Archives West Finding Aid

These are oral histories that were part of the Speaking of Seattle general project, but are not affiliated with a specific oral history initiative. This group includes a few much earlier interviews donated to MOHAI, but not accessioned separately.

Project includes 72 individual oral history interviews: 48 audio interviews, 22 video interviews, and 2 documents. Audio interviews include: Maid (Jean) Adams, Jean Durning, Joan Singler, and Bettylou Valentine; Mary Anderson; Barbara Archbold; Jacob V. (Jake) Arnautoff; Phyllis Ratcliff-Beaumonte; Stimson Bullitt; John and Maria Chinn; Priscilla Bullitt Collins; Margaret (Peggy) Corley; Walter (Walt) Crowley; William R. (Bill) Cunningham; Fred Danz; William Danz; Brewster Denny; Josef Diamond; James B. Douglas; Dorothy Fribock; Robert J. (Bob) Gerbracht; Marie Ann Gilstrap; Larry Gossett; Joshua Green; Elizabeth (Beth) Greggs; Jerry Hanauer and Jeff Alden; Frank Hanawalt; Robert Joppa; Helen Johnston; Shirley and Shoji Kino; Bill Knight; Phyllis Lamphere; Lyle Mercer; Milkie family; Ann El-Moslimany; Helen Taverniti (Morse); Virginia and Tom Ormbrek; Eleanor Owen; Ancil Payne; Setsuko (Susie) Petitt; Virginia Pellegrini; Gloria Remy; Gregorio Rosas; Albert Rosellini; Thomas (Tom) Sandry; Charles See; Vilem Sokol; Irene Stubbs; Alma Nelsen Taylor; Paulla Upjohn; and Farhat Ziadeh. Video interviews include: Paul Brainerd; Gordon Clinton; Stephen A. Duzan; Anthony (Tony) Faslow and David Green; Richard Fellows; James (Jim) Francis; Canterbury T. (C.T. or Barry) Hatten; Virginia Latta Curulla and Margery Latta McLean; Robin Little and Carol Michon Little; Dona McAdam; John D. Mitchell; Jeff Peace; Robert Lee (Bob) Reed; Norm Rice; Charles Royer; Hugh Russell; Paul E.S. Schell; Christine Southwick; G. Hobart (Hobie) Stebbins III and John Stebbins; Wes Uhlman; John Woodward; and Al Young.

Interviews conducted for the MOHAI exhibit Northwest Christmas Memories, which opened in December 1987 and focused on telling stories of winter holiday celebrations in Seattle in the 1920s. Interviews were conducted by Lorraine McConaghy for MOHAI, either at the museum or in the interviewee's home.

Project includes 11 audio interviews: Lilly May Anderson, Bibiana Castillano, Doris Gillespie, Priscilla Kirk, John Kusakabe, Bernard Lane, Lydia Pearl Offman, Greta Peterson, Jean Sprague, Telban Sisters (Mary Kalis, Ethel Telban, and Amelia Telban), and Louise Yook.

Interviews collected by Jeri Callahan, the "Houseboat Lady," for her book Staying Afloat about Seattle houseboat living, published in 2004. Project includes 36 audio interviews.

Forty-one individual interviews completed by Seattle Pacific University students for William (Bill) Woodward Capstone History course American Epochs: World War II in 1998, 2004, and 2008. Interviewees tell stories of their experience as a "participant" in the war (both the Ally and Axis experiences are shared), from miliary service to stories of Prisoners of War.

Fifty-one interviews completed as part of a documentary theater piece called Verbatim at the Annex Theatre, written and edited by Tim Milewski and Bret Fetzer. The cast learned interview techniques from MOHAI Historian Lorraine McConaghy and interviewed over 50 individuals about their jobs. These interviews were used as inspiration for the play, performed in May of 2002.

In partnership with the Washington Software Alliance (WSA) and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), MOHAI gathered these oral histories as part of the Information Technology Oral History Initiative. The Initiative kicked off with a luncheon at MOHAI on August 22, 2002. All interviews were conducted by Jessah Foulk.

The collection consists of interviews with 14 individuals: Billy Anders, Bill Baxter, Jason Chu, Claude Comair, Adam Edwards, Dianne Garrod, Rob Glaser, Dan Hesse, Jeremy Jaech, Jon Kertzer, Trish Millines-Dziko, Andi Rusu, Dawn Trudeau, and Doug Walker.

An extension of an earlier partnership with the Washington Software Alliance (WSA) and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) that grew to include the Association of Washington Business (AWB), MOHAI gathered these oral histories as part of the Washington Workplace Oral History Project in the fall of 2003. A luncheon on October 16, 2003 celebrated the project. While public messaging of the project grouped this with the 2002 Information Technology Oral History Project, internally the Manufacturing Oral History Project was considered a separate effort. All interviews conducted by Helen Divjak.

Fourteen total interviews for Greg Aanes, Rosemary Brester, Mike Dillon, Rob Entrekin, Lyle Eveland, Victor Fund, Charles Gary, Jerry Hanauer and Jeff Alden, David Huchthausen, Don Johnson, Tim Kenney, Jerry Lloyd and John Burroughts, and Zita Mears.

An extension of an earlier partnership with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Association of Washington Business (AWB), MOHAI gathered these oral histories as part of the Agriculture History Project in early 2004. This project was an extension of earlier projects completed to capture oral histories in Information Technology and Manufacturing. All interviews completed by Julie Kerssen.

The collection consists of 15 interviews: Gwen Bassetti, Barry Bettinger, Gary Briggs and Dave Jarzynka, Goldie Caughlan, Mike Finger and Kimberly Finger, Junkoh Harui, Terry Hunt, David Lake, Scott E. Leach, Craig Nelson, Clarence (Bud) Ryan, Michael J. (Mike) Sauer, Randy Suess, Greg Taylor, and Barrie Wilcox.

Oral history interviews on women experiences working in World War II created for the Homefront lobby display at MOHAI's Montlake location in 2006. After the main body of interviews were completed in 2004, a separate series interviewing three African American women about their wartime work experience was completed in 2005, including a joint video interview in November of 2005.

Oral history interviews conducted for an exhibit intended for 2008 called Urban by Nature, which did not happen. The collection consists of 5 interviews: Joanna Buehler, Jonathan Frodge, John Howell, Ruth Ittner, and Mark Musick.

Oral history interviews conducted as part of a King Street Centennial Archive, which were used at Readers Theater event at Seattle Public Library on June 28, 2006. Interviews were conducted by Helen Divjak. The collection consists of 15 interviews: Lloyd Flem, Walter Grecula, Charles F. (Chuck) Intlekofer, Marlene Koob, Kurt Laird, Dan Langdon, Frank M. Reed, Don Reiling, James D. Riley, Alfred Runte, Ronald C. (Ron) Scheck, J. Craig Thorpe, Anthony Trifiletti, Peter T. Watson, and Joseph Welsh.

A series of short oral history interviews completed in partnership with the Center for Wooden Boats. Most of these interviews were gathered by Shelly Leavens at the 2007 Wooden Boat Festival over the Fourth of July weekend, with a goal of developing a readers' theater for the following year. Later interviews completed by Lorraine McConaghy. The collection consists of 22 interviews: Richard Amberson, Richard Asia, Geoff Braden, Ronald Burke, David Coy and Ralph Ferguson, Hugh Ferguson, Steve Greaves, Dan Grinstead, Joe Guendet, Jules James, Russ Karns, John Lyons, Paul Marlow, Lewis Naismyth and Nancy Rothwell, Roger Newell, Madelyn and Vernon Parrett, Dorothy Philipp, Chris Pittman, Marcus Raichle, Saaduuts, Vern Valex, and Doug Welti. See individual interviews for more detailed information.

These oral history interviews were completed as a partnership between the private 6-12 grade school the Northwest School, senior living center the Horizon House, and MOHAI to document experiences during the 1962 World's Fair. Northwest School teacher Joe Bisignano oversaw students interviewing seniors at the Horizon House, under the guidance of Lorraine McConaghy at MOHAI in this multi-generational project. The collection consists of 20 interviews: Dorlene Agenbroad, Mary Beth Bakke, Gerald (Jerry) Cone, Don and Marilyn Covey, Nancy and Ted Edquist, Beverly Feeney, Audrey Gruger, Joseph W. (Joe) Hall, Jane L. Hastings, Floyd and Barbara Hutton, Siegfried and Ruth Kiemle, Phyllis Lamphere, Alice Moss, James S. (Jim) Perry, Frank A. Pritchard Jr., Paul and Mary Margaret Pruitt, Mary C. (Connie) Ritter, Helen Shelton, Oliver Skanse, and Leroy W. (Lee) Soper.

These oral history interviews were gathered by MOHAI as part of an effort to capture stories of women in politics, to commemorate the centennial of women's suffrage in Washington State in 2010. The project was chaired by Christine Himes, President of the Redmond Historical Society and former mayor of Redmond. Martha King managed the project and conducted the interviews. Gerri Baker Parry was the videographer. The collection consists of 6 interviews: Nan Campbell, Doris Munz Cooper, Christine T. Himes, Isabel Hogan, Doreen Marchione, and Beth Bland Winn.

Short oral history interviews remembering the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle in 1999, as part of a joint project between MOHAI and Pepperspray Media. Project includes at least 15 video interviews. Interviewees are not always named but include: Suz Babayon, Adam Cohn, Yasmina Ellis, Richard Fellows, Angela Gilliam, Catherine Jobes, Verlene Jones, Lita Kitaeff, Colleen Nohl, Lamber Rochfort, Jonathan Rosenblum, Karen Stuhldreher, Julian Wheeler, Boris Yardslavtsev and Melissa Young. Not all interviews list people's name at start of interview, and it is unclear who is in which interview.

Oral history interviews conducted by MOHAI to document "influential history makers in the last half of the 20th century" in preparation for the museum's move to South Lake Union in 2012. All interviews were conducted by Marsha King. The collection consists of 13 interviews: Frank A. Blethen, Jr., Aubrey Davis, Gov. Daniel J. Evans, Anne Farrel, William H. Gates, Sr., William P. Gerberding, Charles V. (Tom) Gibbs, Joshua (Jay) Green III, Gerald Crinstein, Phyllis Lamphere, Rev. Samuel Berry McKinney, Carl R. Meurk, and Tomio Moriguch.

Fourteen oral history interviews conducted by Erin Feeney for the Floating Homes Association, in conjunction with MOHAI. These oral histories were used for an Arcadia Press book on Seattle's houseboats and an 2013 exhibit at MOHAI called Still Afloat: Seattle’s Floating Home Community. The collection consists of interviews with: Fred and Ann Bassetti, Naomi Bogenschutz and Jared Jonas, Bob Bowman, Mike Dederer, Jonathan Ezekiel, Dave Galvin, James Gray and Mack Hopkins, Jim Healy and Loretta Metcalf, Gifford and Mary Jones, Ken Kenney, Bob Lily, John Pursell, Thomas G. (Tom) Susor, and Tui Tui (Robert Rudine and Janet Yoder).

A series of nine panel discussions about the last fifty years of Seattle history, focused on different topics, to help guide ideas for the future. Series also referred to as "History on the Move." Some of the first also shown on the Seattle Channel. The collection consists of 9 videotaped panels: Civic Leadership - Who's in Charge?: John Ellis, Larry Gossett, Tim Hill, Donald Kraft, and Phyllis Lamphere The Built and Natural Environment: Tom Gibbs, Karen Lane, Joan Thomas, and Bob Wallace Getting Down to Business: Richard (Dick) Cooley, Virgil (Virg) Fassio, John Fluke, Sally Jewell, and John Warner Global Trade: Diane Adachi, Richard (Dick) Ford, and J. Shan Mullin Private Clubs, Public Impact: Anne Farrell, Don Kraft, James G. McCurdy II, and John Nesholm Retail: George Bartell, John Buller, Tomio Moriguchi, and Bruce Nordstorm Philanthropy: Akhtar Badshah, Norm Rice, Dorothy (Dottie) Simpson, and Colleen Willoughby Encore: A Look at Seattle Arts: Jean Falls, C. David Hughbanks, Alice Rooney, and Judy Whetzel Vital Signs: Health and Medicine: Sally Behnke, C. Anthony (Tony) Blau, Aubrey Davis, and Christopher B. (Chris) Wilson.

As one of six Smithsonian Affiliates nationwide, MOHAI was selected to participate in the Lemelson Center’s Places of Invention Project (2011-2015), which explored how inventors are inspired by the places where they live and work. In collaboration with a community partner, Sean Vesce of E-Line Media, as well as other local supporters, MOHAI underwent an exploration of the greater Seattle region as a place of invention within the gaming industry. The first step of this partnership was six oral history interviews, conducted by Julia Swan, which were also deposited in the Lemelson Center and the Smithsonian Archives. The oral history interviews were used in a mini-documentary and a book published by the Smithsonian. The collection consists of 6 interviews: Ed Fries, Megan Gaiser, Richard Garfield, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, Kim Swift, and Paul Thelan.

A series of thirteen oral history interviews conducted by Emily Hall for MOHAI about the founding of PONCHO (Patrons of Northwest Civic, Cultural, and Charitable Organizations). PONCHO began in 1963 with a black-tie gala auction to help the Seattle Symphony pay off debts from the 1962 World's Fair production of Verdi's Aida, and continued to fund arts and charitable organizations in Seattle until 2013, when it became a legacy fund for the Seattle Foundation. These interviews were completed at the closing of the organization. The collection consists of 13 interviews: Ellsworth C. (Chap) Alvord, III, Carl G. Behnke, Pat Fearey, Gary Gayton, Peggy L. Goldberg, Cathi Hatch, C. David Hughbanks, Mark Levine, Carol Munro, Llewelyn Pritchard, Faye and Herman Sarkowsky, Janet True, and Judith (Judy) Whetzel.

Oral history interview with Nana Badgavadze and Robert Day about bone marrow transplant for a Russian leukemia patient at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute in Seattle. Interviewer is Bob Walsh.