Lorry is an amateur historian who has written several books about Frontenac, Minnesota. She shares stories about Frontenac and her family ancestors who lived in the Whitewater area.
Dr. Sajady is an Afghan American and shares her outdoor stories and perspectives as a pediatrician who encourages families to get outdoors and experience nature.
This interview contains some outdated information as the research discussed has since been updated. Dr. Jefferson is a retired Winona State University ecology professor and amateur historian. She shared memories how she became interested in researching early abolitionists in the Winona area and what she's discovered about the possible connections to the Underground Railroad in southeast Minnesota.
Dan Keyler is a retired Toxicologist for Hennepin County Medical Center and an expert on timber rattlesnake venom. He shares about his pathway to becoming fascinated by rattlesnakes and some of the common misconceptions about these snakes. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Ernie Boszhardt is an archaeologist who shares about his journey becoming an archaeologist and stories about local human history he's learned through his work. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Martha was 105 years old at the time of this interview. She shared memories raising her family in Fremont, Minnesota and the history of the Fremont Store.
Laura Deering shares information about her research investigating the Underground Railroad in Southeast Minnesota. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Joan and her sister, Deb Scherbring, share about growing up in the Whitewater Valley and memories of their father, George Meyer, who was the Manager of the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area from 1948-1983.
Holly Young is a Dakota beadwork artist who shares about her journey discovering the stories of her ancestors through learning traditional beadwork. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Kao Tao shares about the Hmong refugee experience and the significance of the Whitewater River valley to the Se Asian community. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Jeff is a professional geologist and amateur historian who lives near the park. He shared memories the unique characteristics of the Driftless area and some of the hidden history of the region.
Mike Ebersold is a descendant of Chief Wabasha's family and Dakota-French trader, Augustine La Roque. He shares about the Dakota Half Breed Reservation and early history of the Wabasha area. His wife shares about her experiences working at summer camps held at Whitewater State Park. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Barbara is a historian and author of the book, "Hard Work and a Good Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota." She shared memories her experience interviewing some of the African American men who were involved in the CCC in Minnesota.
Mahmud Kanyare and Nimo Said share about the Somali refugee experience and the impact of nature on wellbeing. They talk about their work with the Youth and Family Circle and the field trips and summer camps they organize for immigrant and refuge youth to experience the outdoors. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Mark Reisetter shares about his experience serving in Vietnam and the therapeutic benefits of fly fishing. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Bucky Flores shares information about his American Indian heritage and the importance of connecting chidren to the outdoors. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Maria Lamey is a former Family Advocate for the Plainview Migrant Council and helped found Project Get Outdoors. She shares about her experiences helping introduce migrant Latino youth to the outdoors. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Dr. Hyman is a history professor at Winona State University and author of the book, "Dakota Women's Work: Creativity, Culture, & Exile." She shared memories her pathway to becoming a history professor and how she became interested in the traditional arts and crafts of Dakota women.
Ben Gessner is a Collections Associate for the Minnesota Historical Society. His work focuses on American Indian and Fine Arts Collections. He shares about his work and the process of repatriating artifacts. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Charles Loggins was the first African American District Conservationist in Minnesota. In this interview he shares about his work with the Soil Conservation Service and working with farmers in Winona County. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.
Bob is a Soil Conservationist and shared memories growing up in the Whitewater Area and memories of his father, John, who was also a soil conservationist and who died along with his wife in the historic flood of 2007.
Keith Ewing, Coordinator of Library Systems & Digital Services at St. Cloud State University, retired in July 2017. Graduating with an MLS in 1979 from University of Texas at Austin, Ewing went on to work at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Nagoya University of Commerce and Business Administration, and in system and digital services roles at St. Cloud State University. In his interview, Keith disccusses internet and digital library technology in libraries, the inception of the Minnesota Digital Library, work on the first Minitex MEIR task force, the building of a new library at St. Cloud State University, mentors, and dinner with Ray Bradbury. This interview includes an audio recording and full transcript.
Ruth Dukelow retired as Director of CLIC (Cooperating Libraries in Consortium) in June 2019. Ruth Dukelow discusses her career as a librarian and director at libraries and consortia in Pennsylvania, Washington DC, North Carolina, Michigan, and Minnesota, culminating in her role as executive director of the CLIC Library System in the Twin Cities. Dukelow also mentions working with fellow OCLC network librarians from Minitex when she was at the Michigan Library Consortium such as Kathy Drozd, Becky Ringwelski, Mary Parker, and Carla Dewey Urban and traveling to OCLC headquarters for network meeting in the 1990s, and a memorable migration of the CLIC shared catalog to a next-generation library management system. This interview includes an audio recording, transcript, and photograph of the interviewee.
Barbara Misselt led the East Central Regional Library as Library System Director for 9 years, retiring April 1, 2017. Misselt's first library job was at the Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, before moving to SELCO (Southeastern Libraries Cooperating) in Rochester, Minnesota, and ending her career at East Central Regional Library in Cambridge, Minnesota. In the interview, she discusses her connection to Minitex, working with former Minitex Director Bill DeJohn, Becky Ringwelski (former Associate Director of Minitex for Resource Sharing), Kathy Drozd (former Assistant Director for Delivery), and other influential colleagues from Minnesota libraries and the State Library. This interview includes an audio recording and full transcript.
Marie Ehrenberg was living in hospice care in St. Charles and her last wish was to visit Whitewater State Park. She shares about growing up on a farm in the area and her memories of spending time at the park with her father. The Whitewater State Park Oral History project began in 2017 to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the State Park.