Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990

Oral History Interviews Collection

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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

This collection contains oral history interviews recorded on audio cassettes, as well as transcripts of most of the interviews. The interviews were conducted from 1974 to 1990, mostly by members of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

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 7: Leroy Goodwater and Hilda Goodwater

Interviewed by Edward Oetting, March 16, 1978

Leroy Goodwater was born in Grand Forks in 1896. He spoke about life in Grand Forks in the early 1900s, including the streetcars that went out to the university, East Grand Forks' reputation as a drinking town, and various downtown businesses. He started his first job around 1915, working in the dry goods department of the R.B. Griffith store.

Goodwater served in the National Guard on the Mexican border in 1916 and then served in World War I, sailing for Europe in 1917. He spent nineteen months in France. During World War II, he trained troops at Crowder, Missouri. Goodwater worked 37 years in the Grand Forks Post Office Department. His steady employment there meant the Depression did not affect him greatly.

He retired from the Post Office in 1956, and then worked at the exchange at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, which was established around 1958. Later he worked for UND, handling government property in the armory.

Most of the events discussed date from 1910 through the 1950s.

Interview: Audio Cassette Tape 785 and 786

Transcript: OGLMC 1213, Box 1, Folder 5 (32 pages)

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids