TABLE OF CONTENTS
Guide to the Local History Project, A Collection of Oral Histories,
1978-1981
Biographical Note
IUP History Professors Dale Landon, Ernest Fricke, Dorothy Vogel, George Wiley, and Wayne Smith conducted the Oral History Project from 1978 to 1981. It includes more than ninety interviews on various experiences in Indiana, Pa. Those interviewed included IUP faculty, administrators, staff, and local residents of Indiana County.
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Scope and Content Notes
This collection contains a series of audio cassettes.
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The Local History Project collection is housed in nine archival boxes.
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Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Property rights reside with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University Archives and Special Collections. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the coordinator of the University Archives and Special Collections.
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Controlled Access Terms |
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| These records are indexed under the following terms in the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Library catalog. Researchers wishing to find related materials may wish to search under these terms. | ||
| Topics | ||
| Oral history. | ||
| Locations | ||
| Indiana County (Pa.) -- History.. | ||
| Personal Names | ||
| Fricke, Ernest. | ||
| Landon, Dale. | ||
| Smith, Wayne. | ||
| Vogel, Dorothy. | ||
| Wiley, George. | ||
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Administrative Information
Local History Project, 1978-1981, MG# 30, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University Archives and Special Collections
This collection was processed by Special Collections Staff,date unknown. Papers rearranged and inventory rewritten by Special Collections Staff in Spring 2001.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Jason Hutchins on February 1, 2002.
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Container List |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Bright, Lorrie J.: Lorrie J. Bright, the faculty advisor, and Annamarie Draham, the editor of The Penn discussed the staff and operations of the school newspaper. Durham described what she felt to be important in decision making, taking into account the changing emphasis preferred by students and faculty in world, national, and local news. LA 001-A\ LA 001-B April 2, 1979 | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Davis, Charles A.: Mr. Davis attended IUP during the Great Depression. He related how he came to Indiana, and the life of the young men and women on campus. Mr. Davis was a music major. He played in bands on campus and around the local area. He later returned to IUP to teach in the Music Department.(LA 002) In a class presentation, Mr. Davis described his undergraduate experiences at IUP as a music major in the 1930's. He graduated in 1934, and returned to teach at IUP in 1942. After serving in WWII, Mr. Davis taught at IUP until 1973.(LA 003-A/LA 003-B) March 8, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Durham: LA 001-A, LA 001-B | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Hadley, S. Trevor: Mr. Hadley attended IUP and graduated in 1937. He worked at IUP as an administrator from 1946 to 1978. In all his years at IUP as student and administrator, he was impressed with the dedication and commitment of all people associated with the school. (LA 004-A/LA 004-B) March 8, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Hadley, S. Trevor: Mr. Hadley was an administrator at IUP from 1946 to 1978. He graduated from ISTC in 1937. He discussed the quality of education at IUP and the various problems he was aware of through the years. But overall he was very please with IUP. (LA 005-A/LA 005-B) July 25, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Harkless, Edward: In a class presentation Mr. Harkless, the Indiana Borough Manager related some the changes in land development of IUP. He compared the original campus with the current one, and all the additions made over the years. (LA 006-A/LA 006-B) July 25, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Hoenstine, E. Samuel: LA In a class presentation Mr. Hoenstine, an administrator of IUP, discussed his experiences of the school as a member of the staff, and his years as a student. He graduated from ISTC in 1938. (LA 007) November 8, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Kelly, Karen: Miss Kelly was Student Government Association president. She discussed the role of the SGA in the life of IUP, and its powers as stated in its constitution. She illustrated this with an example from her time as president. (LA 008) December 1, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 9 | Knowlton, Christopher: Mr. Knowlton was the manager of the Student Co-op Association. In a class presentation he discussed the history of the Co-op, and its two major functions: to budget all monies for the Student Activities Program, and to operate the campus bookstore.(LA 007-A/LA 007-B) March 1,1979 | ||||||||||||
| 10 | Seanor, Beryl L.: Mrs. Seanor graduated from ISNS in 1915. She attended the Model School for two years prior to that. She described the campus, as she knew it in the years before the First World War.(LA 017) April 11, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 11 | Litsey, Frederica Furman: Mrs. Litsey graduated from ISNS in 1916. She discussed how she came to Indiana, and her experiences as a student. After leaving Indiana she taught for two years. She felt that ISNS gave her an excellent education. (LA 012) June 13, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Laughlin, James W.: LA 010-A and Warner E. Tobin: LA 010-B Mr. Laughlin was the Dean of Students Services, and Mr. Tobin was the Director of the University School; both graduated from ISTC in 1951. In a class presentation they discuss their years at IUP as students and administrators. July 20, 1978 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Laughlin, James W. (LA 011): In a class presentation, Mr. Laughlin, Dean of Student Services, discussed his views of the student experience at IUP. July 29, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Long, Edward (LA 013): Mr. Long was a student at ISNS from 1907 to 1909. He discussed the social and academic life at IUP, and his involvement in sports. April 9, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Naylon, David: Mr. Naylon, the President of the Indiana Borough Council, in a class presentation and interview discussed the Council and its history. He reviewed the departments in the Council and the General Budget. (LA 014) November 3, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | 5 Nichol, Clarissa Bost: and Wilma Hafer Anderson Mrs. Nichol graduated from ISNS in 1914. Mrs. Anderson graduated from ISTC in 1932. Both had a good experience at Indiana, and remembered the faculty and students with affection and admiration. (LA 015) June 13, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Sanford, Flossie Wagner: Mrs. Sanford graduated from ISNS in 1917. In a detailed, chronological account, she related her experiences as a student at IUP and as a teacher. She knew Jane Leonard and Dr. Keith very well. Although she gave up teaching after she married, she kept close ties with the school through the time of this interview. Mrs. Sanford stated she taught in "the Renaissance" of Indiana. (LA 016-A/LA 016-B/LA 016-C) July 3, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Sheeder, Elwood B: LA Mr. Sheeder was a graduate of ISTC (1946). He was Dean of Men from 1960-1969. In a class presentation and interview, Mr. Sheeder described the "period of demonstrations" at IUP in the 1960s, and his involvement in campus life. (LA 018-A/LA 018-B) March 22, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | 8Sledzik, Herman: Mr. Sledzik was Athletic Director at IUP. He came to Indiana in 1963. He described the Athletic Department and the Athletic Program at IUP for both men and women. Mr. Sledzik related the history of sports at IUP, and their relationship to the growth of the school from a normal school to a university. . (LA 019) October 27, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 9 | Still, Evelyn Jones: Mrs. Still graduated from ISNS in 1927 and from ISTC in 1928. She related her experiences of the school in post war years.(LA 020) June 13, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 10 | Swauger, Craig, B.: Mr. Swauger graduated from ISTC in 1942. He returned as a faculty member from 1955 to the present. He described campus life in the late 1930's and early 1940's, contrasting it to the current life-style. Mr. Swauger also commented on the changes he had seen at Indiana over the years.(LA 021-A/LA 021-B) August 1, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 11 | Watta, John: Mr. Watta was the first director of the Punxsutawney Branch Campus of IUP. He described how he obtained the position, and the special problems he faced at the branch campus. (LA 022) March 20, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 12 | Wilburn, Robert C.: Wilburn was President of IUP from 1975-1979.(LA 023) . February 13, 1978 | ||||||||||||
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| 3 | 1 | Forman, Lucille: Miss Foreman was born in 1900. She went to work for McCreary Tire and Rubber Company in 1922 as a secretary, remaining for 41 years. Her father started working at McCreary's in the shipping department, and later became a foreman. Miss Foreman played the piano at Wednesday prayer services.(FR 001-A/FR 001-B) November 23, 1977 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Foreman / McCreary (FR 009) Miss Foreman related her experiences in the office of McCreary's from 1922 to 1963. She spoke of the team spirit of the office workers; how they would do whatever was necessary to keep things going. Except for the Depression and WW II, the company was fairly prosperous. Ralph McCreary spoke with pride and affection of the various people connected with the company. He said his father had originally intended profits to be used for orphans. | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Freberg, J. (FR 011) "The United States of America" This is a musical comedy of the early history of the U.S., beginning with the discovery of America to the end of the Revolutionary War. Included: Discovery of America The Puritans and the Indians The Sale of Manhattan Boston Tea Party Declaration of Independence Valley Forge Betsy Ross | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Holt(FR 002): Mr. Holt's father worked for the McCreary family running their farm. Mr. Holt went to work on the farm after graduating from high school in 1934. In 1943 he became a billing agent, and was involved in that and shipping until 1969. June, 1970 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | McCreary, Ralph W.: Mr. McCreary was born on March 3, 1897. He attended Gettysburg College. His brother, Harry, worked with him in the family tire business. They first made tires in 1915; the tires were homemade, and of high quality. From 1915 to 1930, only automobile tires were produced. During World War II, truck tires dominated. Every Wednesday at noon, they held a brief prayer service for their employees. (FR 003) December 29, 1965 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | McCreary, Ralph W.: Mr. McCreary discussed his family background; his parents and early memories. His mother, Zetta Work, came from a farming family, as did his father. Before starting the Tire Company, his father worked in the mines. Mr. McCreary recalled his early youth on the farm and the worldviews of his family. (FR 004) March 30, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Miller, Donald V.: LA Mr. Miller was born in Indiana on January 1, 1913. He attended ISTC before going to work for McCreary's for $35.00 a week. He first worked in the office with Lucille Foreman, Raymond "Spike" Kelly, and Sonny Wetzel. Mr. Miller eventually became Office Manager and Credit manager in the 1940's. (FR 005-A/FR 005-B) November 15, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Mills, John J. (FR 006): Mr. Mills knew Ralph McCreary during WWI. He went to work for Hiram McCreary in 1919 in the office. Later he was promoted to sales. Mr. Mills went on the road throughout Pennsylvania selling tires. He left McCreary's in 1924 and returned in 1938 having worked for Firestone in the interim. During WWII there was a shortage of rubber so alternative materials were used. | ||||||||||||
| 9 | R and P Baseball: At a meeting for the Indiana Historical Society the R and P league was the topic of the evening. Mr. Vintner, a member of the League, spoke to the group, relating the heyday of the League in the late twenties and early thirties.(FR 010) April 1, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 10 | Rankin, Floyd Carroll: Mr. Rankin was born on December 26, 1904 in Oklahoma. Before going to McCreary's he was employed as a teacher, and went back to school, receiving a degree in electrical engineering. He was a factory superintendent for 36 years originally working 12-hour shifts for $0.40 an hour, he related how the company expanded during WWII.(FR 007-A/FR 007-B) November 22, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 11 | Rankin, Floyd Carroll: Mr. Rankin discussed the manufacture of tires with such materials as rubber, cotton, and synthetics. He compared and contrasted his employers, Ralph and Harry McCreary, saying that Ralph, in production, was the more reserved while Harry, in sales, was the more outgoing brother. He also mentioned that during World War II they mostly made tires for trucks.(FR 007-A/FR 007-B) November 22, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 12 | Rankin, Floyd Carroll: Mr. Rankin discussed the technical side of the McCreary Company. Elmore J. Baruth was the technical director; under him they experimented with synthetics as well as natural materials in the manufacturing of tires. Baruth established a quality control program. Mr. Rankin also discussed departments, pay rates, methods of learning a job, apprentices, and personnel.(FR 008) November 29, 1977 | ||||||||||||
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| 4 | 1 | Faloon, Audrey(Mrs. Herbert): Mrs. Faloon was born in 1909 in Marion Center. She attended ISTC and graduated after a two-year program in 1929. Mrs. Faloon loved children; she taught school for 18 years. Her mother, Mary Ellen Neely Barr, was also a teacher and instructed her in oration. . (VO 010) August 23, 1978 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Fletcher, Audrey: Mrs. Fletcher was born in a small mining town July 1, 1902. Her father was a miner, and had come to the U.S from England at the age of 15. Mrs. Fletcher attended California State Normal School, and taught four years until her marriage. During WWII, she was an inspector for Federal Lab, and Indiana defense plant.(VO 011) March 27, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Orr, Ethel:(VO 017) Mrs. Orr was born in 1920. Her mother, Mary Strictland, was born in 1900. Her father, John Francis Hinick, was born in 1891. Her parents divorced when Mrs. Orr was 9. Her mother worked in a silk mill in Indiana, and in later life at a gas station. Mrs. Orr was a stringer for the Gazette. March 28, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | O'Toole, Anna: 2/14/79 Miss O'Toole was born in 1900. Her father, Michael Joseph O'Toole, was a miner. He was born in 1872. Miss O'Toole related her experiences as a child and adult, and the values and attitudes of her parents. (VO 019) February 14, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Peterman, Lavina Mae: Mrs. Peterman was born 5 May 1900 in Mount Pleasant, PA. Her mother was Mary Martha Hann, and her father was Alpha John Smith. Her father was a painter, and later was a mine foreman. Her mother took boarders in their home. Mrs. Peterman was married in 1921 to Edward Earl Peterman. Before her marriage, Mrs. Peterman considered careers in music, nursing, and business. (VO 020) April 4, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Philippi, Mrs. C.: Mrs. Philippi wanted to become a nurse in order to care for her mother. She was unable to learn Latin, so she went to Business College instead. Her mother, Maggie, was born in 1896. Her father, Edward Joseph Sowers, was born in 1885. It was not popular for young married women to work, but Mrs. Philippi did help her father with his books at the Gas Company.(VO 021) November 20, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Ruddock, Verdun: Mrs. Ruddock was born 4 January 1919 in Clymer. Her mother was Elizabeth Davis b. 1889, and her father was Paul X. Renaud, b. 1890. Mrs. Ruddock spent her childhood in Clymer and at her parents' jobs.(VO 023) March 20, 1979 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Serene, Margaret T.: Miss Serene was active in the Indiana Red Cross from 1942 to 1975 as Executive Secretary, and later as its Executive Director. Her parents owned a prosperous butcher shop in Greensburg. Miss Serene was educated at the University of Cincinnati in music. She taught piano and voice before entering her career as a social worker.(VO 026) November 9, 1978 | ||||||||||||
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| 5 | 1 | Boden, Todd (WI 010) | |||||||||||
| 2 | Chellman (WI 010): Mr. Chellman was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. He was eating breakfast, and rushed to his station on an observation post. The attack was noisy, and there were black clouds of smoke from the bombings. He could see the faces of the Japanese pilots very quickly, because they flew in so close to their targets. November, 1981 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Craig.: (WI 002-A/WI 002-B) Mr. Craig was involved in the early years of the R and P Baseball League. His father was one of the chief backers of the League, and supported them in many ways. Mr. Craig emphasized the loyalty and closeness between the players and his father. July 14, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Davis, Betty(WI 003): Mrs. Davis was in high school when WWII began. She participated in most community activities for the war effort: victory gardens, collecting scrap, writing to soldiers, and many other activities. She remembered that people used their cars very little and that everyone usually walked where they needed to go. May, 1982 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Dellafioro, Cofy: Mr. Dellafioro's family from England recalled their experiences of WWII in Hampshire, England. Mr. Dellafioro was on a minesweeper coming into Pearl Harbor at 8 a.m. on December 7, 1941. He saw the planes bombing the harbor and the battleships sinking. His ship never came under attack at that time. (WI 005) 1982 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Furgiuele, Sam: 5/82 Mr. Furgiuele recalled his reactions to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He first learned of the attack on the radio. As a young man he began working from the Clements Coal Company. When WWII began, most miners were not exempt from the draft. He remembered that, at first, people were unconcerned about the war. Later they became involved in the war effort. (WI 006) May, 1982 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Hess, Husky: Mr. Hess played third base for the Ernest Mine Baseball Team. He related the events of the trip to Dayton, Ohio in 1937. The trip was a big event for the team. (WI 007) February 12, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Houck, (WI 008): Mrs. Houck related her experiences of life in Indiana County during the early years of WWII. She was involved in various local projects, and was on the gas rationing board. May, 1982 | ||||||||||||
| 9 | Kennedy, George (WI 009): Mr. Kennedy and two others related their experiences of the early years of WWII: the beginning, the draft, rationing, air raid drills, and leaving for active service. May, 1982 | ||||||||||||
| 10 | Kipp, Walter:(WI 010) Mr. Kipp was working part time at the Homestead mill in Pittsburgh when a fellow worker told him of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Kipp was also a senior at ISTC in art. He entered the army after he graduated. 1981 | ||||||||||||
| 11 | Krolick, Joe (WI 011) Mr. Krolick was in the Army in 1941. He was in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. When the attack came he was in church. He rushed to get to his battle station along with everyone else, where he found that the ammunition was locked up. Finally they were able to retrieve the ammunition and enter the battle. November 22, 1981 | ||||||||||||
| 12 | Group in Blairsville(WI 011) People were generally shocked about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many jobs were created as a result: men enlisted in the Armed Forces, and women went into war work. November 3, 1981 | ||||||||||||
| 13 | Nordby, Wally: Mr. Nordby was an air raid warden during WWII in Indiana. He worked with the other wardens under him out of his home. He stated that they system was created to guard against bombing by the Germans. He recounted in detail his involvement with the system, and how it worked.(WI 008) May, 1982 | ||||||||||||
| 14 | Newquist, Ruth: Mrs. Newquist was attending ISTC. She came home listening to the radio when the attack on Pearl Harbor was announced. Many men enlisted the very next day because there were not many jobs to be had; but they did not realize how close the U.S. was to war. There was not much talk on campus prior to December 7 about the war in Europe.(WI 010) 1981 | ||||||||||||
| 15 | Ramoli, Mario: Mr. Ramoli was born in Rome, Italy and came to Indiana in 1908. His father was a mason. In 1922, when his father died, Mr. Ramoli went to work in the mines at age 14. He began playing baseball with his friends, and joined the R and P League as a catcher. He related the early days of the League. (WI 012) July, . 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 16 | O'Hara, Vince: Mr. O'Hara was born August 21, 1907. His father came from Ireland, and was a coal miner. Mr. O' Hara left school in eighth grade to go to work. As a boy he had been a mascot for the baseball team, where he learned to pitch. (WI 013) June 9, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 17 | Clymer Women's Group: Most of them heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor on the radio. One woman heard it from a streetcar conductor. The general reaction was shock and disbelief, but the seriousness of the situation was felt the next day. The nature of the community changed; people drew closer together. Some of the women worked in munitions, making grenades and bombs. (WI 014) November, 1981 | ||||||||||||
| 18 | Tweed, Larry: Mr. Tweed was on the ship Zane in 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. They were totally unprepared for the attack; the ammunition was locked up. The attack, at first, seemed unreal as if they were watching a movie. .(WI 001) November 16, 1981 | ||||||||||||
| 19 | Yackuboskey, John: Mr. Yackuboskey joined the National Guard at the beginning of WWII. He left Indiana at 3 a.m. from the railway station. He had worked in the mines as had many men in the area. They were ready to rush to the West Coast when they heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor.(WI 015) October 27, 1981 | ||||||||||||
| 20 | Zentner, Zip: Mr. Zentner played for the R and P baseball League as a pitcher. He related a team trip to Dayton, Ohio in 1937, and some of the activities outside of ball playing.(WI 015) March 3, 1978 | ||||||||||||
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| 6 | 1 | Murtland, Martha: Mrs. Murtland lived in Indiana during the Depression. She felt that Indiana was more fortunate than some of the other communities, as people were friendly and willing to help those in need. She also stated that she was not overly concerned about her "lot", and did not pity herself or her husband, who lost a good job and had to work odd jobs to keep them going. (SM 001) March 4, 1977 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Murtland, Martha: People could get just about anything if they had the money for it. She went from a job paying $35 a month to $45, which was a great improvement. Before the Depression hit, her husband worked for $1.50 an hour for 12-hour shifts. Everyone was friendly and willing to help, so everyone got by. (SM 002) August 3, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Receski, Charles: Mr. Receski recalled his impressions of the Depression in Indiana County. He worked in the coal mines where the working conditions were often very poor, due in part to mine management. He stated that larger families were hit harder than the smaller families and individuals. (SM 003) June 3, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Receski, Charles: Mr. Receski was born March 18, 1908 in Somerset County. He came to Indiana a year later. In 1925 he began to work in the mines. After an absence of five years, he continued to work in the mines until 1965. He related some of the aspects of mine work and relationships between miners during the Depression. (SM 004) June 10, 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Bagley, Mary SM 005-A Foltz, Edna SM 005-B Gapshes, Ann SM 005-C Moorhead, J. Reppell SM 005-D Murtland, Martha SM 005-E These interviews appeared in the Winter edition of Indiana County Heritage, entitled "Hard Times in Indiana County" By Dr. Wayne Smith. The tapes are on file in the library. 1978-79 | ||||||||||||
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| 7 | 1 | Box 7 contains copies of all of the interviews found in Box 1 | |||||||||||
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| 8 | 1 | Box 8 contains copies of all of the interviews found in Box 2 | |||||||||||
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| 9 | 1 | Box 9 contains copies of all of the interviews found in Box 5 | |||||||||||
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