ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Interviews, Transcripts and Stories
” . . . a discarded newspaper describing homestead land in Oregon was enough to lure her to embark on a 2,000 mile journey from El Reno, Oklahoma. Mattie’s husband had deserted her and their family of 5 children. Their only possessions were a team of work horses, a wagon, shotgun, bedding and a few cooking utensils. With $10, they set out for Oregon in April, of 1911.”
Story of MATTIE COLEMAN
The Oral History Project began as an idea to compile a history of Florence and the Siuslaw Valley. The project includes videos of Story Time presentations and Oral History interviews with audio, stories and transcripts.
Story Time
In 1976 the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum hosted a monthly program of oral presentations fondly referred to as Story Time. Residents spoke on occupation, events, or personal experiences of Florence history. The program is currently on hiatus, however previously recorded presentations are available for viewing in the library.
Oral History Interviews
Though on hiatus for a number of years, the Oral History interviews resumed in late 2021. Interview audio, stories and transcripts are available in the library. View the Oral History Stories page for more details.
The museum’s on-site Kyle Research Library is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact the library (541-997-7884, ext. 1 for further information or to make an appointment. The following index provides a list of our Oral History database and is updated on a continuing basis.
Clear the Search field for additional searches.
| AKERLY, Les | Transcript | 1976 |
|---|---|---|
| BARRETT, Anna Parker | Transcript | 1976 |
| BERNHARDT, Ralph and Juanita | Transcript | 1975 |
| BUGBEE, Ted | Transcript | 1975 |
| BUSS, Fred | Transcript | 1975 |
| CAMP, Charlie | Transcript | 1975 |
| CHRISTENSEN, Marie | Audio, Transcript | 1976 |
| CHRISTENSEN, Martin | Audio, Transcript | 1976 |
| COLE, James | Transcript | 1975 |
| COLEMAN, Mattie | Story | 2022 |
| DAHLIN, Verus | Transcript | 1976 |
| DAVID, Ray | Transcript | 1976 |
| DICK, Belle | Transcript | 1975 |
| DICKSON, Alice Carle | Transcript | 1977 |
| DOWELL, Roderick | Transcript | 1976 |
| DOYLE, Joe | Story | 2023 |
| ELLINGSON, Joe and Pearl | Transcript | 1976 |
| ELLINGSON, Lyndall | Transcript | 1976 |
| ESTEP, Ron and Beverly | Audio, Story, Transcript | 2021 |
| FRANCISCO, Forest | Transcript | 1975 |
| FUNKE, Ernie | Transcript | 1975 |
| Gardiner, Maxine | Transcript | |
| HARING, Amos | Story | 2022 |
| HARING, Clara | Story | |
| HARING, Gladys | Transcript | 1975 |
| HERRING, Keith | Audio, Transcript, Story | 2022 |
| HOGELAND, Ron | Audio, Story, Transcript | 2022 |
| HUNTINGTON, Noland "Judd" | Transcript | 1976 |
| HUNTINGTON, Walt | Transcript | 1976 |
| JENSEN, FRED | Audio | 2001 |
| JENSEN, Lorence | Transcript | 1976 |
| JOHNSON, Elsie | Transcript | 1977 |
| JOHNSON, Milo and Cora | Transcript | 1976 |
| JOHNSON, Wayne | Transcript | |
| KARNOWSKY, Bill | Transcript | 1976 |
| KOPANG, Lily Fosback | Transcript | 1975 |
| KYLE, Emma | Transcript | 1975 |
| KYLE, Mel | Transcript | 1977 |
| LANDWEHR, Eleanor | Transcript | 1976 |
| LANE, Squire and Lillian | Transcript | 1976 |
| MARTIN, Ethel Miller | Transcript | 1976 |
| MARTIN, Millard | Transcript | 1976 |
| MARTIN, Ray | Transcript | 1976 |
| MARTIN, Carl | Transcript | |
| MASON, Inga | Transcript | 1976 |
| MCCORKLE, Roger | Audio, Story, Transcript | |
| MCKENNEY, Burnis | Transcript | 1977 |
| MEADOWS, Leo and Laura | Transcript | 1977 |
| MERZ, Shirley | Audio, Story, Transcript | 2022 |
| MILES, Dan | Transcript | 1975 |
| MILLER, Laura Johnson | Transcript | 1975 |
| MYRICK, Chuck | Audio, Story, Transcript | 2022 |
| NORDAHL, Trygue | Transcript | 1975 |
| PLAEP, George and Olga | Transcript | 1976 |
| SAUBERT, John F. William, Dr. | Story | 2021 |
| SAUBERT, Steve | Audio, Story, Transcript | 2021 |
| SCOTT, Lilah | Transcript | 1975 |
| SERRA, Robert | Audio, Story, Transcript | 2023 |
| SEVERY, Marge | Transcript | 1975 |
| SEVERY, Walt | Transcript | 1976 |
| SHIRLEY, Ben and Lula | Transcript | 1976 |
| SLONECKER, Bud | Transcript | 1976 |
| SNEDDON, Tom | Audio, Story, Transcript | 2021 |
| STAFFORD, Kim | Transcript | 1976 |
| SWEET, Blaise | Transcript | |
| SWEET, Zara | Transcript | |
| TATOM, Alma | Story,Transcript | |
| TATOM, Ed | Story | 1976 |
| TAYLOR, Lois | Transcript | |
| TOMPKINS, Neil and D. | Transcript | |
| ULMAN, Richard Dr. and Arlis | Audio, Story, Transcript | 2021 |
| VAN BIBBER, Goldie | Story | 2021 |
| VANDERBERG, Warren and Ella | Transcript | 1976 |
| WHEELER, Lillian Sanborn | Transcript | 1976 |
| WILLIAMS, Beatrice | Transcript | 1975 |
| WOOSLEY, Margaret | Transcript | 1976 |