Search Interviews

Todd Western III talks about the legacy of being from one of the first black farming families in Iowa, building community between black farmers, and the inaugural Iowa Farmers of Color Conference.

Frances shared her memories of growing up in Cinisi, Sicily. And immigrating to America with her parents and sisters in 1958. She talked about raising kids in St. Louis and spending making memories with her grandchildren.

Bobby Donaldson (52) speaks with his mentor Gloria Eaddy (80) about her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and memories of historically Black neighborhoods across Columbia.

Sy Barry recounts his story of how he overcame his tough childhood through his passion and love for drawing. Eventually becoming a renowned comic book and comic strip artist, he was able to find success and contentment in both his...

One Small Step partners Gregory "Greg" Greenway (71) and Randall "Randy" Cirksena (63) exchange lived experiences and discuss their civil war ancestors, first jobs as bank tellers, and not choosing a race on the StoryCorps paperwork.

One Small Step conversation partners Genie Pratt (74) and Leslie Walsh (57) have a conversation about the travel, people that influenced them, and experiences that shaped their perspectives.

Larry Crawford (68) asks his father Charles W. Crawford [no age given] about growing up on a farm in Arkansas in the 1930s, what influenced him to pursue higher education, and about his career in archiving oral history.

Friends Carolyn Michael-Banks (66) and Menelik Fombi (68) speak about Fombi’s experiences as a member of the “Memphis Thirteen,” a group of Black students that integrated Memphis’s segregated school system at the elementary level.

My name is Madalina, I am 22 years old and today I interviewed my grandpa Piotr Mardari. In this interview we discussed topics such as flourishing and what makes “a good life”.

Friends Hebrard Greene Jr. (76) and Walton Dunbar (77) reflect on their unlikely friendship, Walton’s journey as a “recovering racist,” and what they have learned from one another.

Friends and colleagues Cheylon Woods (36) and Kiwana McClung (40) discuss their childhoods and their academic work.

Claire Alvarado (56) speaks with her stepfather, Alphe "Jim" Delahoussaye (85), a retired biologist and lifelong naturalist, on his love for the Atchafalaya River Basin and the recordings he made of residents of the Basin, archived in the Library of...

Fredrick Richardson (84) interviews his friend Lisa Lambert (60) about her career as the first African-American assistant city clerk and now city clerk of the city of Mobile.

Kelly Finley [no age given] interviews her husband, Karlos Finley (59), about his family's history in Mobile, Alabama, their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, and what he has learned from them. (Content warning: mention of rape and sexual assault)

For this project, I interviewed Dr. Justus Hartzok about his time in Russia working on his doctoral dissertation. During this interview, we discussed his interest in history, his host family, and various obstacles he had to adjust to.

Sylvia Sukop (62) interviews her friend and colleague Angela daSilva (68) about her work preserving Black history and culture in St. Louis and Missouri.

Eli Goodman (17) talks with his childhood best friend David (17) about the struggles of growing up in poverty without biological parents, and how the pain of his past positively affected his future.

Colleagues and friends Troy Streckenbach (51) and Brandon Yellowbird-Stevens (45) discuss Brandon's work as vice chair for the Oneida nation, the importance of community, communication, fatherhood and identity.

Brad Harris was interviewed by Jodie Harris about his Granny Neely’s legacy.

Kathy Purnell (54) interviews colleague Buddy Hannah (74) about his life and work in the arts, particularly his approach to building and celebrating community through this work.

Amelia Hansen (59) interviews friends Alfred Gemrich (87) and Donna Keller (54) about their their friendship, their involvement with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, and the importance of land conservation.

Jennie Fidler (35) interviews conversation partner Paul German (65) about his life, faith, family, community, and legacy.

Bob Kuusinen interviewed by Matt Kuusinen talking about kids, grandkids, and career in June 2023 in Denver.

Colleagues Melissa Eickhoff (53) and Fred Veitch (73) discuss the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, including the history of the event and the spectator experience.

Folklife Director Lesley Schierenbeck interviews Gene Marshall, of Forked River, New Jersey. He discusses his passion for decoy collection, his techniques of carving, his craftsmanship of the working decoy, and his mentor in the field, his father, George Marshall. Photographs...