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 26: O.A. Stevens

Interviewed by John Davenport, March 25, 1976

O.A. Stevens was a professor of botany at North Dakota State University in Fargo. He wrote articles for North Dakota History on Native Americans in North Dakota and what types of plants they used.

Stevens said Eliot Cownes did some of the earliest cataloging of plants and animals. Cownes was an ornithologist and doctor who traveled with the army exploration of the 49th parallel around 1843. Stevens reported that the early settlers in North Dakota did not rely heavily on native foods, because they were accustomed to other things.

Stevens said changes in local bird populations reflect changes in the environment;, planting fruit trees in farmyards, for example, attracts robins and orioles to the prairies, an area where they would not normally live.

He also commented on Garrison Diversion, deforestation, and coal development.

Topics discussed date from the 1800s to the 1970s.

Interview: Audio Cassette Tape 768 and 769

Transcript: OGLMC 1213, Box 2, Folder 5 (12 pages)

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids