TDH is a member of 2012 and has spent most of his career giving a voice to justice through hip hop. He often uses elements of his own story to inspire others.

Leonard Svedberg (John L.A.) talks about early life in Finland, travel to United States, work in Tacoma, Lodge work in Scandanavian Community, impressions of Tacoma. (Interview No. 1, Tape No. 1)

Herman Hunt and Al Harris discussion continues with comparisons of engines in the area. (Interview No. 8, Tape No. 2)

Martin Sampson discusses family life, early schooling and later life. (Interview No. 9, Tape No. 1)

Louis Mazzuca talks about life of family, early work on the railroad, life of Italians in Tacoma. (Interview No. 10, Tape No. 1)

Robert Paine describes equipment used, trolley routes, cable cars in Tacoma. (Interview No. 14, Tape No. 1)

Bob Paine continues giving information on trolley lines in Tacoma and vicinity. (Interview No. 14, Tape No. 2)

Herman Hunt discusses impressions of jail, work done on the job, police court, men in police department, changes in department. (Interview No. 19, Tape No. 1)

Frank Jankowiak discusses employment, Great Depression years, and life in Tacoma. (Interview No. 26, Tape No. 1)

Mildred Wehmhoff talks early family life in Tacoma, school, church, special events (i.e. the opening of Stadium Bowl), flu pandemic of 1918. (Interview No. 36, Tape No. 1)

John Krillich talks family background, Ruston Yugoslavs, changes in community, social life. (Interview No. 50, Tape No. 1)

Child's party

Murray Morgan reading the news. Topics include a fire station building on South 9th and A Streets and the firing of Dr. Robert C. Lee by the University of Puget Sound after Lee urged an end to the bombing of North Vietnam.

Side 2: Oct. 8, 1968 meeting

Radio broadcast of the Tacoma City Council meeting, headed by mayor A.L. Rasmussen, from Oct. 8, 1968. Hot topic and big argument of the night was the mayor feeling the council had been misinformed that $23,000 spent for a “Black culture program” would be spent for park playground leaders.

Human Relations Committee and the Open Housing Review Board member John Epps and mayor Rasmussen discuss race, Black culture and the historical effects of white America vs. Black America.

Chinook Jargon songs sung:

• “Jesus Loves Me”

• “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” (could be different song with same melody since a verse mentions "Steilacoom")

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Folk songs sung with guitar:

• “I'm Never Going to Cease My Wandering”
• “The Old Settler (Acres of Clams)” – Pacific Northwest song
• “The Housewife’s Lament”
• “The Frozen Logger” – Pacific Northwest song
• “Stupid’s Song”
• “Portland County Jail” – Pacific Northwest song
• "My Sweetheart's the Mule in the Mines"
• “The Moonshiner”
• “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye”
• “The Sow Took the Measles”
• "Good Old Bowling Green"
• “Sugar Hill”

Note: Former tape splicing broke and was repaired during this section 3 times. Digital editing was used to create a single track as originally intended.

Full-track mono, 7.5 ips
Woman/girl playing guitar and singing various folk songs:
1963 French song “Dominique”
“Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore”
Instrumental

Full-track mono, 3.75 ips

Murray Morgan uses his typewriter while listening to local radio news on KMO (recording likely in December 1965 based on news items and Christmas music being played).
Some topics on the news program

• Eddie Ray Lincoln being shot/killed by police.
• A missing student pilot out of Spokane that was en route to Moses Lake
• Electrical Workers Union strike
• English professor George Bluestone leaving the University of Washington for Hollywood.
• Qantas orders Boeing 747 jetliners.
• Coast Guard searches Chinese ship in Tacoma after caller says there was a bomb aboard. The explosive was never found.

Murray Morgan talks about his work room

Murray Morgan discusses the news business with another radio/newspaper journalist.

• The use of recorders or not when interviewing people.
• Discussion of the news’ coverage of local political races.
• Talk of the building of Boat Haven for fishing boats (now possibly the Hylebos Boat Haven).

Cuts to live broadcast of hydroplane racing.

Interview with Korean War veteran/author about his series on General William F. Dean.

Morgan’s humorous spoof of the national 15-minute radio drama program “Just Plain Bill”.

“The story of a man who fought with a gavel instead of a gun. The first, fearless, fighting frontier judge.” Set in Seattle/Tacoma in the 1890s.

“The Case of Tacoma Assistant Mayor Jim Redcap vs. We Don’t Know Who”

Morgan news broadcast about Pacific Coast League/Tacoma Giants; racism in University of Puget Sound fraternities

Oral history interview of Juanita Olivas, an unhoused neighbor living in Tacoma, conducted by dindria barrow on April 9, 2022. Juanita shares how she became homeless, how her faith has carried her through life, and why she does volunteer work. Juanita is 60 years young and plans on completing high school so that she can get a job as a medical insurance billing and coder. Juanita dreams of being “somebody that can help out with the community, always. I would love to have a really big apartment building that I could just take in all the homeless…just pour my heart out to ‘em, because people out there, you never know their story until you actually talk to them and I’ve met a lot of people that is so talented out there and so educated, but their story just breaks my heart.”

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Bernice Morehead conducted by dindria barrow on August 16, 2022. In this interview, Bernice tells us that she was a born into a family of sharecroppers who descended from slaves forcibly brought to Mississippi. Bernice lived on a farm until she was 16 years of age who spoke the language of animals until she moved to Iowa and worked with her mother as a Domestic Engineer. Bernice describes how she enjoys a challenge such as running four marathons, learning to swim at 50 years of age, finishing a triathlon, driving from Iowa to Washington state with two children and a grandchild, then earning two college degrees. She has worked for the state, run her own business, been a substitute teacher, is a certified Life Coach and is now helping others at the Bethlehem Baptist Church Shelter. Bernice reminds us to dream of new challenges and to take pride in whatever you do.

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.”