Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Deborah Ranniger conducted by dindria barrow on September 20, 2022. In this interview, Deborah tells us how the landscape of Tacoma with its evergreen color and specifically the sight of Mount Rainier made her decide to live here at 10 years old. Deborah tells her family’s story of fleeing from Eastern and Western Europe to escape persecution. Deborah shares her journey from Seattle and Kent to Tacoma based on the burgeoning art scene. Deborah has recently published a memoir about her father and his influence on her life called, “Against the Current: A Conscientious Objector During World War II and the Daughter He Inspired.”

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Chace Hunter conducted by dindria barrow on August 25, 2022. In this interview, Chace talks about his family immigrating to Hilltop, Tacoma in 1993, then moving to South Tacoma in 1998, graduating from Western Washington University as well as University of Washington-Tacoma and then buying a home in Hilltop as an adult. Chace’s family fled Cambodia to escape the Khmer Rouge and were refugees in Thailand before coming to Tacoma. He is bilingual and has been married to his husband for six years. Chace has a passion for poetry, psychology, non-profits and nursing. Chace fell in love with his HIV Prevention work and is now the executive director of the AIDS Housing Association of Tacoma (AHAT Homecare). AHAT Homecare provides 24-hour home care, affordable housing/case management, and rental vouchers to the local HIV+ community. To paraphrase Chace: “I love giving back to the community, especially during a time of houselessness, and helping to provide homes to people in need.”

Oral history interview of Susan Robbins Kimbel conducted by dindria barrow on January 21, 2023, as part of the Archiving North End Communities event located at the Wheelock library branch.

Oral history interview of Price Darleen conducted on February 25th, 2023, as part of the Archiving South Tacoma Communities event located at the South Tacoma Branch

Oral history interview of Ronald D. Morrison conducted by dindria barrow on April 8th, 2023, as part of the Archiving Northeast Communities event located at the Mottet library branch.

Oral history interview of Edwin Valbert conducted by dindria barrow on April 8th, 2023, as part of the Archiving Northeast Communities event located at the Mottet library branch.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Janice Kampbell conducted by dindria barrow on August 25, 2022. In this interview, Janice tells the story of how her parents met each other after World War II in rural Michigan on a blind date. Farming and the military were a part of her parents’ lives and Janice grew up a child of a military pilot and a nurse. Her family moved to a variety of locations in the United States. Janice became a nurse like her mother and retired after 43 years. Janice is a Pierce County Master Gardener and shares her first encounter with planting seeds into frozen dirt with a spoon. Janice concludes her oral history by sharing the history of the Tacoma Urban Land Trust (2010) also previously known as the Guadalupe Land Trust located on Hilltop, Tacoma. The Tacoma Urban Land Trust's website is https://www.tult.org

Oral history interview with previous Tacoma resident Larry Duncan conducted by dindria barrow on November 29, 2022. In this interview, Larry shares his experience in one of Tacoma’s East Side neighborhoods, Salishan. Larry illustrates how his racial identity has been a mystery and how he has tried to piece it together like a complex puzzle. An intriguing person that appeared in his life twice showed up first as a person who made kites. Could this be a person who is somehow related to his birth parents? As he continues to learn about himself, Larry's dream is to be the best dad and husband possible for his family.

Oral history interview of Gene Ankli conducted by dindria barrow on January 21, 2023, as part of the Archiving North End Communities event located at the Wheelock library branch.

Oral history interview of Bethany Du Toit conducted by dindria barrow on January 21, 2023, as part of the Archiving North End Communities event located at the Wheelock library branch.

Oral history interview of Michael Lafrenier conducted by dindria barrow on January 21, 2023, as part of the Archiving North End Communities event located at the Wheelock library branch.

Oral history interview of Elton Gatewood conducted by dindria barrow on January 21, 2023, as part of the Archiving North End Communities event located at the Wheelock library branch.

Oral history interview of Ben Brooks conducted on February 25th, 2023, as part of the Archiving South Tacoma Communities event located at the South Tacoma Branch

Oral history interview of Aaron conducted by dindria barrow on March 25, 2023, as part of the Archiving Northeast Communities event located at the Kobetich library branch.

The following description is provided by Aaron

When taken: Workshops in 2023

Where taken: Puyallup

Who is in the photograph?
N/A

What memory is contained in this photo?
Pierce County Conservation Organized Community class.

Oral history interview of Ezell Maurene Vernam conducted by dindria barrow on March 25, 2023, as part of the Archiving Northeast Communities event located at the Kobetich library branch.

Oral history interview of Alfredo Montoya conducted by dindria barrow on April 8th, 2023, as part of the Archiving Northeast Communities event located at the Mottet library branch.

Oral history interview of Cathy Oden conducted by dindria barrow on April 8th, 2023, as part of the Archiving Northeast Communities event located at the Mottet library branch.

Oral history interview of Gail I. Rocheleau conducted by dindria barrow on April 8th, 2023, as part of the Archiving Northeast Communities event located at the Mottet library branch.

Note included with interview:
Tiffani and Pete Reyes attended the Hilltop Story Fest and came in on a later date to record their oral history.

Hilltop Library Planning Committee includes: front row, Bil Moss and Billie Johnstone; back row, Ellen Smith, Al Nurse and Linda Oliver. This group oral history interview was taken by dindria barrow on behalf of the Community Archives Center of the Tacoma Public Library at the Red Elm Cafe on October 13, 2022.