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Oral History Interviews

Junior League Oral History Project

This project was a cooperative endeavor by the Junior League of Cedar Rapids and the Cedar Rapids Public Library.  The first interview was done on July 27, 1984.  The interview was of Julia Robbins Allen and the interviewer was Inez Lyon.  The last (90th) interview was of Tom Armitage and was done by Mary R. Curran on October 29, 1984.

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The project was called “Cedar Rapids:  The Early Community”.  It focused on interviews of community members with varied backgrounds who remembered early 20th century (1900-1940) life in Cedar Rapids.  The Chairperson was Laura M. Derr with training led by Harold Ewoldt of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Loren Horton of the Iowa State Historical Society.

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We have a voice cassette and a transcription of all 90 interviews.  They were gifted to us by the Cedar Rapids Public Library and accessioned as of January 25, 2005.

Interview Transcripts
Interview Subject/Profession and/or Topics Discussed/Date of Interview

Allen, Julia Robbins

Prominent people in Linn County

7/27/1984

Andrews,Clarence

Literary history

6/23/1985

Armitage, Tom

Director of Cedar Rapids Public Library; Vietnam

6/23/1985

Armstrong, Esther

Distinguished Coe College alum; married Robert Armstrong; influential figure in CR community

7/9/1985

Armstrong, Robert

Coe College alum; grandfather was William Cooper (helped create Coe College); family part of Coe’s Board of Trustees

1/25/1985 & 3/26/1985

Atkinson, Edith

Singer; Black history

7/2/1985

Averill, Margaret

Red Cross; St. Lukes; Worth Averill

11/17/1984

Barge, Harriet

Raising family in Time Check neighborhood

2/26/1985

Basler, Eloise

Family celebrations; traditions; national & local events

9/8/1984

Baumhoefer, Helen

Baumhoefer-Nursery Landscaping & Gardening

7/22/1984

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