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Hillside Community Church: A Path to Liberalism

Oral history interview with Milton P. Andrews by Robert Ewing conducted 1/13/1992. Andrews discusses his experiences growing up as the son of a fundamental (Free Methodist Church) preacher in Missouri, his education, religious training, and his own spiritual and philosophical shift to a more progressive brand of religion and into activism for social justice. Andrews details his controversial tenure as the leader of several churches in Ohio, New York and Washington State, including Epworth Lesourd Methodist Church in Tacoma, where his stance against the Vietnam War led to his forced resignation in 1970. The interview only briefly touches on Andrews's involvement with the Hillside Community Church.

A Woman of Firsts: Nelda Jaeger-Kraemer - Her Life as a Citizen of Tacoma for Ninety-two Years

Oral history interviews with Robert Richard Kraemer, Jr; Betty Kraemer; and Renee Kraemer-Rhoads by Kathryn S. Held conducted 11/1998. Robert Richard Kraemer Jr, Betty Dahl Kraemer, and Renee Kraemer-Rhoads present their family history and share stories about the several generations of Kraemers, Jaegers, and Kitchens who have lived in the Tacoma area. Particular focus is given to Nelda Jaeger-Kraemer, one of the first women to graduate from the University of Washington Law School.

Upholding the Hippocratic Oath: A Story of Medicine in Tacoma and its Fight Against AIDS

Oral history interview with Peter Marsh by Joshua Wright conducted 05/28/2015. From the very beginning, Tacoma was met with illness in the form of typhoid. Disease would continue to wage war against the residents of the City of Destiny until the Fannie C. Paddock Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital were built in 1882 and 1891, respectively. Both organizations developed meaningful relationships with their community and ignited a behind-the-scenes competition which would benefit both patient and physician. Almost 100 years later, Tacoma was cared for predominantly by primary care physicians. It had just started to see an influx of medical specialists via Madigan Army Medical Center when the city was hit by HIV in 1983. With no effective cure at the time, Tacoma did its best to cope with the disease and its associated complications, and the infectious disease specialists were on the forefront. One of these few physicians was Dr. Peter Marsh. Born in Chicago in 1949, he was inspired to become a doctor as a young boy by the Dr. Kildare film series. Arriving in Tacoma in 1981, he would find himself in the middle of handling the AIDS epidemic, supporting patients as best as he could before they succumbed to the disease; that is, until the introduction of antiretroviral medications. Now able to effectively cure patients, Dr. Marsh found new life in his work and continued to serve his community until retirement in 2015. With the epidemic under control, Tacoma still utilizes what it learned from that chaotic era to stand prepared for anything thrown its way.

Telegrapher for the Northern Pacific Railway in Tacoma

Oral history interview with Gary Emmons by Karin Crelling conducted 05/17/2017. Gary Emmons was in a unique position in the 1960s, working for the Northern Pacific Railway as a telegrapher. He was witness to the change from manpower to computers. The telegraph station at McCarver Street in Tacoma, Washington was one of the most important stations in the area. Trains would not leave Tacoma, unless they had received their instructions from this station. This paper will provide a brief history of not just the McCarver Street station, and how it operated, but also other institutions, that were intricately connected to the Northern Pacific Railway here in Tacoma; institutions such as McKinley Hill Hospital, the Great Tacoma Shops, Union Station and, very briefly, the decline and the revival of downtown Tacoma and the restoration of Union Station, as well as the present campus of the University of Washington, Tacoma. This research will cover a span from approximately 1910 to 2000 and follows loosely the interview conducted with Col. Gary Emmons, USAF, Ret.

Philip H. Red Eagle

Oral history interview with Philip H. Red Eagle by Jordan Woolston conducted 05/02/2017. Philip H. Red Eagle was born in 1945 in Tacoma, Washington. His mother, Marian Steilacoom, of Salish decent, was born near Port Angeles, Washington. Philip's father, Philip Red Eagle, a member of the Dakota Tribe, was born near the Missouri River on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. Phillip spent the first fourteen years of his life in Tacoma, attending Stanley and McCarver schools before moving to Sitka, Alaska with his family in 1959. Philip joined the Navy shortly after graduating from high school, serving in Vietnam for five years from 1969-1973. After Vietnam, Philip returned to Washington and began undergraduate studies at the University of Washington where he earned two bachelor's degrees. The return to civilian life after the war affected Philip and he struggled with PTSD and related issues like depression and insomnia. Philip found that art, writing, and taking part in the revival of his culture helped him confront his PTSD and over the last 30 years Philip has contributed greatly to the revival and expansion of Indigenous culture in the Pacific Northwest.

The Timber Challenge

Oral history interview with Eudoro Estrada by Deborah D. Boyd conducted 05/03/1991. The interview discusses Eudoro Estrada's life in Mexico, his struggles when he first arrived in the United States, and his efforts to start and maintain what became a successful reforestation business. Estrada also describes his family life and briefly touches upon the discrimination he encountered as a Mexican American businessman in Washington State.

Serving on the USS Mason: Breaking Racial Barriers in the U.S. Navy

Oral history interview with Merwin Peters by Shawn Boyd conducted 05/06/2011. World War II veteran Merwin Peters shares the history of the USS Mason and describes his experiences as an African-American sailor serving just prior to military desegregation. Frequent references are made to Mary Pat Kelly, whose 1995 book ""Proudly We Served: The Men of the USS Mason"" brought the story of the Mason and her crew to public attention.

Winning the Hearst and Minds of Fort Lewis and McChord GIs During the Vietnam Era

Oral history interview with Michael Royce by Beula Robb conducted 01/06/1994. Michael Royce discusses his time as a civil rights activist in the South and shares his thoughts on college life during the tumultuous 1960s. Drafted into the army following his graduation from college in 1968, Royce reflects on his military experience at Fort Lewis and talks about his involvement with the Lewis-McChord Free Press, an underground anti-war newspaper.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Helen Cecile Beck Stafford

Oral history interview with Helen Stafford by Helen I. Gilmore conducted 02/06/1993. Community leader Helen Stafford shares her life story, describing her childhood in Kansas and her experiences as a young African-American woman in Depression-era Tacoma. Reflecting back on over sixty years of civic involvement, Stafford comments on her work with the Matron's Club, the NAACP, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and the Washington Public Employees Association labor union. She also provides numerous insights into the changing face of Tacoma after World War II.

Splendid Gestures: Gloria Stancich and the Gay/Lesbian Community in Tacoma

Oral history interview with Gloria Stancich by Marcie C. Pierson conducted 05/06/2011. Includes highlights from the personal story of Gloria Stancich, longtime civil rights activist and community leader, are discussed and placed in historical context. An active participant in numerous LGBTQ organizations, Stancich describes her path to civic involvement and personal acceptance, which includes a marriage, divorce, and eventual coming out to her son and family.

Oral history interview with Thomas Shoji Takemura

Oral history interview with Thomas Shoji Takemura by Susan Stout conducted 05/09/1991. The interview recounts Thomas Shoji Takemura's early childhood and family life on a truck gardening farm in Fife, Washington before the start of the Second World War, as well as their forced evacuation to the Assembly Center in Puyallup, Washington. Takemura's experience of camp life is recalled in some detail. During this time, neighbors agreed to take care of the family's property. Takemura eventually obtained a release to work at a U & I factory processing sugar beets in Chinook, Montana, where he met his future wife. He also discusses his involvement in the national redress movement and related lecturing at local area schools.

Perspectives on Tacoma School Desegregation: From Wallflower to Rabble Rouser

Oral history interview with Laurie Arnold by TeyAnjulee Leon conducted on 04/25/2017. The child of left leaning social activists, Laurie Arnold grew up during a time of great change in the country and the Tacoma community. The same year Laurie started first grade, McCarver Elementary in Tacoma became the first magnet school in the country and began the desegregation process of Tacoma Public Schools. Though Laurie only attended through fifth grade, her experiences there lasted a lifetime. Throughout her educational journey, Laurie attended many schools, and the one that remained clearest in her memory was McCarver. One of her fondest memories was Friday Activities, and she could still recall the teachers she had as well which teams she belonged to. Laurie lived in Hilltop most of her childhood and only spent about seven or eight years away before returning home to Tacoma for good. In that time, she lived and attended schools in Seattle until age fourteen. Roughly a month into her ninth grade year, Laurie dropped out of school and moved to Florida until age seventeen. Upon her return, Laurie completed her GED, Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees all in the South Puget Sound region. She taught at the Tacoma Urban League for many years before she found her way to Bates Technical College where she currently works. Laurie continues to serve the Tacoma community and is a proud Hilltop native.

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