Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990
Collection Overview
Title: Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990
ID: OGLMC1213
Extent: 1.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 00/00/1990
Subjects: Civil Rights, Great Depression, Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL), University of North Dakota - Administration, University of North Dakota - Camp Depression
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Subject/Index Terms
Civil Rights
Great Depression
Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL)
University of North Dakota - Administration
University of North Dakota - Camp Depression
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Method: Donation; 90-1723
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Oral History Interviews Collection. OGLMC 1213, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in October 2015.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Item:
[Item 1: Camp Depression - Paul Benson and Raymond Rund],
[Item 2: Camp Depression - John Holodick, Ray Ness, and Ken Gulmon],
[Item 3: Camp Depression - Algot Johnson],
[Item 4: Camp Depression - Mel Johnson],
[Item 5: Camp Depression Interview - Ralph Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, O.A. Hove, Walt Styer, and Franklin Vecon],
[Item 6: Agnes Geelan],
[Item 7: Leroy Goodwater and Hilda Goodwater],
[Item 8: Harold Groth and Grace Groth],
[Item 9: UND History Department Faculty - John Parker, Elwyn B. Robinson, Robert Wilkins, and Louis Geiger],
[Item 10: Elsie Brown],
[Item 11: Marian Meyers],
[Item 12: Frank Kelly],
[Item 13: Merle Kidder],
[Item 14: William Koenker],
[Item 15: William Koenker],
[Item 16: Soren Kolstoe],
[Item 17: Charles Libby and Margaret Libby Barr],
[Item 18: Henry Martinson],
[Item 19: Henry Martinson],
[Item 20: S.W. Melzer],
[Item 21: Ken Porter],
[Item 22: Benjamin Ring],
[Item 23: Elwyn and Eva Robinson],
[Item 24: Clarence Sande],
[Item 25: Gerald Skogley],
[Item 26: O.A. Stevens],
[Item 27: Robert Wilkins],
[Item 28: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[Item 29: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[All]
- Item 6: Agnes Geelan
Interviewed by John Davenport, 1975. 12 pages.
Agnes Geelan was the mayor of Enderlin, North Dakota, from 1946 to 1954, served as a North Dakota state senator from 1951 to 1954, and was a member of the 1971-1972 Constitutional Convention. She attended Mayville State Teachers' College, partly because most of the women she knew went there, and partly because that was what her family could afford.
After graduation, she taught in various schools in North Dakota, finally settling in Enderlin. Geelan first became active in local politics in the early 1930s. Her husband was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Workers Insurance Organization, and she was in the auxiliary. Enderlin was a pro-labor town in the 1930s and 1940s, because it was a railroad town. Railroad people could carry the vote on any issue.
Geelan quit teaching in 1935, when she became state president of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was elected to the Enderlin School Board in 1945 and served one term. She saw a lot of sexual discrimination in debates over teachers' salaries, and her frustration over this kept her from running for reelection.
Geelan also discussed being on the high school debate team with Carl Ben Eielson, the North Dakota native who piloted a plane over the North Pole in 1928.
Most events discussed in the interview date from the 1910 to the 1940s.
Interview: Audio Cassette Tape 852
Transcript: OGLMC 1213, Box 1, Folder 4 (12 pages)
Browse by Item:
[Item 1: Camp Depression - Paul Benson and Raymond Rund],
[Item 2: Camp Depression - John Holodick, Ray Ness, and Ken Gulmon],
[Item 3: Camp Depression - Algot Johnson],
[Item 4: Camp Depression - Mel Johnson],
[Item 5: Camp Depression Interview - Ralph Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, O.A. Hove, Walt Styer, and Franklin Vecon],
[Item 6: Agnes Geelan],
[Item 7: Leroy Goodwater and Hilda Goodwater],
[Item 8: Harold Groth and Grace Groth],
[Item 9: UND History Department Faculty - John Parker, Elwyn B. Robinson, Robert Wilkins, and Louis Geiger],
[Item 10: Elsie Brown],
[Item 11: Marian Meyers],
[Item 12: Frank Kelly],
[Item 13: Merle Kidder],
[Item 14: William Koenker],
[Item 15: William Koenker],
[Item 16: Soren Kolstoe],
[Item 17: Charles Libby and Margaret Libby Barr],
[Item 18: Henry Martinson],
[Item 19: Henry Martinson],
[Item 20: S.W. Melzer],
[Item 21: Ken Porter],
[Item 22: Benjamin Ring],
[Item 23: Elwyn and Eva Robinson],
[Item 24: Clarence Sande],
[Item 25: Gerald Skogley],
[Item 26: O.A. Stevens],
[Item 27: Robert Wilkins],
[Item 28: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[Item 29: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[All]