Oral history interview with Morris McCollum by Jaynetha Robinson conducted 04/28/2015. Mr. Morris McCollum, "Mr. Mac" as he affectionately known, is one of Tacoma's most respected business and community leaders. He is certainly one of the longest lasting. Shortly after arriving in Tacoma in 1957 Mr. McCollum purchased the K Street Department Store which was located on the corner of 12th and K. He operated the store for several years. At the time the K Street business sector, one of the city's twelve business districts, was second only to downtown Tacoma in terms of business activity. Businesses such as hardware stores, banks, small department stores, appliance dealers, butchers, markets, cleaners, clothing stores, and restaurants lined the streets. In 1960, he moved to 11th and Broadway and opened what to become the quintessential men's store "Mac the Knife," later shortened to "Mr. Mac's." At the time the Tacoma business district was being adversely affected by the building of the Tacoma Mall which would, after its completion, lure many of the surrounding businesses to it. Mr. Mac stayed, however, and became president of the K Street Booster Club, an organization dedicated to promoting the interests of small family owned businesses and the community that surrounded them. In addition to having an active interest in the business community Mr. McCollum also became dedicated to the areas youths and his interests in sports, boxing in particular, lead him to becoming involved with the Tacoma Athletic Commission, eventually becoming its president in 1978. Recognized by the city of Tacoma with the 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. award Mr. McCollum remains a leading figure.

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.

Oral history interview with Patty Rose by Ruan Murphy conducted 05/05/2011. Patty Rose gives an overview of her nearly four decades of involvement with the Tacoma labor movement and discusses her current position as secretary-treasurer for the Pierce County Central Labor Council. She describes the PCCLCs role as an umbrella organization and talks about the specific political and educational resources that are gathered on behalf of members. She also comments on some of the pressing issues currently faced by labor unions and American workers in general, including outsourcing, rising healthcare costs, and loss of pension benefits.

Oral history interview with Bruce Arneklev by Alyssa Urish conducted 05/11/2017,05/21/2017. Born in rural, eastern Montana, Bruce Arneklev, 79, can be seen as an unlikely match to have led the Tacoma School District's desegregation program evaluation in the 1970s. Arneklev earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Oregon and his Educational Doctorate in educational psychology at Utah State University before moving out with his family of five for an evaluation role with the Tacoma School District. Arneklev was hired to evaluate the district's Emergency School Aid Act for its first four years, 1973-1977. ESAA was a federal program that funded school desegregation efforts. Tacoma began voluntarily desegregating its schools in 1966 with a limited school choice enrollment for its segregated central-area schools and expanding to district-wide enrollment policies to reduce effects of de facto segregation over the next three years. Arneklev worked for an additional twelve years in the district's evaluation department before working as a school psychologist for ten years, retiring in 2000. He lives in the North End of Tacoma with his wife, Dixie, dog, Charlie and has several children and grandchildren in the Tacoma area.

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.

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.

Oral history interview with Robert Elofson by Jordan Woolston conducted 05/24/2014. Robert Elofson discusses his early life being raised outside the Lower Elwa KlallamTribe in foster homes, his college years earning a double bachelors degree in physics and biology at Western Washington University and his involvement in the Western Washington Native American Student Union. This led to him being the first fisheries biologist for the Lower Elwah and his involvement in the Elwha dam removal and restoration of the Elwha river ecosystem. The original sound recording of the interview is not included.

Oral history interview with Rosa Franklin by Elizabeth Walter conducted 02/02/1995. Washington State Senator Rosa Franklin talks about her nursing career and her political involvement at the local and state levels. She touches on her work with the Hilltop Children's Clinic and other outreach healthcare programs and addresses issues relating to health care reform and the nursing profession. Throughout both interviews, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy communities and encouraging citizens to take a more active role in the political process.

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.

Oral history interview with Floyd Olson by Eric Rader conducted 05/15/2015. The purpose of this oral history was to interview Floyd Olson in order to capture his perspective and memories as they pertain to the South Tacoma Business District and how it was transformed due to the construction of I-5 and the Tacoma Mall. Mr. Olson is a lifelong South Tacoma resident and has vivid memories of the time both before and after I-5 and the Mall. As of yet the Tacoma Community History Project has no oral history pertaining to South Tacoma; thus it is an aim of this project to resolve that omission. The methodology used was a personal interview with Mr. Olson using pre-conceived, open-ended questions based on prior research. The interview was conducted in such a manner so as to be as respectful to Mr. Olson while at the same time keeping the focus of the interview on the changes and history of South Tacoma. The results of the interview show that indeed prior to I-5 and the Mall the South Tacoma Business District was a thriving, wholesome area that catered to the everyday needs of the surrounding residents. However, the completions of I-5 and the Mall undoubtedly altered the atmosphere of the area; Mr. Olson can attest to these changes. The implications of this oral history are in laying the foundation for future studies on South 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.