Browse Items · Decatur Public Library Local History Photo Collection

Dr. Laren Spear's Oral History

This is the oral history of Dr. Laren Spear. He was interviewed by Betty Turnell in 1978. The interview covers his time as a minister.

Tags: archery, baccalaureate speaker, Betty Turnell, Bloomington IL, Burma, Charles Spear, childhood, christian work, Council of Churches, Dakota Wesleyan University, Decatur High School, Decatur IL, discrimination, District Superintendent, Dr. Laren Spear, English major, Evanston IL, Farmers, First Methodist Church, Garrett Theological School, heart attack, Hospital Chaplain program, Illinois Wesleyan University, interview, Kintner Gym, latin services, Long Creek Church, Lucille Pagel, ministry, Minnesota Methodist, missionary, oral history, pastor, preacher, Preachers' Aid Society, race relations, Ray Spear, recording, Recreation, relationship with Catholics and Black Churches, religious education program, retirement, Rosebud Indian Reservation, Sam Hale, School of Religion, South Dakota, St. Joseph IL, St. Paul's Methodist Church, St. Thomas Catholic School, Summer Institutes, vacation bible school, White River SD

Hugh Baker's Oral History

This is the oral history of Hugh Baker. He was interviewed by Betty Turnell on June 28, 1985. The interview includes his time working for the Mueller Company, and his father's dairy farm.

Tags: 1985, alcoholism committees, automobiles, Betty Turnell, building homes, changes to milking, Chatanooga TN, childhood, City Milk Inspector, civic boards, company town, Construction, Cows, Dairy Farm, Decatur High School, Decatur IL, Decatur Mental Health Center, diptheria, electricity, epidemic, family life, farm, farmhouse, farming, Great Depression, harvest dinners, hired hands, hobbies, Hugh Baker, interview, June 1985, Liberty Bonds, marine engineering, Mary W. French School, mechanical engineering, Milk Delivery, Mueller City, Mueller Company, Mueller family, Mueller IL, Mueller Pottery Plant, naval architecture, oral history, pasteurization, Plant 3, public parks, recording, Recreation, retirement, Roosevelt Junior High School, Salvation Army board, sanitary conditions, South Shores, sterilization, tenant's house, The Mueller Land Improvement Trust, University of Michigan, World War I

Photo of Betty South in uniform

http://omeka.decaturlibrary.org/files/original/c050c30850e421196efac5c982710cef.jpg

Herald and Review Library: South, Betty; Article on back of photo; "Betty South, Four Decatur girls 'have arrived safely in Great Britain' to serve as Red Cross recreation workers with American forces at the front, according to identical telegrams…

Tags: Decatur IL., Great Britain, Recreation, Red Cross, World War II, WWII