Battle Creek

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  Kathleen Povolny

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Kathleen Povolny is a Caucasian female born June 11th, 1954. She is an only child and grew up in Battle Creek. She was very close to her parents and also paternal grandmother as well. Her father worked for the Minneapolis post office and her mother was a stay-at-home mother. Her father was Catholic and her mother was Protestant. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Povolny grew up religious with going to church every Sunday and with going to Sunday school but is not aligned with religion anymore. Povolny reflects back to how her family was frugal but always having enough money for what they needed. She remembers enjoying time with friends, exploring the woods, and going to lakes around Minnesota and Wisconsin. Povolny often rode bikes around the neighborhood with her friends and doing activities at different friends' houses. She remembers the freedom of being able to go wherever they wanted to play as long as they got back before supper time. At the end of the interview Povolny reflects on some of the larger global issues impacting the world but not necessarily impacting her neighborhood. She remembers major events like the war protests, Bobby Kennedy being shot, and the Kent State shootings.

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  Mary Reed

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Mary Elizabeth Reed is a Caucasian female born on March 10th, 1964. She grew up living with her sister and their adoptive parents. Both of her parents worked. Her mom owned her own business. They lived in Battle Creek. Reed grew up Lutheran but is non-religious as an adult. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Reed describes her idyllic life growing up in Battle Creek. She discusses her family relationships with her mother owning her own business and the close relationship she had with her grandparents. Reed talks about how chores were to be done to her mother’s neat standards. Reed shares how meals, such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, were staples in their household. Reed mentions how family meals on Sundays were important to the family, even though her mother was a horrible cook. Growing up Reed considered her family uber-Lutherans; she went to Lutheran schools and spent much of her time in church groups and events. Reed doesn't consider religion relevant to her life as an adult. She reminisces about her neighbors and how they each provided a variety of interesting things for neighbor kids to do. Reed talks about her time at school, how much she loved school and how teachers always kept them busy with schoolwork to bring home. Lastly, Reed mentions global events such as the gas crisis, the Vietnam war, and the impeachment of Nixon.