In this interview, Sam Malinsky gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan and World War II veteran. He was born in 1920 in Minneapolis to an Orthodox Jewish family who attended Mikro Kodesh synagogue. Malinsky went to Hebrew High School and describes poor Jewish life during the 1930s. He talks about what he knew about what was going on in Europe at the time and how he was drafted. Malinsky describes basic training and a boat ride to Barry, Scotland, where his company took enemy fire, and landing at Utah Beach on D-Day under heavy enemy fire. On the way to Belgium he describes infantry life in the woods and how he was shot by a sniper in Paris. After the war, Malinsky became an insurance agent and talks of his support for the state of Israel. This interview was conducted by Brian M. Krasnow as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest World War II Veterans Oral History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Samuel Stern (1952 - ) gives his personal background which included living in Highland Park, St. Paul, education at Carleton College, UCLA, and law school at Washington University in St. Louis. Stern's family settles in Saint Louis Park, and he discusses that community at length, including people, neighborhoods, synagogues and schools. Stern reflects on Hebrew School, Jewish Youth Organizations, Anti-Semitism, and socio-economic differences between neighborhoods. This interview was conducted by Jeff Norman, oral historian from California. "Urban Exodus: The Saint Louis Park Oral History Project" explores the post-World War II migration of Minneapolis's Jewish community from the city's North Side to the western suburb of Saint Louis Park. The 35 oral history interviews, representing diverse perspectives from within and beyond the Jewish community, tell the complex story of how, from 1945 to 1970, Saint Louis Park became a major center of Jewish life in Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In an oral history, Selena Molstad talks of her father coming to Brainerd from Norway, her childhood memories of her church, and getting her teaching certificate, and doing practice teaching in a country school.
Interview with Senja Maki. Senja Maki was born in Finland in 1888 and immigrated to the United States when she was 4. She moved to Ely when she was 16. Her parents divorced because her father was an alcoholic and her mother remarried. Senja moved to Ely where she worked waiting tables at a hotel. The hotel burned and she looked for a new job where she worked until she broke her knee. In 1907 she married Gust Maki who owned "Maki Clothing." They had five children and her husband died in 1964. Senja marched for women's right to vote and was part of the Delphin Society. The Delphin Society was a study group for women to learn about art, music, and literature. She has lived in the same house for 77 years. Her philosophy of life is to learn to live the proper way and always do what is right.
In an oral history, Severn Flatagraf relates that his parents came from Norway, how they went about homesteading west of Pequot Lakes in 1896, his schooling, and life growing up on the farm.
In this interview, Sheldon Kaplan gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan, legal practitioner and veteran of World War II. In his account of his life, Kaplan describes the circumstances of his birth on the North Side of Minneapolis to Lithuanian parents who were in wholesale produce, attending Lincoln Junior High, the University of Minnesota, Columbia Law in New York, practicing civil law in New York, joining the Military Police and helping refugees escape from Europe, working as a lawyer on wartime termination contracts, and finally working as a lawyer with Kaplan, Edelman and Kaplan, specializing in tax law, trusts, estates, and civil law, representing such clients as the Minnesota Vikings. He sees Jewish and non-Jewish lawyers integrating more and more. This interview was conducted by Helen Rubenstein as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest Jewish Judges and Lawyers History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Sherman Richter gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan and World War II veteran. He was born in 1924 to an Orthodox Jewish family in North Minneapolis. Richter discussed leaving North High early to enlist in the Marine Corps, being somewhat aware of the Jewish situation in Europe in the early 1940s. He was trained in California to operate a machine gun at the age of nineteen and gives some account of the culture there in regards to Judaism. Richter describes fighting in the South Pacific on various Islands such as Majuro. After World War II he returned to the North Side and operated at a bakery which later became the Lincoln Deli. Richter gives a description of this time and place from the Jewish perspective. He was drafted as a Marine to Korea and left his family for fierce fighting, mentioning the "Nightmare Alley' and other encounters with North Koreans and Chinese. Having been injured, Richter received several medals and memorabilia. This interview was conducted by Brian M. Krasnow as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest World War II Veterans Oral History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Sidney Feldman gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan and World War II veteran. He was born in St. Paul to Russian immigrant parents. Feldman gives a description of his childhood, basic training at Fort Knox, arriving in France twelve days after D-Day by boat, fierce combat in France and the living conditions, the journey towards the Battle of the Bulge, some recollection of the battle itself, his injury and Purple Heart and adjusting back home after the war. This interview was conducted by Fay Kaye as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest World War II Veterans Oral History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Sidney Lorber (1916 - ) discusses the life and work of his friend and associate, Minneapolis lawyer and community leader Amos Deinard (graduate, University School of Law and Harvard Law School, 1920s). Mr. Deinard gained notoriety by taking leadership positions in a number of local and state organizations that spanned causes from anti -discrimination, Jewish immigrant welfare, Jewish-Christian relations and health concerns. This interview was conducted by Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest volunteer Chester Prochan in effort to document the stories of Jewish immigration to and community leaders in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Suzanne Mahmoodi was the first continuing education coordinator at Library Development and Services (1978-2001), Minnesota Department of Education. In her interview she discusses her first library job as a student in special libraries; early education in Southern Iowa (near Lucas, Iowa, known for John Lewis Memorial Museum of Mining and Labor); early Resource Sharing in special, academic, and public libraries; conversation with U of M Libraries director Edward Stanford about the 1969 Minitex pilot project; Control Data Corporation's Plato system (one of the earliest computer based learning systems, originally developed at University of Illinois) and developing a program for libraries; how MN Opportunities for Reference Service Excellence (MORE) and MN Opportunities for Technical Services Excellence (MOTSE) began; and the decision to close the library at State Library Services. This interview also includes an audio recording, recording table of contents, transcript, and photograph of the interviewee.
In an oral history, Tarz and Virginia Larson realate the history of their families and their involvement and the activities of their church. Tarz's real name is John, but he got his nickname as a child. The Tarzan craze was going on at the time. John tried to emulate the character by climbing trees and pounding his chest, and the kids in the neighborhood called him "Tarz". The nickname stuck.
Interview with Teddy Kaldahl and Harold Brundin. Tuddy Kaldahl, went to Banff and Quebec to teach skiing. He returned to rent the Ballroom (located in Glenwood, Minnesota) in 1923. The Lakeside Pavilion was built in in 1908 along withthe ski jump. Dances were hled on Wednesday and Friday (featuring modern dance). Old-Time dances were held on Fridays. Alabamians was one of the bands they discussed. The drummer was Cab Callaway. Together they also discusses bands, dances, and costs.
In this interview, Theatrice "T" Williams (1934 - ) gives his personal background and reasons for arriving in Minneapolis in the 1960s as a social worker on the North Side. Williams describes his relationship with the Phyllis Wheatley Center (director from 1965 - 1972) within the context of the American civil rights movement. The race riots on Plymouth avenue and other issues are explored in the context of the Jewish community, local politics and community organizations or initiatives such as the Urban Coalition. The interview concludes with a reflection on the North Side of Minneapolis as it is today and the construction of I-94. This interview was conducted by Jeff Norman, oral historian from California. "Urban Exodus: The Saint Louis Park Oral History Project" explores the post-World War II migration of Minneapolis's Jewish community from the city's North Side to the western suburb of Saint Louis Park. The 35 oral history interviews, representing diverse perspectives from within and beyond the Jewish community, tell the complex story of how, from 1945 to 1970, Saint Louis Park became a major center of Jewish life in Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In an oral history, Thelma Johnson relates that, as a child, church services were conducted in Norwegian, going to a country school, rationing during World War II, and activities in her church.
Interview with Tony Klun, age 65, part owner of Klun's Meat Market on Central Avenue, Ely. He is not heard on this tape but it is a report read by his interviewer, Mike Petrich, concerning his method of making sausage. The store, which opened in 1922 was converted from a dry goods store owned by Tony's stepmother. The precise way of making sausage is very clearly explained, but there is no mention of the spices used nor the amounts.
Troy grew up biking to Sibley and skating on and swimming across local watering holes. And have you ever heard of the Loch Ness of Lake Andrew? Well, you will after this interview!
Interview with Urho Hokkanen. Urho was born in Finland in 1909. His family immigrated to America in 1913. His father first arrived in America in 1905, but returned to Finland in 1908, and left again in 1910 for America. They traveled from Helsinki to Copenhagen and on to Hull, England and then caught a White Star ship in Liverpool arriving in Quebec, Canada before making his way to northern Minnesota. His father worked in the lumber camps and occasionally in the Section 30 or Zenith Mine. Urho Hokkanen attended the Winton, Minnesota school through the 8th grade and then graduated high school in Ely. He traveled around a while after high school, but came back to Winton because his mother was so lonely for him. He spent one winter in a lumber camp on the North Shore of Lake Superior and then was hired at the Pioneer Mine in Ely. Urho talks about working in the underground mine, cave-ins and mud slides, the Great Depression and its affect on the area, unionization of the mines, and what he did after the Pioneer Mine closed in 1967.
Valerie Horton retired from her position as the director of Minitex in 2019. In this interview, she discusses her professional career beginning as a systems librarian at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She also worked as a systems librarian at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and in the islands of Trinidad and Tobago assisting with early library automation. Her career highlights included serving as library director at Colorado Mesa University, Colorado Library Consortium, and Minitex (2014-2019). Horton discusses some initiatives from her time at Minitex, including the Minnesota Digital Library, Ebooks Minnesota, SimplyE, and the Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project.
In an oral history, Vernon Davis, a local historian, discusses various topics such as people he has known, artifacts he'd found at the site of an old Northwest Trade Post, and logging camps.
Interview with Vivian Tumoikoski. This interview discusses homesteading near One Pine Lake in early 1900. Topics include, dairy farm, chores, milking, bottling, selling, haymaking, and hired help. Vivian also discusses making ice and harvesting ice as well as recreation and family travels.
Interview with Wally Newstrom. Wally relates his experiences growing up in West Central Minnesota. Note: Wally, in addition to several others in the New London Oral History Project, use the term "gypsy." The term was historically used to identify people of Eastern Europe or Romanian decent. Today the term Roma is more widely accepted.
In this second interview of Wally Newstom with his granddaughter he talks about the changes his "Greatest Generation" has seen. His interview highlight below brings to light what diversity in the 1930s looked like in West Central Minnesota.
Conversation between Gordon Hobart and Walter Leuthner. Gordon Hobart raised turkeys. He also started and ran Interlachen. His father owned a meat market. Reminder that no frozen meat was available at that time; but every resort and farm had an icehouse. The iceman delivered to residential iceboxes. Refrigerators were not locally available until the end of the 1920s. Meat was only available from local farmers; but vegetables would come in on refrigerated railroad cars and were dropped off in each town. They discuss business local practices. The grocery store would pay they bakery at end of season since most local people bartered products at grocery store. They provide reminiscences about: Terry Weatherman, England Grocery, cigar factory, sawmills, ice cream man, fishing and "fish" stories, Minnissouri Club, fishing guides, school boy capers, duck hunting, and how the annual wheat crop determined Alexandria's prosperity.
