Oral History Commons^™

Charity Simone, Mark Naison, Anthony Abd-Al Shafi Rosado

Oral Histories

Simone’s path to leadership was inspired by her late mentor, Charles Foster, who encouraged her to be an active voice in their community. After seeing issues with building maintenance and a lack of clear communication, Simone ran for office and was elected Treasurer of her Building Association in 2023. Through this role, she noticed that community work is complex and needs navigating different opinions, yet the experience ultimately reinforced her belief that community is a “verb.” To her, it is an intentional, ongoing action that requires showing up every day to hold the system accountable.

A significant aspect of Simone's …

Oral History Interview With Fairolyn Livingston, Fairolyn Livingston, Wenxian Zhang

Oral Histories

Fairolyn H. Livingston ’83 is known as the “institutional memory of Winter Park’s west side,” where she was born and raised by what she lovingly refers to as a village. She earned her bachelor’s degree in humanities from Rollins’ Hamilton Holt School, is a retired human service specialist with the State of Florida, and has been associated with the Heritage Center since it opened in 2007, becoming its chief historian in 2014. In 1997, Livingston received the Rhea Marsh and Dorothy Lockhart Smith Research Grant—awarded annually by Rollins’ Olin Library in partnership with the Winter Park Public Library—to support research …

The Perry Lewis Interview, Shane Hand, John Brundrett

Oral Histories

This is an interview related to the integration of Alvin Community College (ACC), which was called Alvin Junior College (AJC) from its founding in 1948 until 1976. The interview is with Mr. Perry Lewis and takes place on May 7, 2025. The interviewers are Dr. Shane Hand and Professor John Brundrett.

The Archie Family Interview, Shane Hand, John Brundrett

Oral Histories

This is an interview related to the integration of Alvin Community College (ACC), which was called Alvin Junior College (AJC) from its founding in 1948 until 1976. The interview is with Sharmeal Archie, Mary L. Smith, and Lynette Mason and takes place on February 10, 2025. The interviewers are Dr. Shane Hand and Professor John Brundrett.

Oral History Interview With Sharon Carnahan And Wenxian Zhang, Sharon Carnahan, Wenxian Zhang

Oral Histories

Sharon Carnahan, Ph.D. (UNC Chapel Hill 1991) is Professor of Psychology at Rollins College, where she was the Executive Director of the Hume House Child Development & Student Research Center, a laboratory preschool, from 1992-2024.

Dr. Carnahan was born in Chicago and reared in upstate NY. Her father, grandmother and 2 sisters were all teachers. The Carnahan family ran a summertime wilderness outfitting business in the Adirondacks, leading groups though weeks of primitive camping and canoeing, and she has held instructor certificates from the American National Red Cross in canoeing, boating, CPR, First Aid, and Adaptive Aquatics.

Dr. Carnahan graduated …

Interview With Jenny Cavenaugh, Jennifer Jones Cavenaugh, Wenxian Zhang

Oral Histories

Growing up in New York City, Jennifer Jones Cavenaugh earned her BA in Policy Studies from Dartmouth College in 1982, and her MFA in Dramaturgy from Brooklyn College in 1992. After receiving her PhD in Theater History and Dramatic Criticism from the University of Washington in 1995, she served as Assistant Professor of Theater at the University of Denver for three years before joining the faculty of the Louisiana State University, where she earned her tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor of Theater in 2003.

In 2005, Dr. Cavenaugh was named the Winifred Warden Endowed Chair of Theater at …

Turner, Ruby: A Living Legacy, Ruby Mckie Turner

Oral Histories

[Turner has] chosen not to write an oral history of African Americans but, rather, one of Colored Americans through images. These images are those who were among the first freeborn generation of the Civil War, thereby placing them in the historical period of the country changing its course to admit freed former slaves.

David Harris, Kelli Johnson

Oral Histories

Kelli Johnson interviewing David Harris on January 4th, 2019, who is going to take Dr. Johnson on a little driving tour of Fairfield.

Carolyn Nicks, Mijour Jones

Oral Histories

Oral History of Carolyn Nicks interviewed by Mijour Jones in Huntington, West Virginia

Gina Johnson, Shyah Johnson

Oral Histories

Oral History of Gina Johnson, interviewed by Shylah Johnson in Huntington, West Virginia.

Joe Williams, Markayla Moore

Oral Histories

Oral History of Joe Williams, interviewed by Markayla Moore in Huntington, West Virginia.

Shirley Williams, Markayla Moore

Oral Histories

Oral History of Shirley Williams, interviewed by Markayla Moore in Huntington, West Virginia.

Janella Coleman, Denise Wattie

Oral Histories

Oral History of Janella Coleman, interviewed by Denise Wattie in Huntington, West Virginia.

Carl Woolfolk, T'Rayah Paschall

Oral Histories

Oral History of Carl Woolfolk, interviewed by his granddaughter T'Rayah Paschall in Huntington, West Virginia.

Doris Atkinson, Ariana Redding

Oral Histories

Oral History of Doris Atkinson interviewed by Ariana Redding in Huntington, West Virginia.

Rev. Reginald Hill, Raiven Scott

Oral Histories

Oral History of Rev. Reginald Hill of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia

Interview With Mary Margaret Stewart, March 13, 2014, Mary Margaret Stewart, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Michael Birkner continued his interview with Mary Margaret Stewart on March 13, 2014, covering her decades-long career at Gettysburg College, starting under the administration of Willard Stewart Paul in the 1950s and concluding in the 1990s. Topics covered include her academic activities, relationship with other members of the faculty, and thoughts on the college administration over the years.

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral …

Interview With Mary Margaret Stewart, December 18, 2013, Mary Margaret Stewart, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Mary Margaret Stewart was interviewed on December 18, 2013 by Michael Birkner about her early life in California and Nebraska during the Great Depression, undergraduate experience at Monmouth University and graduate experience at Indiana University, and early career in the English department at Gettysburg.

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral histories done from 1978 to the present. To view this list and to access …

Anonymous Narrator, Ellen Hoffman

Oral Histories

As an Ohio native that became actively involved in her Native heritage later in life, my narrator presents an interesting perspective. She is an urban Indian, never having lived on a reservation. She was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools. Her story is a testament to the fact that even Native Americans that do not grow up with a strong tie to their Native heritage can go on to become very involved and influenced by Native activity.

Rose, Alissa Feirson

Oral Histories

Rose was born on April 18, 1972 in Montana. She is a tribal member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa. Rose grew up in Montana and North Dakota. She moved to Columbus in the spring of 1998. Rose has been coming to NAACO for about 12 years.

George, James Andrews, Jack Krzeminski

Oral Histories

George was born and raised on the Sioux reservation, which is located in Sioux Valley Manitoba, Canada. He says that he is proud to be a full blooded American Indian. As a child he attended a mixed-race school near the reservation, where he learned to deal with issues of racism for the first time.

Rhoda Stertzer, Noel Weeks

Oral Histories

Rhoda M. Stertzer was born in a small village as part of the Athabaskan tribe in Alaska. She dropped out of school in tenth grade to get married and moved to Ohio for economic/survival reasons in 1980.

Mary, Katie Rumizen

Oral Histories

"Mary" is the executive director of NAICCO. She and her husband moved to Columbus from the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Oregon about 15 years ago, and now live in Columbus with their children.

Ryan, Kat Dougherty

Oral Histories

Ryan is the Project Director for the Circles of Care grant at the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO). He lives in Columbus with his wife, Masami, who runs NAICCO, and their three children: Afton, David, and Toshina. Both Tyrone and Masami grew up on a reservation in Warm Springs, Oregon. Tyrone lived on the reservation until his mid-twenties, when he, his wife, and their oldest daughter relocated to Columbus, Ohio. There, Tyrone worked in cabinetry for several years before pursuing his Masters in Social Work at Ohio State University. He has been the Project Director for the …

Bartholomew Kuma, Kushal Rao

Oral Histories

Bartholomew Kuma is a Cherokee male of about 60 years old. He grew up in the Columbus area, and has lived there a majority of his life. He has vocational training in automotive repair. Mr. Kuma’s professes no religious affiliation to any specific denomination, but believes in a Great Creator and tries his best to follow the Indian ways. He has frequented NAICCO for many years now, and has a special place in his heart for powwows.

Stephen, Lynn El-Roeiy

Oral Histories

I interviewed Stephen, a board member on several projects related to NAICCO and a member of the Minnecoujou tribe in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Stephen now lives in central Ohio but was raised in South Dakota on an Indian Reservation and was sent to St. Joseph’s Indian School from the ages of eight to fifteen. He earned his GED after leaving St. Joseph’s Indian School after failing the ninth grade. He currently works as a security officer and is in a relationship with “Anne,” whom he met in September and has both a Native American and Italian heritage. Stephen mentioned …

Sam Standing Soldier, Joey Cordle

Oral Histories

Sam Standing Soldier is 18 years old and has 5 brothers. He currently lives in Salem, Ohio with his dad and attends high school there. Sam is involved with numerous school-related sports - of which football is his favorite. An important component in his life has been his sense of spirituality. According to Sam, he carries on the traditional practices that have been passed down to him through his family and from the broader Native American community. Thus, as a former Firekeeper and current Sundancer, Sam has a strong sense of self and is aware of his place within the …

Interview With Karl Mattson, August 17, 2011, Karl Mattson, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Karl Mattson was interviewed on August 17, 2011 by Michael Birkner about his life and professional experiences and his connections with Gettysburg College.

Length of Interview: 94 minutes

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral histories done from 1978 to the present. To view this list and to access selected digital versions please visit -- https://gettysburg.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16274coll2/search

Interview With Karl Mattson, August 10, 2011, Karl Mattson, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Karl Mattson was interviewed on August 10, 2011 by Michael Birkner about his life starting with his earliest memories. This interview is part 1 of a 2 part interview.

Length of Interview: 46 minutes

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral histories done from 1978 to the present. To view this list and to access selected digital versions please visit -- https://gettysburg.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16274coll2/search

Interview With James Myers, March 28 & 31, 2011, James P. Myers Jr., Brad R. Miller

Oral Histories

James Myers was interviewed on March 28 & 31, 2011 by Brad Miller about his childhood, collegiate years and teaching at Gettysburg College. He also discussed Carl Arnold Hanson's presidency, the political unrest during that time, and how the college has changed during his time here.

Length of Interview: 103 minutes

Course Information:

• Course Title: HIST 300: Historical Method
• Academic Term: Spring 2011
• Course Instructor: Dr. Michael Birkner '72

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4 …