The impetus for recording most of the oral histories in this collection were the 20th and 40th anniversaries of the college. The main contributors to this collection were college administrators, faculty in the Science Department/Botany, the Multicultural Center and Ethnic Studies, and the Music, Dance and Theatre Department, and some staff.
All oral histories, with the exception of a few from 1984 which only have written transcripts, are available in digital format. All cassette recordings have been reformated into electronic format. Some of the oral histories have complete written transcripts, and some have webpages highlighting excerpts from the recordings.
Recording an oral history, Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Joyce Salisbury, Lane Community College Archives, 2005. Lane Community College Archives, A-044/A-046.
The collection is divided into five series.
Series A: College Administrators, Faculty and Staff, 1984-2006
Series B: Science (Botany) Department, 2004-2005
Series C: Multicultural Center and Ethnic Studies, 2003-2004
Series D: Music, Dance and Theatre Arts Department, 2003
Series E: Community, 1976, 2005
The collection is open for research.
Permission to publish or broadcast the oral histories must be obtained from the Archives.
Oral History Collection (A-044). Lane Community College Archives, Eugene, Oregon
The oral histories have been recorded under the auspices of the college Archives with the archivist or students serving as interviewers. Theoral histories created in 1984 do not indicate the name of the interviewer and lack release forms.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
The oral histories in this series were conducted with administrators, faculty, and staff of Lane Community College. Many of them were recorded as part of the 20th and 40th anniversary celebrations in 1984 and 2004.
Bob Ackerman served on the LCC Board of Education, 1965-1973 and 1999-2003. He is a lawyer and served in the Oregon Legislature, 1999-2007. Ackerman talks about his background, law career, his service in the legislature, and his service on the LCC Board.
This oral history was recorded as part of the college's 40th anniversary celebration.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette (72 minutes), written transcript summary and log.
For an online exhibit that includes excerpts from the oral
history interview and Bob Ackerman's description of working on the farm that
eventually became the site of Lane Community College, visit:
Albert Brauer served on Lane Community College's founding Board of Directors/Board of Education, 1964-1976. He was a physician and surgeon in Florence, Oregon.
This oral history was recorded as part of the college's 20th anniversary celebration.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording (68 minutes), written transcript.
Bert Dotson was the executive secretary of the study committee that laid the groundwork for the community college in 1964. After the college was established, he served as executive assistant to the president, 1965-1982. He was interviewed by Larry Romine, director of Institutional Advancement, 1966-1992 and member of the Board of Education, 1997-2001, 2003-2007. Dotson recalls his role in the formation of the college.
This oral history was recorded as part of the college's 40th anniversary celebration.
Formats: digital recording, audio cassette recording (135 minutes), written transcript and log.
For a related collection, visit:
Bert Dotson was the executive secretary of the study committee that laid the groundwork for the community college in 1964. After the college was established, he served as executive assistant to the president, 1965-1982. In this oral history he discusses the forming of the college and working in the President's Office.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary celebration.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording (145 minutes); written transcript.
Mel Gaskill was chairman of the Mechanics Department, 1965-1972. He recalls the founding of the college and discusses vocational education.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary celebration in 1984.
Formats: Written transcript.
Florence Hedden discusses her work as secretary at the Eugene Technical-Vocational School and in the Office of Instruction and the President's Office at Lane Community College, 1965-1982.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary celebration in 1984.
Formats: Written transcript.
Sheila Juba discusses her career as instructor of literature and writing at Lane Community College, 1966-1990.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary celebration in 1984.
Formats: Written transcript.
Edna Kennel discusses here career as graphic designer in Printing and Graphics at Lane Community College, 1966-1991.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary celebration in 1984.
Formats: Written transcript.
Marie Matsen discusses her life and her career at Lane Community College, 1981-2006. She worked in Computer Services, Institutional Rrsearch, Planning and Evaluation, the President's Office, and as vice-president for College Operations, 1994-2006.
This oral history was recorded when Marie Matsen retired from the college in 2006
Formats: digital recording, 101 minutes
Dale Parnell was the founding president of Lane Community College, 1965-1968. In this oral history he talks about his role in establishing the college, the mission of commuinty colleges, and his career as an advocate of community colleges in Oregon and Washington, D.C.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 59 minutes; written log and transcript.
For related collections, visit:
For an online exhibit about the founding of the college, visit
Gerry Rasmussen discusses his career as instructor in history and head of the social science department, 1965-1967, and Dean/Vice-President of Instruction, 1967-1986.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary celebration in 1984.
Formats: Written transcript.
For a related collection, visit:
Marie Reid discusses her career as secretary to the president and the Board of Education, 1969-1989
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary celebration in 1984.
Formats: Digital recording and audio cassette recording, 33 minutes; written transcript.
Larry Romine was director of Institutional Advancement, 1968-1992 and a member of the Board of Education, 1997-2001 and 2002-2007. He was a reporter for the Register/Guard in the 1960s and a strong advocate for LCC. He discusses his involvement with LCC for over 30 years.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 40th anniversary celebration in 2004.
Formats: Digital recording and audio cassette recording, 137:55 minutes.
For a related collection, visit:
For an online exhibit about the night of October 19, 1964 and
the election that established the community college, visit
Joyce Salisbury was on the LCC English faculty, 1972-2000. This oral history recounts her involvement with the Willamette Writers Guild which hosted community events to foster interest in the literary arts and humanities
Formats: Digital recording and audio cassette recording, 57 minutes.
For a related collection, visit:
Eldon Schafer discusses his career as president of Lane Community College, 1970-1985.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary celebration in 1984.
Formats: Digital recording and audio cassette recording (43 minutes); written transcript.
For related collections, visit:
Lyle Swetland served on the Board of Education for Lane Community College, 1964-1969, and Director of Development, 1969-1984. In this oral history he discusses the founding and early years of the college.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary celebration in 1984.
Formats: Written transcript.
Nile Williams was associate dean of community education, 1966-1983, He discusses the founding and early years of the college.
This oral history was recorded as part of the 20th anniversary project in 1984.
Formats: Written transcript.
In 2004, Lane Community College/Science Department dedicated the Rowe-Love Herbarium which was named in honor of Rhoda Love and Freeman Rowe, who taught biology and botany at the college. These oral histories were conducted to commemorate instructors and students in the botany program.
Rhoda Love taught biology and botany at LCC, 1966-1975 and 1986-1995. The Rowe-Love Herbarium at LCC was named in her honor in 2004. In this oral history, she discusses her life, her career on botany, and her career teaching and LCC.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 85:18 minutes; written log/summary.
For an online exhibit about Rhoda Love's oral history including
excerpts from the recording, visit
Dan Luoma was as student in botany at Lane Community College, 1975-1977. He is an assistant professor of Forest Science at Oregon State University specializing in mushrooms. In 2004 he received a Distinguished Alumni Award in celebration of the college's 40th anniversary. In this oral history he discusses his studies and career.
Format: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 76:05 minutes.
Julie Kierstead Nelson was a botany student at Lane Community College, 1973-1976 and is forest botanist for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northern California. In this oral history she discusses her experiences at LCC and her career in botany.
For an online exhibit about Julie Kiersted Nelson's oral history
including excerpts from the recording, visit
This series includes oral histories with the director of the Multicultural Center, the director of the Native American Student project, and 3 members of a family who have studied and taught at LCC.
Frank Merrill is a member of the Karuk tribe and was coordinator of the Native American Student Association at LCC until his retirment in 2005. In this oral history he discusses his life and background, his career at LCC, and the LCC pow-wow and longhouse project.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 70:12 minutes.
Connie Mesquita was an instructor, counselor, and director of the Multicultural Center, 1979-2005. In this oral history, she discusses her life and family background, her education, and her career at LCC.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 96:33 minutes.
Debra Sámano Hopper is apsychiatric nurse and graduate of the LCC nursing program. Her father is Luis Sámano and her brother is Michael Sámano. In this oral history she discusses her family, studies, and career.
Format: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 38:30 minutes; written transcript.
For an online exhibit about the Sámano Family
Luis Sámano discusses his immigration from Mexico, his studies at LCC, and teaching in the Rites of Passage project. He is the father of Michael Sámano and Debra Sámano Hopper.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 65:35 minutes; written transcript and summary log.
For an online exhibit about the Sámano Family
Michael Sámano is the coordinator of the Ethnic Studies program at LCC and is a former student at LCC. His father is Luis Sámano and his sister is Debra Sámano Hopper. In this oral history he talks about his family, education, and career.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 61:36 minutes; written transcript and summary log.
For an online exhibit about the Sámano Family
This series contains oral histories with faculty members in the Music, Dance and Theatre Department.
Nathan Cammack taught at LCC in the music department, 1968-1992. In this oral history he talks about the early years of the Performing Arts Department, teaching the violin, and his music career.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 25:00 minutes; written transcript.
Ed McManus teaches in the Music department specializing in electronic music.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 65:56 minutes.
Barbara Myrick teaches group piano, music theory, and music history in the Music Department.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 62:33 minutes; written transcript.
Ed Ragozzino was chair of the Performing Arts Department for 27 years and was a leader in musical theater in Eugene.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 52:07 minutes; written transcript.
Dick Reid served as production coordinator and chair of the Performing Arts Department, 1975-1995
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 81:47 minutes; written transcript.
Mary Seereiter taught dance in the Dance Department.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 65:04 minutes.
Patrick Torelle teaches theater in the Theatre Arts Department.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 63:32 minutes.
This series contains oral histories with members of the community who talk about topics relevant to the college.
Harold Haskell lived on the land that owuld become Lane Community College in 1924-1925 as a child of 6-7 years old. In this oral history he talks about farm life, family and school life, plant and animal life, and living in rural Lane County in the 1920s.
Format: written transcript
Paul Reffstrup talks about his life in Denmark, travels in Europe in the 1930s, his work in the merchant marines during WWII, his work as a mechanic in Eugene, and teaching at Eugene Technical-Vocational School.
Formats: digital recording and audio cassette recording, 103:06 minutes.