Scope and Contents Mary Bell discusses her early family life as the child of Japanese immigrants in Seattle, Washington; growing up in an international community; education at both American and Japanese schools; Japanese customs; her family's visit to Japan in the mid 1930's; and her father's illness which required them to stay in Japan during WWII. She also describes her home life in Japan; temple customs; Buddhist funerals; holidays; education at a Canadian Missionary School; feelings about WWII; wartime...

Scope and Contents INSTITUTE OF INTER-AMERICAN AFFAIRS COLLECTION William E. Bell, a sanitary engineer, husband of Betty Bell, discusses moving his family to Mexico and later to Costa Rica as part of an IIAA field party from 1949-1954. He discusses how Mexican and American engineers cooperated to design and construct water supply systems, sewage systems, and health centers. He discusses flaws in the programs, difference in attitudes between countries towards public health, and differences in the governments...

Scope and Contents ILLINOIS COAL: THE LEGACY OF AN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY Bellaver, coal miner, discusses his experiences working in Illinois coal mines: hazardous working conditions, changes brought by mechanization, the United Mine Workers Union and Progressive Miners of America, Mulkeytown march, and shootings in Taylorville and Springfield. He also talks about his family history, his father's immigration from Italy, relations between different ethnic groups, mining communities, and family support. Also...

Scope and Contents WWII CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS PROJECT Ann Benedict, wife of Donald Benedict, discusses the development of her personal ideology; teaching experiences; family background; views on feminism, civil rights, and social issues; sexist attitudes in society; women ministers; her involvement in the women's movement; ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in Illinois through the Religious Coalition for the ERA (RCERA); and her involvement with the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights. ...

Scope and Contents WWII CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS PROJECT Donald Benedict, socialist and pacifist, husband of Ann Benedict, discusses his studies at Albion College and Union Seminary; socialism and pacifism; living in Harlem, New York in the 1940's; experiences with racism and coal mine unions in the south; his arrest for refusing to register for the WWII draft; and events which eventually convinced him to enlist in 1945. Also discusses his efforts to promote racial equality; combating police brutality and...

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SHAWNEETOWN BANK PROJECT Dr. Bennett, resident of Shawneetown, Illinois since 1916, recalls the location of buildings in the town, the bank's interior, his duties working for the state as a veterinary surgeon, and experiences during the 1937 Ohio River flood.

1 tape, 25 min., 13 pp. Interview by Horace Q. Waggoner, 1978 OPEN See collateral file

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TELEPHONE PROJECT Joe Bennett, Illinois Bell Telephone Company employee, discusses Cairo, Illinois; its location and development as a center for river trade on the Mississippi, Ohio, and the Cache Rivers; economic and social concerns; the telephone company; and his father's impressions of the 1937 flood.

1 tape, 45 min., 9 pp. Interview by Jerry Veach, 1973 RESTRICTED: May be read but cannot be quoted, cited or reproduced See collateral file

Scope and Contents Benson, a railroad worker for the Chicago, Burlington, Quincy and Santa Fe railroads in Galesburg, Illinois, discusses changes in railroad technology, work, and travel; railroad structures, engines, and personnel; methods of communication between engineers, crew members, and depots; transportation of grain and livestock; working and living conditions for section gangs; railroad strikes; Galesburg businesses using the railroad; conditions on passenger coaches; mail delivery; and his...

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Bertetti, coal miner, discusses his coal mining experiences.

1 tape, 90 mins. Interview by Barbara Herndon, 1975 OPEN For collateral file see J9/5/24 See also B461 Bertetti

Scope and Contents COAL MINING AND UNION ACTIVITIES PROJECT Frank Bertetti, a Superior Coal Company employee in Benld, Illinois, discusses the mine wars, United Mine Workers, Progressive Miners, and his participation in the Mulkeytown march. He discusses the ambush of PMA members on the Mulkeytown march, sit-down strikes, treatment of dissenters, the role of the mines and unions in the community, impact and resistance to competing unions, and working conditions at the mines. He discusses his later work as...