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The activism happened inside the Astro Restaurant as well as outside. The waitresses were allies to the gay community.

Don Anderson discusses his childhood growing up in Chicago, what he's grateful for, and what kind of legacy he will leave to his children and grandchildren.

Seto You, age 92/93 or 97/98, is interviewed by his son, Ed You, age 26, about his early days in the USA. He arrived from China in 1916, worked as a cook in this country well into his 80's. He...

Mary Suzanne Chladek Gehardt (77) discusses about where she grew up and what was it was like to live in Southside, Chicago. She also discusses about her work life starting at hospice to real estate to becoming the first woman...

In this interview, conducted in November 17th , 2017, in Lincoln Park High School, Chicago, Illinois, Biljana Tanceva (16) interviews her Law teacher Miss Douglas (53) about her childhood and the beginning of her adulthood. Miss Douglas shares her story...

Andy and Sharon talked about what it was like growing up in Chicago in the 30/40/50s.

Patricia Mukherjee (90) talks about her childhood and her life as well as her relationship with her husband.

It is Novermber 26, 2018. This interview was conducted in the only quiet place in the house, my bedroom. I, Olivia Jardin, age 17, am the interviewer, and my father, Mark Jardin, age 54, is the interviewee. Some of the...

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Sandis Wright was born in a rural Swedish community in northern Maine, where he always dreamed of living in the big city. After moving to both Chicago and Atlanta, and getting married, he decided to...

Talked with Maureen Muckian about growing up in Chicago, Christmas holiday and childhood memories.

Ben Sachs-Cobbe talks with his Aunt Toni about her childhood in a crowded apartment in Chicago's west side, her getting an education, falling in love, and surviving cancer.

Richard Daley and the 1968 Democratic Convention

Musician and historian Stephen Wade talks with his friend Matt Brown about Stephen's musical beginnings, studying banjo with his mentor Fleming Brown in the 1970s, and his reflections on the Old Town School then and now. Since learning to play...

In this interview, conducted on December 2nd in plano, Texas, Ethan Fine (16) interviews his mother Suzanne (45) about her childhood and her life as a teenager in Morton Grove, Chicago. Suzanne shares about her her time in high school...

In this interview, conducted in November 2018 in Chicago, Illinois, Athena Johnson (16) interviews her grandma Barbra Johnson (71) about her childhood in the country and her adult life in the city. Mrs.Johnson shares stories about her Christian faith. She...

The story of my grandfather Richard Carlson.

In this conversation between Old Town School Latin percussion instructor Carlos Cornier and his coworker Mareva Lindo, Carlos talks about the musical origins that shaped his interest in percussion and Latin music; getting into and out of Scientology to ultimately...

In this interview, conducted in November 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, Holly Graham (17) interviews her mother Stephanie Graham (52) about her childhood years through her college years. Mrs. Graham talks a lot about her husband, their wedding and their honeymoon....

A conversation between Alex White & Jimmy Tomasello. This conversation was recorded at the school on July 25th, 2017. Go to www.oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps to hear selected excerpts from interviews collected as part of the StoryCorps-Old Town School partnership.

Life in Argentina and as an immigrant in Chicago.

Betty Nudelman speaks with documentarian Mareva Lindo about her memories of the Old Town School community in its early years, when it was housed within the Immigrant State Bank Building at 333 W North Ave--in the Old Town neighborhood from...

Alisa Baum and Krista Ortgiesen started taking classes and volunteering at the Old Town School in the early 2000s, and haven't left since. In this excerpt of a conversation recorded at the school on March 22nd, 2017, the longtime friends...

I got to interview my grandpa about the 1960’s. it was Avery informative and cool to learn more about his experiences during that time.

In 1978 Mark Dvorak took a guitar class with Mike Dunbar at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Today, Mike is a bandleader and multi-instrumentalist living in Nashville, Tenn., and Mark has just celebrated 30 years teaching at the...

Juan is simply one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He works in the maintenance department at OTS. He is loving, passionate, thoughtful and willing to do whatever needs to be done. I feel so lucky to...