Highland Park

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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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  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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  Paula Stuart-Warren

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Paula Stuart-Warren is a Caucasian female born on July 18, 1948. She was born into a family of two sisters and a late younger brother. Her father worked in the automotive industry. Her mother worked at a drugstore making malts and serving sodas. Stuart-Warren grew up on the South end of Highland Park in St Paul. She was raised in a Catholic household. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Stuart-Warren discusses growing up in a tight-knit family. She recalls her family's financial difficulties after her father's company went bankrupt and how that experience shaped her parenting techniques and spending habits. Stuart-Warren shared stories about exploring downtown St. Paul during her teen years and summers spent with the neighborhood kids. She reminisces on the importance of community within her childhood neighborhood. Later in the interview, Stuart-Warren recalls the moment she reunited with an influential teacher from her high school years. Lastly, she elaborated on the financial struggles her previous neighborhood faces today.

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  Bonnie Resig

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Bonnie Resig is a Caucasian female born on December 26, 1946. She lived with her mother, father, and older sister. Her dad owned a grocery store called Most Food Market. Her mom began working when she was in junior high. Resig is Jewish. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Resig gives a description of their home life and extended family that they would visit and were close with. She describes her cultural Judaism and the holidays they would celebrate. Resig goes on to talk about her childhood and the games she would play with the neighborhood kids. She talks about the values that permeated her neighborhood at the time, live and let live, and the “Golden Rule”. Resig goes into detail with her experiences in school, sharing a lot of stories of her time there. Resig touches on important figures in history. She shares the story of when she met Paul Newman. Lastly, she reflects that her best memories involve her parents and says how lucky she was to have them as her parents.

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  Kate Shelley

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Kathleen (Kate) Mary Shelley is a Caucasian female born on November 21, 1953. She is the older of four children. Her father was a brewer and her mother was an RN. She grew up Catholic. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Shelley starts by describing her home life, mentioning which family member she felt closest to, as well as what pets they had, such as a seahorse, as well as how the household chores were divided. She briefly discusses her family's economic status, stating how she was able to have access to the necessities, but felt that they were in lower to middle class. She goes on to discuss her religious upbringing and recalls a couple of her memories. Shelley talks about what her neighborhood looked like: detailing what the interior and layout of her home was, as well as how almost everyone in the neighborhood got along with each other. She mentions the value of calling adults by their titles (Mr. and Mrs.). Afterwards, she touches on the activities that were done for leisure time, such as taking vacations, playing board and card games, and watching TV. She described how it was common to spend a lot of time down at the river, dancing, and partying. She briefly talked about the things her family would watch on the TV, as well as what music they would listen to. Shelley described what schooling looked like for her, mentioning that it was strict, but there were a lot of good experiences - as well as what lunchtime during the school day looked like for her. She ends the interview by describing the local issues affecting the neighborhood, mostly talking about when JFK was assassinated, the Civil Rights movement, the war in Vietnam, bomb practices in school, and growing up in the Cold War.

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  Jared Aswegan

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Jared Aswegan is a white male born August 11th, 1954. Aswegan grew up in Highland Park with his mother, father, and older brothers. His father worked for the State Highway Department. His mother held various jobs as he grew up. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Aswegan describes the close relationship he had with his mother and how she would take on roles to be involved in her children's lives, working as a Sunday school teacher, and working as a teaching assistant in the music department of Aswegan’s high school. Aswegan talks about the many pets he had growing up. He describes the religious practices of his relatives and his fond memories but had a falling out with the Church during his time working with the Minnesota Aids Project. Aswegan goes into detail about his love of music and theater. Aswegan talks about his time in school, the teachers that inspired him, his struggles with algebra, and the complex dynamics of high school lunch seating. Lastly, Aswegan reflects on the big moments growing up: describing nuclear drills, the Kennedy assassination, desegregation, the assassination of MLK Jr, and the Vietnam War.