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ONE ROOM SCHOOL PROJECT Uchaez recalls teaching in a one room school near Springfield: the structure of the building, teachers' training, community relations with the school, methods of teaching, and the wages of teachers.

1 tape, 26 mins., 18 pp. Interview by Jane Stout, 1972 OPEN See collateral file

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Ulery, farmer, discusses early 20th century rural life near Morrisonville, Illinois: parents' life and work, early schooling, religious life, teaching in a one room school, dairy farming, farm neighbors, butchering, woodworking and blacksmithing, WWI and the Depression, and furniture making.

5 tapes, 450 mins., 106 pp. Interview by Cullom Davis, 1977 RESTRICTED: Ulery estate retains copyright. See collateral file See also MC 48: Oscar L. Ulery Papers and Diaries, 1901-1977

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SPRINGFIELD ROTARY CLUB PROJECT Uteg, club member, discusses its programs, his personal involvement and enjoyment, visitors, and the club's influence on the community.

1 tape, 60 mins., 16 pp. Interview by Melissa Hopp, 1988 OPEN See collateral file

Scope and Contents ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM Van der Vries, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1935-56, discusses her activities and concerns in the General Assembly: work with health, welfare, and education legislation; interstate governmental cooperation; municipal codes; the Illinois War Council; the Council of State Governments; "women on juries" bill; and women in the legislature. She also discusses her life before the General Assembly: family and childhood at...

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ILLINOIS COAL: THE LEGACY OF AN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY VanHooser, coal miner, discusses mining in the Taylorville area in central Illinois: mechanization in the mines, mine wars of the 1930's between the PMA and the UMW, and the impact of the mine wars on the community.

1 tape, 85 mins., 31 pp. Interview by Kevin Corley, 1986 OPEN See collateral file: interviewer's notes and photocopies of photos, certificates and articles from the National Coal Museum.

Scope and Contents Vasconcelles, journalist, discusses the relationship between reporters and political personalities at the Illinois Statehouse: press work and activities, press relations with Governors and with members and staff of the General Assembly; reporters, photographers, and public relations people; and women as reporters. Also recalls growing up in Jacksonville, Illinois, working as a telegraph operator, and moving to Springfield. His also recalls his army service in the Philippines and Korea during...

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ITALIAN-AMERICANS PROJECT Vespa, Italian coal miner, recalls coming to Springfield, its Italian-American community, prohibition, coal mines and WWII.

1 tape, 50 mins., 17 pp. Interview by John Bucari, 1972 OPEN See collateral file

Scope and Contents Victor, chairman of the board of Thrifty Drugs, Inc., discusses his interest and involvement in the pharmacy business; work at and description of Ralph's Drugstore in Springfield; pharmacy school; owning his first drugstore and its expansion into the Thrifty Drugstore chain. He describes the set-up of his drugstores: goods, generic drugs, customers, employee benefits, business practices, and changes in drug making. He also recalls the Springfield community, his childhood, Depression,...

Scope and Contents Victor, wife of Benjamin Victor (above), recalls her early years growing up in a Jewish family in the small town of Worden, Illinois, her parents, moving to Edwardsville, attending high school there, her early interest in speech and acting, attending Washington University and the Morse School of Expression in St. Louis, her marriage to Springfield pharmacist Benjamin Victor in 1931, the birth of her children, and the death of her son Michael at the age of 20. She also discusses the...

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WOMEN'S RIGHTS PROJECT Barbara Dickerman, Jacqueline Ferguson, and Karen Hasara. Narrators discuss their lives during the women’s movement in the 1960s, their opinions of women’s organizations and leaders, and their work for the ERA and in the National League of Women Voters. Hasara (R) is a former Illinois State Representative and Senator and Mayor of Springfield, Illinois.

3 tapes, 150 min., 60 pp. Interviewed by Margaret Herath, 1998 OPEN