Journeys Oral History
In 2015-2016, TCPL participated in the StoryCorps project. This national initiative records oral history around the country. Sixty recordings were made by people discussing the important moments of their lives. Tippecanoe County Public Library once more recorded the personal stories of people in our community with Journeys: Life Reflections.
James Foster and Jos N. Holman
Date: August 30, 2016
Storyteller: James Foster (right)
Interviewer: Jos N. Holman (left)
Relationship: Friends
James Foster, a native of Gary, IN, came to Lafayette to attend Purdue via a program for inner-city students, and majored in human relations. He managed McCutcheon Hall for 22 years and led many workshops, in particular workshops focused on diversity. Travel to South Africa (including a safari!) and how he spends his retirement.
Ellen and Julia Byers
Date: August 23, 2016
Storyteller: Ellen Byers
Interviewer: Julia Byers
Relationship: Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
Julia Byers is interviewed by her daughter-in-law, Ellen. One of a pair of identical twins growing up during WWII, she attended Purdue and majored in Home Ec and Institutional Management. In 1951 she married to a fellow student who was in the Purdue Glee Club (and the Glee Club sang at their wedding!). Married 39 years, she worked in school lunch programs and participated in national competitions. Later, she earned a Master’s at the same time as her daughter. A lifelong violinist, she has also played with the Lafayette Symphony.
Aida and Romeo Baylosis
Date: August 20, 2016
Storyteller: Aida and Romeo Baylosis
Interviewer: Mira Massey
Relationship: Grandparents and granddaughter
Mira Massey’s grandparents share with her their memories of growing up in the Philippines and the differences they experienced when they came to the U.S. They have been married 45 years and credit being understanding with each other for the success of their relationship.
Persis Newman and Jos N. Holman
Date: August 26, 2016
Storyteller: Persis Newman
Interviewer: Jos N. Holman
Relationship: New Acquaintances
Persis Newman was born in Colorado Springs, moving to West Palm Beach, FL for her high school years. As a stay-at-home mom with a Master’s in Psychology and Social Work, she did not work full time till she was in her 50s. She shares her views on beneficial ways to enhance the development of children and teens, and details of her extensive involvement in improving services in our community and at the community center, as well as her life in Westminster Village and thoughts on how to age gracefully.
Carmen Meiller and Claudia Rubio Samulowitz
Date: August 26, 2016
Storyteller: Carmen Meiller
Interviewer: Claudia Rubio Samulowitz
Relationship: Mother and Daughter
Carmen interviews her mother, Claudia, in Spanish, about her life and family.
Ingrid Clever and Denise Laussade
Date: August 25, 2016
Storyteller: Ingrid Clever
Interviewer: Denise Laussade
Relationship: Friends
Good friends Ingrid and Denise talk about Ingrid’s experiences growing up near the sea in Gdansk, Poland (formerly Danzig) prior to and during WWII. Ingrid was six years old when she first saw the bombs fall, and she also saw Hitler in person. She escaped from Berlin at the age of 17 and shares her thoughts about being a teenager during the war and about her life in America.
Mary and Lisa Pantea
Date: August 9, 2016
Storyteller: Mary Pantea (right)
Interviewer: Lisa Pantea (left)
Relationship: Mother and Daughter
Mary’s parents emigrated from Romania, and she grew up in East Chicago and Gary. Her first language was Romanian and when she started school, she spoke no English. She attended Ball State Teacher’s College and met her future husband at a wedding. They settled in Gary and had children before she returned to work in a teaching career that spanned 25 years. She shares observations on how life is different for young people today than it was when she grew up. She includes memories of her kids’ education and careers and childhood visits to their grandmother’s
Willie A. Thompson and Jos N. Holman
Date: August 9, 2016
Storyteller: Willie A. Thompson (right)
Interviewer: Jos N. Holman (left)
Relationship: Friends
Willie Thompson grew up in Muskegon, MI. but also spent time in Tennessee. One of six kids. Lives outside in Templeton, IN, near Oxford. They discuss his career as a Midwestern business owner (financial business consultation and rental properties his role in Indiana Black Expo and in the ministry (active for 36 years)) and how he found religion as an adult which induced him to change his life. Abundant Love Outreach Church has been important in his life. Advice for young people: seek after what inspires you.
Kathy and Rick Black
Date: August 8, 2016
Storyteller: Kathy Black (left)
Interviewer: Rick Black (right)
Relationship: Spouses
The Blacks are the owners of the popular Wildcat Creek Winery in Lafayette. They have two children, Shannon and David. Rick was born in Indianapolis, and both grew up in West Indianapolis. Hear about their experiences on the road that led them to the success in the wine trade.
Lillian Cote and Elizabeth Alice Solberg
Date: August 4, 2016
Storyteller: Lillian Cote (left)
Interviewer: Elizabeth Alice Solberg (right)
Relationship: Friends & League of Women Votes members
These two friends are fellow members of the League of Women Voters. Cote had a career in drafting and lived in Rhode Island. She remembers that men in the field got paid twice as much. She then went to architect school at Columbia, and has done work in downtown and historic preservation.
Journeys and StoryCorps were made possible by the Friends of TCPL as part of their 50th anniversary celebration.
