Elijah Muied is a spoken word artist, writer, and producer. He has been featured at many events in Seattle as well as being casted in Slam Town, Voice of the Americas, and Projectiles.

Kellie is a lifelong educator and activist for access and equity. She embraces poetry and spoken word.

Lucas Smiraldo, the 2013-15 Tacoma Poet Laureate, developed and wrote this piece for City Club in response to a presentation by the chief engineers of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The work subsequently was integrated into a spoken word drama of seventeen movements titled "Voice of the Americas". Composer Wrick Wolff created a soundscape behind each piece for the final cd and live theater performance.

Julius Tollefson discusses early life, coming to the U.S. and Tacoma, work in logging camps. (Interview No. 13, Tape No. 1)

Julius Tollefson continues logging talk, mentions large lumber mills, University Place description, Our Saviour Lutheran Church and Good Temples Lodge. (Interview No. 13, Tape No. 2)

Julius Tollefson continues discussion of Good Temples Lodges, Viking and Sons of Norway Lodges. (Interview No. 13, Tape No. 3)

J.A. Paulson partial pre-interview session conversation, work on drug squad post WWI, drug busts. (Interview No. 15, Tape No. 1)

Harold A. Speer talks memories of old railroad, employees, work as a call boy, office work done, WWII, stories of railroading. (Interview No. 17, Tape No. 1)

Fred Stiegler talks early life in McCormick (Wash.), memories of Tacoma (c.1920), strike of 1935, lumber industries in Tacoma, Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.). (Interview No. 29, Tape No. 1)

Fred Muntz discusses family life in Tacoma, German language, church activities, community life. (Interview No. 38, Tape No. 1)

Mary Johnson talks family background, housekeeping, canning, schooling, the farm. (Interview No. 39, Tape No. 1)

Ethel Yost talks family background, butcher shops, businesses on 6th Avenue, entertainments, trolley lines. (Interview No. 49, Tape No. 1)

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Kyle Jolibois conducted by dindria barrow on August 17, 2022. In this interview, Kyle tells us about his birth and how he is connected to the grittiness of Tacoma. To paraphrase him, "Tacomans are fighters and survivalists no matter who is in control of the city." Kyle’s story is about resilience and speaking truth to power. He leads his life with a direct and realistic view about our environment and our social/political issues. Kyle is open about his views, his sobriety goals, and his physical disability. His strength is his voice and his desire to stand up for what is right.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Anita Latch conducted by dindria barrow on August 30, 2022. In this interview, Anita outlines the places she calls home using artwork that her daughter created of locations Anita has lived in. Her grandparents had a farm near Traverse City, Torch Lake, Michigan. She watched trains pass by in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She lived in a ground floor apartment in Nerburgh, New York after living in Wallkill near Woodstock. Anita’s dad drove the family on Interstate 80 in a Super 88 to McChord Air Force Base and Spanaway, Washington. She remembers listening to a transistor radio in the back of the car during the trip. Anita left home at 15 years old and hitchhiked to Grants Pass, Oregon. She went to college in Redlands, California and then learned silversmithing in Jerome, Arizona. Anita also spent time in Tahiti when her daughter was young. She moved around often between her homes. Anita is a traveler, a journalist, a teacher, a political advocate, and an artist with many life stories. She has been a Precinct Committee Officer and has served on the Tacoma Civil Service Board. “Democracy is not a spectator sport!” Anita declares towards the end of her interview, “so, get involved in voting for each election.” Her openness and honesty are palpable in this oral history and there is some strong language and adult content.