Recorded oral interviews were collected from participants who grew up in various neighborhoods within and surrounding Minneapolis, Minnesota. Interview topics include family life, economic status, religion, neighborhood experiences, leisure activities, values, schooling, as well as local and global issues.
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Paul Hardt
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Paul Hardt is a Caucasian, cis male born on June July 31, 1950. He is one of the children. His father worked at Barnum Stationary, and his mother was a stay-at-home mother, until she started working at Canteen later on. They grew up in a couple different areas, such as St. Louis Park, Edina, and Richfield. He grew up with an eclectic religious background. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Hardt begins by briefly touching on the work life of his parents. He goes on to talk about his father's military backgrounds, more specifically his relation to the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Throughout the interview, Hardt relates back to their living situation, experiences with where they lived, and how they were able to afford going on trips and paying for college. Later, he describes his eclectic religious background, touching on the different upbringings his parents had, as well as the influence of his father's dad, who was an active freemason. Hardt discusses the values that were instilled in his family and community, such as patriotism and shared values, like hard work, respect, courtesy, and family. He had an active physical life, participating in leisure activities like fishing, riding on bikes, and swimming. Lastly, Hardt ends the interview discussing the issues that existed in the community, such as the thought of nuclear war, people's trust in President Eisenhower, as well as racial issues like redline policies, and sexual liberation.
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Steve Adams
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Steve Adams is a Caucasian male born on May 1, 1950. He is the second oldest of five children. His father worked several jobs, mainly focused on education or insurance fields. They lived around Minneapolis and the surrounding area, including Richfield, Sanborn, Sioux Falls, and Minnetonka. He grew up Methodist. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Adams discussed how he and his family moved around several times due to his father's job changes. He actively touches on the conversation of religion, and the environment of the Richfield neighborhood. Adams talks about how topics such as divorce and the Red Scare were spoken about in their neighborhood and school - as well mentioning how certain drills and skills were learned at school for protection. Adams goes into detail about the different leisure activities he would partake in, placing emphasis on physical and mental activities, as well as music. Conversations about schooling are also mentioned. Lastly, he ends the interview discussing the issues that existed in the community, such as noise due to aircrafts, the Kid Can era, traffic deaths, Cold War, Martin Luther King, as well as other civil movements.
