Recorded oral interviews were collected from participants who grew up in various neighborhoods within and surrounding Saint Paul, 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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Allyson Smeed
Julie M. Luker
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.
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Arnoldo Curiel
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Arnoldo Curiel is a Mexican male born on June 22nd, 1972. He lived with his parents and three siblings. Both of his parents worked. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Curiel talks about growing up in a tight-knit family. He talked about how his parents worked late nights and the kids had to fend for themselves. Curiel mentions how his family's financial circumstances influenced his spending habits as an adult, initially leading him to overspend on his own children to make up for his own upbringing, and how he has adjusted that over time. Curiel talks about some of the religious practices his family participated in during holidays. He talked about the deep faith some of his extended family holds. He also touches on his own beliefs today. Curiel goes on to talk about how you really knew your neighbors growing up in Frogtown and how neighbors would look out for each other. Curiel talks about friends he had growing up. Curiel talks about his time in school, some of the racial dynamics at play at school, and a teacher that left an impression on him. Curiel discusses some of the issues that occurred when he was growing up like the crack epidemic, drug war, racial divide, and poverty. Lastly Curiel reflects on how his family, racial ethnicity, and neighborhood shaped his identity.
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Beth Peter
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Beth Peter is a female Caucasian born on January 17th, 1966. She lived with her five siblings in Roseville growing up. Peter's father worked at Concordia University, and her mother was a homemaker who also taught piano. Her religious affiliation is Lutheran. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Peter shares what her life was like growing up with five siblings close in age. She talks about her dad’s work and mom’s piano lessons. Peter shares what it was like being raised in a Lutheran family. She talked about attending church regularly and participating in religious activities. Beth's mother was the church organist, and their family valued attending church services together. She talks about how religion is still an ingrained part of her life. She goes on to talk about the neighbors and neighborhood she grew up in. She shares that had close friendships with neighbors and spent time playing games, swinging, and enjoying outdoor activities. She expresses the neighborhood was stable, and Peter's family knew most of their neighbors. She shares the values held by her family including honesty, kindness, and friendliness. She goes on to talk about being engaged in various leisure activities, including playing house, playing school, biking, and enjoying swing sets with friends in her neighborhood. Next, Peter talks about her experience with schooling. She talks about initially attending private school and transitioning to public school. Lastly, when speaking on local and global issues, Peter mentions growing up sheltered, but she recalls global events like the Vietnam War and Watergate. Her family and neighborhood focused more on their immediate lives, school, and church, rather than discussing broader social and global issues.
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Catherine Paulsen
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Catherine Paulsen is a white female born on December 22nd, 1944. She lived with her father, mother, and siblings while growing up. Her father was a trucking firm accountant, and her mother was a homemaker. She was raised Catholic. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Paulsen discusses her family history and life growing up in a house built by her grandfather. She shares the history of the family members that lived in this home. Paulsen recalls watching fights on TV and walking to a buffet restaurant. Paulsen talks about family pets, including a dog and a canary. Paulsen discusses her family's religious background and practices. She talks about in her early years, the children stayed home with her father while her mother and aunt attended church. Later on, the entire family began attending church together. She speaks on how as an adult, religion remains important to her, and she continues to attend church every Sunday. Paulsen talks about her neighborhood, how her neighborhood had abundant trees and diverse types of houses, each with its own unique architecture. She talks about the shared values, sense of community, and sense of safety she felt from her neighborhood, although she does share some stories where something unusual happened, such as a drunk person sleeping on their porch and a fire in Highland Park. Paulsen reflects on leisure time, that leisure time wasn't abundant and suggests that people focused on yard work, laundry, and cooking without the conveniences of today. Leisure activities mainly involved talking, with family members spending time sitting on the porch and engaging in conversation. Paulsen shares that her parents were avid readers, passing on a love for reading to the children. Paulsen recalls her school experiences during childhood. She shares that she was initially terrified of school, finding ways to leave school early. She shares some stories of the teachers that stood out to her. For local and global issues, Paulsen discusses her limited awareness of local and global issues during her childhood. She remembers a relative who was in the military during the Korean conflict. She states there wasn’t much political discussion at home and mentioned that her interest in politics developed later in life. She also briefly mentioned the impact of the fire for local issues.
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Cheryl Hernandez
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Cheryl Hernandez is a white female born on April 14, 1958. Hernandez grew up with her father, mother, and six siblings in Saint Paul. Hernandez was raised Catholic. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Hernandez speaks about the two childhoods that she had. The first includes grocery shopping, going to the lake, and visiting the zoo with her father. The other changed after her father passed away. Hernandez talks about how she was close with her sister and how they would take care of her brothers. She describes chaotic mealtimes in her household. Hernandez explains that after her father passed away, the family relied on public assistance for support, and they had to be frugal with their spending. She goes on to reflect how that experience shaped her spending habits to be very cautious and live within their means. Hernandez goes on to talk about her Catholic upbringing and how she is not actively practicing as an adult, but still has faith in God. Hernandez describes growing up in a close-knit, safe neighborhood with strong community values. She explains that everyone knew each other, respected, and helped one another and how that helped a happy and supportive environment. Hernandez shared what her and her family would do for leisure time, recounting time spent at the lake, visiting the zoo, local pools, and playgrounds during the summers, and attending the state fair. Hernandez shares what it was like to attend Catholic school. She mentions an art teacher that had an impact on her. Lastly, Hernandez discussed global events such as the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam War, which had a profound impact on people and made them glued to their TVs. Locally, Hernandez talks about the disruption caused by Highway 94.
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Christopher Lidstad
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Christopher Lidstad is a Caucasian male born on April 10, 1964. He has two siblings, an older brother and an older sister, and was raised by both parents. His father worked with 3M while his mother was a housemaker. Lidstad grew up in multiple neighborhoods within Saint Paul but discussed his time in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood. He was raised with Catholic beliefs but does not practice the religion now. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Lidstad begins his interview by explaining how his parents, raised during the Great Depression, created the rule to eat everything on his dinner plate. He recalls growing up in an area with little to no crime and how safe it was for children. Lidstad tells the story of when he was snowed in during band practice in school and helped other students push cars out of the snow during wintertime. Later, he reminisces on his family trip to Disneyland and Washington D.C. Lidstad concluded his interview by discussing the social issues that stuck out to him during his adolescent years, such as Walk for Mankind and Watergate.
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Denise McAlpin
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Denise McAlpin is a Caucasian female born on October 28, 1959. She lived with her sister, and her younger brother, in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood. Denise's father was an executive in downtown St. Paul. Her mother worked one day a week on Mondays but was primarily an at-home mom. She identifies as Catholic. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: McAlpin describes her family dynamics and upbringing. She uniquely transitioned roles between youngest, middle, and oldest sibling in her family. McAlpin reminisces about her family pets, including a touching memory of her father surprising her with a kitten. She talks about the close bond with her elder sister. In talking about the economic status of her family, McAlpin reflects that she was always aware of her family's relative affluence compared to others in her community. She also acknowledged that there were families even wealthier than theirs, which became apparent during non-uniform school days. She discusses how her parent’s reluctance to bring up money has influenced her. She talks about how she talks about money with her child in order to emphasize financial prudence and the peace of mind that comes with being fiscally responsible. Next, McAlpin recounts her family's religious practices and their role in shaping her personal experiences and beliefs. She mentions her family’s regular church attendance, celebrating religious holidays, and participating in church events. As an adult McAlpin talks about her continued faith and collective involvement in her parish. McAlpin describes her neighborhood. She shares stories of how neighbors would help one another out during emergencies or something as simple as giving kids rides to school on cold days. She also shares stories of games played by neighborhood kids and the freedom of exploring the neighborhood on their bikes. McAlpin next describes her experiences with schooling. She shares that despite typical perception of Catholic schools she had teaching nuns that were feminists and progressive thinkers. She also mentions an English teacher that stood out in her memory. Lastly, McAlpin spoke on local and global issues such as the Vietnam War, the moon landing, the energy crisis, and UNICEF collections.
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Denny Garzon-Villanueva
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Denny Garzon-Villanueva is a Mexican male born on August 18, 1985. Growing up, Garzon-Villanueva lived with his parents and two younger siblings. Both of his parents worked. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Garzon-Villanueva describes his extended family and discusses his love for pets during his childhood. However, he mentions being unable to have one due to an unfortunate incident involving his father's dog. Garzon-Villanueva reflects on his experience of growing up poor and how it motivated him and his siblings to strive for a better life. Garzon-Villanueva also shares his and his family's history with Christianity. He explains how Christianity positively influenced his father, expresses frustration with people who attribute everything to a higher purpose following an accident involving his daughter, and discusses how religious discussions have brought him closer to his father, fostering understanding. Furthermore, Garzon-Villanueva describes the neighborhoods he grew up in and how they have changed over time. He mentions maintaining connections with people from those neighborhoods. Lastly, he discusses the availability of neighborhood resources and expresses frustration with bureaucratic hurdles, misallocation of funds, and lack of resources.
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Edwin Holt
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Edwin G. Holt Jr. is a Caucasian male born on September 27th, 1948. His immediate family consisted of his mother, who was a stay-at-home mom, and his father, who worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. He has a younger sister and brother. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Holt describes his family structure, consisting of his parents, a younger sister, and a brother who was born on his tenth birthday. He mentioned that many extended family members lived in the area, and that they frequently had family gatherings and get-togethers. He talks about his childhood dog, Fido. Holt also touches on household chores. Holt recalls that his mother mainly took care of them, and they, as kids, were not expected to do many chores. Holt reflects on the economic status growing up and how his parents were able to provide for the sports he was involved in. He goes on to talk about frugal and responsible habits with money. This financial behavior was influenced by the lessons learned from his parents. Holt describes his Lutheran upbringing, the significance of religion in his family during childhood. Holt goes on to talk about how his beliefs have evolved as an adult, less invested in the church itself but still concepts and beliefs in religion. Holt talks about the freedom of playing with friends, recalls vacations to a cabin and grandparents' farm, and the value and expectation of honesty in his family. Holt talks about friends he has lost over the years and some connections he has been able to maintain through Facebook. Holt then reflects on his experiences with schooling. He talks about his early experiences in school, enlisting in the military, becoming a military journalist, and later returning to school more motivated. Lastly, Holt discusses local and global issues that affected them during his childhood. He mentions the Cuban Missile Crisis, the fear of nuclear war, and drills for atomic bomb preparedness. The Vietnam War also became a prominent concern as he grew older. Health threats, such as polio, were significant during his grade school days. Additionally, he reflects on race relations, specifically the tensions between neighborhoods divided by University Avenue in terms of race and ethnicity.
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Emily Willis
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Emily Schroeder Willis is a Caucasian female born on August 8, 1978. She is the middle child of her family. She has an older brother and a younger sister. Her father worked in a bookstore. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom. Willis grew up in the southern part of Roseville. She was raised in a religious household with all family members involved with the church. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Willis reminisces on summers spent in her grandmother's swimming pool and weekends at the family cabin. She explains how her financial situation growing up has influenced her spending habits as an adult. Willis recalls her after school tradition of snacking on food purchased on her walk home from the bus stop with her siblings during grade school. Later in the interview, she fondly remembers a poetry group she was a part of during high school. Willis ends the interview by discussing her reaction to the case of Rodney King.
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Eric Smith
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Eric Smith is a Caucasian male born on August 30th, 1977. Growing up, Smith lived with his parents and sister. His father was a prosecutor and his mother was a teacher. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Smith discussed his family life, talking about how having a prosecutor and a teacher as parents made it difficult for him to get away with much. He also talked about the pets that his family had. Smith delved into his family's religious background and expressed his problems with the hypocrisy he observed in the church. Moving on, Smith described the neighborhood events, block parties, and winter activities in which his neighbors engaged. He portrayed a tight-knit community shared by his neighbors. Smith further discussed the games he played and recounted his time in school, including stories of times he got in trouble. He then recounted a neighborhood dispute over the construction of a bar that caused the entire neighborhood to become riled up. Lastly, Smith reflected on police discrimination in his neighborhood during his teenage years and expressed concern that it continues to be a problem to this day.
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Fred (Fritz) Schreiber
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Fred (Fritz) Schreiber is a Caucasian male born on August 7, 1926, at Summit University (Old Rondo). He is the youngest of five kids raised by his father and his maternal grandma after his mother passed away when he was four. His dad worked at Minnesota Mine, American Hoist, and Derrick. Schreiber was raised Lutheran as a way to connect to his mother. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: He begins his interview by explaining his living arrangement with his family. Nine people lived in one household but recalled it was a great time regardless of the number of family members under one roof. Schreiber mentions that most of his neighbors growing up were African-American, which created no conflict for the other neighbors. Leisure time happened when his father was not working on Sundays. These activities included going to Como Zoo, visiting relatives in Carver, and pheasant hunting. Sundays were reserved for family time. When asked about local and global issues impacting him during his childhood years, Schreiber recalls discussions about Hitler and World War II. Next, he details his time in the military while he was stationed in Okinawa after the war. He lived through the biggest typhoon to have hit the island. In the second part of the interview, Schreiber describes more issues that arose in his neighborhood or lack thereof. He recalls having black classmates mixed in with his primarily white class but does not remember any discrimination happening. He describes the difference between being integrated with other people of color in his school and neighborhood and being segregated once he joined the military. Schreiber then talks about the time he gave a blood transfusion on a cot to a black man during his service. He concludes his interview by describing a parade at his school.
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Gregory Sanchez
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Gregory Sanchez is a Hispanic-White male born on April 7, 1949. Sanchez grew up in the Bluff area of East Side Saint Paul with his parents and three brothers. His father worked two jobs while his mother worked part-time as a waitress. Sanchez was raised Catholic but has distanced himself from religion now as an adult. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Sanchez begins his interview by explaining his living situation. The neighborhood was described as blue-collar. He played football and hockey in school, and his next-door neighbor were the parents of Chief Justice Warren Burger. He fondly remembers his boxer, Bonnie. Next, he explained how his family's economic status taught him to have a good work ethic. His parents worked long hours to enroll the three kids in Catholic school. Sanchez worked as a caddy and became a dishwasher for a post office during high school to make extra money. His family would go on camping trips around Minnesota as family vacations. Sanchez concludes his interview by listing several global and local issues. Those issues included duck-and-cover drills, needing to carry a student with polio out of a building during fire drills, Kennedy's assassination, and riots during the assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr.
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Isiah Dennis
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Isiah Dennis is a Black male born on June 20, 1990. He lived with his grandparents and his mother in the Rondo neighborhood during his upbringing. His mother worked at Cub Foods. Isiah's religious affiliation is Methodist. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Dennis recounts his upbringing in the Rondo neighborhood. He talks about the bond he shared with his grandparents and mother. Dennis shares warm memories that revolve around family gatherings, barbecues hosted by his late grandpa, and the vibrant atmosphere filled with much music and laughter. Dennis reflects on the impact of his family's economic circumstances during his upbringing. He acknowledges that they were low-income. He stresses that despite their limited income, he never felt impoverished or lacking anything essential. Dennis goes on to reflect on how his family's financial circumstances have influenced his present spending habits. Dennis discusses his Methodist upbringing and attending United Methodist Church, highlighting its integral role in his life. He acknowledges the impact of his faith on his identity as an openly queer black man and talks about the transformative power of his relationship with God in accepting his authentic self. Dennis reflects on his upbringing in the Rondo neighborhood. He recalls the values of authenticity, mutual care, and loving one's neighbor that were instilled by his family and neighbors. He expresses a commitment to preserving the neighborhood's history and values in the face of changes and gentrification. Next Dennis reminisces about his leisure activities during his upbringing, including spending time at Jimmy Lee Recreation Center, parks, and hanging out with friends in the neighborhood. Dennis discusses his educational journey from elementary school to higher education. He talks about his positive experiences in elementary school, some challenges he faced in middle school, and the empowerment and belonging he felt from engaging in extracurriculars in high school. He also discusses the higher education paths he pursued. Lastly, Dennis discusses significant issues during his upbringing in his neighborhood. He mentions gun violence, gang activity, and drug problems, along with the need for comprehensive sex education. He talks about messages of treating everyone with love and looking beyond differences were instilled. He goes into his concerns about gentrification, historical preservation, and community well-being.
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Janice Bisch
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Janice Bisch is a Caucasian female born on June 25, 1965. She was born into a family of two sisters and one brother. Her father worked as a mechanic and for the city of Saint Paul. Her mother worked as a secretary at St. Vincent's Church. Bisch grew up in the Saint Paul neighborhood of Frogtown. She was raised with Catholic beliefs and regularly went to church. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Bisch explains how her parents' money-saving habits influence the way she spends money as an adult and the fun, low-budget leisure time activities they did. She reminisces on the Sunday drives she and her family did. Bische recalls how important Catholicism was during her childhood and fondly remembers Sister Rosemary as an influential figure. Lastly, Bische elaborates on the local and global issues she went through in her neighborhood, which included the Vietnam War, illicit crimes, and the Cold War.
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Jean Moberg
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Jean Moberg is a white female born on July 18, 1957. She lived with her father, mother, and three brothers in Highland Park. Her father worked as a payroll accountant for Northern States Power Company, while her mother was a stay-at-home mother. She was raised Catholic. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Moberg describes her family make-up. She talks about being the oldest and only daughter, the roles her parents had in the house, and their cat Charlie and how her father was talking into buying him. Moberg describes her family’s economic situation growing up. She discusses some financial strain due to her frequent hospitalizations as a sick child. Her family's financial circumstances had a lasting impact on her spending habits. She was taught not to exceed her earnings and to be careful with her money. Her father, being an accountant, emphasized keeping a balanced checkbook. Moberg talks about her religious upbringing, attending Catholic church and school while her father went to the Lutheran church. Moberg explains her views as an adult who no longer actively practices the religion but maintains some spiritual beliefs. She acknowledges that certain aspects of the Catholic Church don't align with her views, particularly regarding women's treatment. Moberg explains that her religious upbringing instilled values of giving back and volunteering, which has influenced her adult life, leading them to contribute to social and educational causes. Moberg reflects on her childhood neighborhood, which had predominantly young families with many boys and fewer girls. She talked about engaging in outdoor activities like playing kickball and riding bikes. She describes the close-knit community where parents looked out for one another's children. She talks about how safe she felt in the neighborhood because of a network that the mother’s had to keep track of everyone. Moberg talks about how the values of respect were emphasized, as children were taught to address adults with proper titles. The community shared common values, including looking out for each other and collectively raising the children. In talking about leisure time, Moberg describes the board games they used to play as a family, family camping trips they would take, and hangout spots with her friends. Moberg recounts some of the difficulties she had at school because of her frequent illnesses as a child. Lastly, in talking about local and global issues, Moberg mentions how missile threats were a pervasive concern, the assassination of President Kennedy, and news coverage of the Vietnam War.
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Jessica Ward-Denison
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Jessica Ward-Denison is a Caucasian female born on June 1, 1971. She was born into a family of her mother, father, and younger brother. Ward-Denison grew up in the West Seventh neighborhood in Saint Paul. She was not raised in a particular faith or attended church growing up. Ward-Denison does not practice any religion. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Ward-Denison begins her interview by explaining her living situation. She grew up in a neighborhood surrounded by family members and recalls having her cousins as her first friends. Ward-Denison raved about her father's sunfish as her favorite meal and eating vegetables from her granddad's garden. When asked about leisure time, she explains how bowling and softball were a massive part of her family. Ward-Denison concluded her interview by discussing several local and global issues that occurred during her adolescence such as the energy crisis during the 1970s, the Iran-Iraq War, high suicide rate in her neighborhood, and the kidnapping of Jacob Wetterling in 1989.
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Jim Landwehr
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Jim Landwehr is a Caucasian male born on December 11, 1961. He grew up near Summit and Lexington. During his childhood, he moved to various locations within Saint Paul. His mother raised him after the death of his father when Landwehr was five years old. He had seven siblings. His mother raised him to be Catholic and made the siblings attend Catholic school. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Landwehr begins his interview by opening up about his father's death during a bar fight and the passing of his five-year-old sister due to a Wilms tumor. He mentions that his parents divorced after his sister passed away. Later in the interview, Landwehr mentions that his closest brother, Rob, passed away in 2011 due to cancer. Despite the tragedies, Landwehr applauds his mother for instilling the value in family and holding them together. Further in his interview, he talks about their leisure activities, which included ball sports and going to Owasso Beach or Bayport with his blended family. Landwehr briefly explains his time at Cretin High School, an all-male military Catholic school. He wrote a book, "Cretin Boy", about his experience. When asked about global and local issues that affected him, he mentioned the Vietnam War because his brother received a draft card, the hippie movement, and the 1967 Minneapolis riots.
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Jim McGowan
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Jim McGowan is a Caucasian male born on July 30, 1936. He lived with his mother, father, brother, and later a sister in Saint Paul. His father worked as a cattle buyer in South Saint Paul, and his mother worked as a waitress. He was raised Catholic but is now Lutheran. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: McGowan shares his family life. Being a part of a family of five. He talks about the apartments they lived in. He describes the neighborhood having many kids and a vacant lot serving as a natural playground. McGowan discusses the influence of his family's economic status on his childhood. Despite not being affluent, he notes that they never felt poor. He mentions that some tendencies such as not wanting to be wasteful may stem from the economic influences of his upbring. Next, McGowan speaks on his religious upbringing. Growing up, he came from a mixed religious background, with his father being a devout Irish Catholic while his mother wasn't religious. He talks about quality time with his father walking home from church. He goes on to discuss his religious journey as an adult and how he has served 25 years as a Lutheran pastor. McGowan delves into his memories of leisure time and neighborhood activities during his childhood. He recalls a time without parents and describes the freedom of exploring the city, going to movies, and playing games. McGowan shares an account of his sister's illness and the impact it had on his family. He goes into the struggle that occurred in her care early on. He also touches on a period of her life when she was in a more comfortable environment and enjoyed visits from her family. He describes his own family visiting her. Next, McGowan talks about schooling. He mentions never doing homework, egg sandwiches, and a memorable teacher. In the last section McGowan reflects on the political atmosphere and recalls the impact of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies during World War II. He talks about tuberculosis fears, but states that no one he knew ever had it. He concludes by sharing a story about the living arrangements in his family's apartment.
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John Ward
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: John Ward is a Caucasian male born on November 14, 1981. He lived with his mother, father, and older sister in the West 7th neighborhood growing up. Ward's father worked at a cable company. His mother was a teacher. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Ward shares memories of his immediate and extended family. He talks about the regular Saturday breakfast at his paternal grandmother’s house. He talks about Kelly and Shamrock, two dogs that he had. He goes on to talk about how chores were distributed in his household. He mentions his older sister and the significant age gap. Next, Ward reflects on the fluctuations in his family's economic status during his childhood, highlighting difficulties during periods of unemployment faced by his parents. He goes on to talk about how in adulthood, these experiences significantly shaped his spending habits, as he identified himself as frugal and cautious. In speaking on religion Ward shares his exposure to religion through Catholic school. His immediate family wasn’t particularly religious, but his grandparents offered to cover the expense of his private Catholic education. He shares more religious practices of his extended family. In sharing about his neighborhood Ward describes a tight-knit community where residents looked out for each other. He fondly remembers the ease of access to parks and amenities, but also noted a shift in community caution after the kidnapping of Jacob Wetterling. In talking about the values of his family and community he mentions hard work, family reliance, and kindness. He mentions his father’s strong views against bullies and bullying. Ward shares what he would do for leisure. He talks about the sports he played, swimming at the local pool, and going downtown or the Mall of America. He also mentions board games with the family and camping trips that they took. He shares some of the toys he played with, shows he watched, and some of the alternative and classic rock bands he listened to. Going into his educational history, Ward highlighted his 13-year experience in private Catholic schooling. He acknowledges the high-quality education he received but expresses some regrets wishing he'd experienced public school for some social aspects. He talks about notable achievement from his school years was winning three different bees: spelling, geography, and religion. Lastly speaking on local and global issues, Ward mentions issues around public safety. He talks about the changes in the community after the kidnapping of Jacob Wetterling. Globally, Ward remembered the fall of the Berlin Wall and the early '90s economic downturn which had direct impacts on his community. Ward also talks about the importance of inclusion taught by his family, school, and community.
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Julie Luker
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Julie Luker is a white female born on September 2, 1977. She lived with her mother and half-brother in Saint Paul. She later lived with her dad, stepmom, stepsister, and half-sister. Luker was raised Lutheran. Her father worked in sales and her mother worked as a legal secretary for the State of Minnesota. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Luker describes her family life, immediate and extended. She talks about living with her parents and half-brother. She talks about her blended family structure after her father remarried. She talks about the close relationship with her grandma on her mom's side, who took care of them a lot due to her mother's illness. On her dad's side, Luker talks about her grandma and grandpa who lived nearby, and the times she enjoyed with them. She also talks about other meaningful connections in her life. Luker talks about how close she and her mother were. She talks about the health issues her mother had and her passing. She felt a strong desire to be with and care for her mother, often sacrificing time with others to support her. Luker talks about her relationship with her dad and how he remained involved in her life and created fond memories during visits. Luker talks about the pets she had growing up. She had several family pets, mainly cats that they got from the Humane Society. She also talks about her fascination with amphibians and reptiles, and how she enjoyed catching frogs and turtles. Luker talks about her financial situation growing up. She talks about assistance programs she was on when living with her mother. She talks about how things changed when she moved in with her dad and step-mom. Luker talks about how her upbringing still affects her frugal views on money, she has calmed down, but it still is a worry that lingers. Luker talks about being raised Lutheran. She talks about regularly attending church, participating in church events, such as Sunday School and mission trips. Luker reflects on both the positive and negative impact from religion. She talks about emotional support and a sense of self-worth during challenging periods, such as her mother’s death. She also brings up her issues with the patriarchal and conservative aspects of the religion. Luker talks about the two neighborhoods she grew up in and shares memories from those neighborhoods. Luker goes on to talk about the shared values in these neighborhoods. She talks about values including respecting others, especially adults, and taking care of their belongings, volunteering and giving back to the community, and putting others' needs before her own. She goes on to share the games she played outside as a child and some dangerous stories from that time. She talks about driving around as a teenager and visiting The Reservoir. Luker goes on to share her experiences with schooling and Mr. Buckley, a teacher who stands out in her memory. Lastly, Luker talks about local and global issues. She brings up neighborhood safety concerns, discrimination, race-related issues, societal expectations, restrictions imposed on women, the impact of the Jacob Wetterling kidnapping, and The Cold War. She also reflects on concerns that are still impactful today, including gentrification, racial disparities, LGBT issues, and her overall concerns about the political climate.
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Kathryn Glynn
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Kathryn Glynn is a white female born on June 5, 1954. She lived with both her parents and five siblings in the Highland Park neighborhood of Saint Paul. Her father was a manufacturer’s representative, and her mother primarily stayed at home until later working part-time in a gift shop. Glynn grew up Catholic. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Glynn shares her family make up. She talks about the extended family that lives close by growing up. She mentions the active lifestyle of her family and the sports her brothers were involved in. She shares a fond memory of her grandfather at their lake house. Glynn speaks about her parents' work and the comfortable life her father was able to provide. She talks about how her upbringing instilled a frugal spending habit, making her think carefully before making significant purchases. Glynn shares how religion played a crucial role in family life. They were devout Catholics and followed the religious practices of attending mass every Sunday and observing holy days. Glynn expresses how God remains an important part of her life. She describes the two houses that her family lived in. Glynn touches on the values instilled by her parents: being respectful, honesty, and loyalty. She mentions lifelong friends her parents made. Glynn shares some of the outdoor activities done as kids such as picnics, bike riding, and ice skating. She goes on to mention the places they traveled to for family vacations. Lastly, when touching on local and global issues, Glynn mentions that there wasn’t much political conversation around the dinner table. She does mention the Vietnam War, John F. Kennedy assassination as standout moments she remembers.
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Kathy Kosse
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Kathleen Kosse is a Caucasian female born on January 27, 1952. She grew up on Selby-Dale of Saint Paul. Her family consists of her parents, an older brother, an older sister, and two younger sisters. Her father was a construction worker in construction trading, and her mother was a stay-at-home mother. Kosse was raised Lutheran. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: She begins her interview by discussing family vacations to Lake Gervais and her father's love for fishing. Next, Kosse talks about how her family's economic status influenced her to save money well into adulthood. The neighborhood she identifies most with is the Selby-Dale area, and would describe the neighborhood as "ideal." She could freely run outside, had a lot of kids on the blocks, made good babysitting money, and everyone got along well. Kosse talks about the time she was hit by a car at the age of eight. Still, she remembers how the neighborhood rallied behind her during that moment. She recalls a riot happening before arriving at the high school, St. Paul Central, and the lockdowns they had. Kosse concluded her interview by listing off global and local issues that occurred during her adolescent years, such as the murder of Officer James Sackett, who was found by one of her classmates and killed by two other classmates.
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Maggie Berry
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Maggie Berry is a Caucasian woman born on June 3rd, 1955. She grew up with her seven siblings and parents. Her father sold golf equipment, and her mother was a teacher's aide. She was raised Catholic but now identifies with Christianity. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Berry begins his interview by mentioning that at 17 years of age she taught her mother how to drive. She recalls, at eight years old, taking the bus to downtown Saint Paul with her 11 year-old sister. On Sundays after church service, Berry and her family would get donuts from a bakery and her father would cook bacon for them. She describes her summer schedule as consisting of swimming practice, eating, and more swimming practice. Berry remembers the small businesses on Grand Avenue during his childhood and adolescence. Next, she talks about leisure time activities such as playing Barbie with her friend Megan and playing tennis. Her parents were involved more with the church. Concluding her interview, Berry described various local and global issues that affected her. These issues included the assassination of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr., the Vietnam War drafts, protests over the war at the U of M, and fears of riots.
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Michael Baker
Julie M. Luker
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Michael Baker is a Caucasian male born on April 19, 1947. He lived with his mother, father, and five siblings while growing up. His father was a part owner of a family business, and his mother did not work. Baker grew up Catholic but now identifies as Buddhist. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Baker talks about his family and neighborhood. He discusses his family's business that has been passed down and his financial priorities. Baker also talks about his Catholic upbringing in the Church and schooling, reflecting on his foundations of faith and his current beliefs. Additionally, Baker discusses the freedoms of childhood and how he gained more freedom as more transportation options opened up during his upbringing. Lastly, Baker reflects on issues such as prejudice, obesity, poverty, education, and healthcare.