Allyson Smeed

Author

Julie M. Luker, Concordia University, St. PaulFollow

Files

Interviewee

Allyson Smeed

Interviewer

Cole Steinberg

Transcriber

Landmark Associates

Generation

Generation X (1965-1980)

Neighborhood

East Side

Document Type

Oral History

Date of Interview

7-31-2023

Keywords

East Side, Saint Paul, 1980

Disciplines

Oral History | Psychology

Abstract

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Allyson Smeed is a Caucasian female born on July 11, 1980. She grew up in the East Side neighborhood of Payne-Phalen before moving to Cottage Grove at nine. Currently, she resides in Arizona. Smeed was raised by her two parents. Her father was a plumbing salesman, and her mother worked in retail, admissions for St. Joseph's Hospital, and was the marketing director of a material company. She has two younger sisters. Smeed was raised Catholic. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Smeed begins her interview by stating that her family is tight-knit. Her grandparents were also heavily involved in her childhood. She mentions how her parents could buy a home, car, food for a family of five, and clothing for all the kids on one salary, but her parents struggled to maintain that as prices rose. Smeed briefly mentions her ADHD diagnosis and how it has impacted her spending habits, along with her parents' mindset around money growing up. Next, she described the two neighborhoods she grew up in. Payne-Phalen was about spending time with friends outside and going to the library. The Cottage Grove neighborhood had a mix of playing inside and outside and many pool parties. Smeed recalls going to school and pretending not to know the answers to avoid being seen as the smart kid from a young age. She concludes her interview by discussing world events that she remembers, such as the Challenger Shuttle explosion, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Copyright

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced without the written permission of Concordia University Library or Julie Luker, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, St. Paul.

Recommended Citation

Luker, Julie M., "Allyson Smeed" (2023). Saint Paul and Surrounding Area. 64.
https://digitalcommons.csp.edu/tc-ohp_interviews_stp/64