss the Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio Rivers and other rivers in the Midwest.

1 tape, 17 pp. Interview by John Knoepfle, 1957 OPEN: released by John Knoepfle