ORAL HISTORY

The Dunn County Historical Society’s Oral History Project now spans over 20 years, with the majority of interviews being done since 2005.  There are currently over 100 in the collection; many are now in book form and are available to read in the museum’s library or may be purchased (see below for details).  The primary focus of the project is to gather the memories of as many people aged 65 and over with a direct connection to Dunn County.  You do not have to be a current area resident, as interviews can easily be done over the phone.  You don’t have to have lived here a long time – memories from your childhood and attending school in the county are valuable, as well as finding out where folks went after they left here and why.  We deeply thank all who have shared their stories over the years.  We are one of the few historical societies in the state that have a program like this. 

Changes have arrived…
           …we have purchased two digital recorders and additional transcription equipment and software.  Folks can record their own family history here at the museum or by signing out a recorder.  We have suggested life history questions to get you started, or just have an informal conversation with your relative about their memories of life in Dunn County is also valuable.  The recording can be as long or as short as you’d like.  Recorded stories will be archived at the museum, and a digital copy will be available to the people who participate.   We are also setting up “Scanning Days” at the museum, when people can bring in photos, documents and other family history items to be saved digitally.  You keep the originals; the museum saves a copy – a win-win as more history is be preserved!  Details will be posted here on the website as “Scanning Days” are scheduled, but this can also be arranged by appointment.  Standard interviews will continue to be done, also – please scroll down for info on those. 

Standard Interview Info:
If you, or anyone you know, would like to be interviewed, please contact the current Oral Historian, Deb Lancaster, at 701-260-1650.  She will be happy to go over details of what the interview entails and will schedule a time at your convenience.  A list of questions can be accessed before the appointment if that makes a narrator feel more at ease.  Effort is made to not ask any questions that could be controversial; the focus is on area history, not relationships.  Narrators may decline to answer any question, and the interviewer wants to be sure the narrator feels comfortable and relaxed.  There are no right or wrong answers!   Generally, interviews are conducted in several sessions over a period of weeks or months and are always done at times that fit your needs.  Individuals, couples, siblings, parent / child or other relative groups are welcome.  Although in-person interviews were curtailed by the pandemic, the project continued with folks visiting over telephone, and this is still an option for people out of the area.  Within SW North Dakota, the historian can travel to your residence, including area assisted living facilities and nursing homes. 

What happens after the interview?
Once the interview is completed, the narrator has the option of providing photographs, documents, drawings of brands, newspaper clippings, family trees, etc. to be included. Having these additional visual components adds a great deal to the story. Items can be submitted by email or regular mail, or contactless pickup in the local area. Originals are handled with care and quickly returned to the owner. Transcription is then done, as well as compiling any additional material submitted, with the end result being a book containing the person’s story.

Oral History Books:
Once transcription and compilation are finished, the narrator receives a free copy of the book.  Another copy is added to the collection at the museum, along with the original cassette tapes and / or digital recordings of the actual conversations.  Family members or friends may want to purchase additional copies of the book; those are available for $20 to $40 depending on the length and number of photographs included.  Reprints can be made of any of the interviews conducted over the years.  The books are made in-house, are 8.5″ x 11″ and have a plastic spiral binding and a plastic cover.

Digital Copies of the Actual Interview:
We now have the capability to convert any of the original recorded interviews to CD’s or thumb drives.  This enables family or friends to hear the voice of the person being interviewed, which can mean a great deal, especially if that person has passed away.  Digital copies are $15 and up, depending on the length and the media chosen for duplication.

To Make a Purchase:
All books and digital recordings can be mailed (shipping and handling charges are added) or delivered locally.  Payment is requested before printing or duplicating is done.  Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for delivery.  Please use the contact info in the “Questions” section below to place an order.  

Please Help Us Save Dunn County History
We always welcome donation of family genealogy and history books, photos, documents, and other memorabilia related to residents and events in the county.  We are happy to carefully make copies and return the originals, if that is your preference. 

Questions?  
Please contact Deb Lancaster directly by phone at 701-260-1650 or by email at: oh.dchistoricalsociety@gmail.com for oral history purchases or for any inquiry about the project. 

ORAL HISTORY BOOKS AND DIGITAL RECORDINGS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!

Oral History Books Completed:
Allmendinger, William
Bandle, Margaret (Brandvik)
Bang, Blanche (Johnson)
Bell Siblings: Norene Gunwall, Lelah Ritz, Doris Henderson & Leo Bell
Benson, Edwin
Benz, Reuben
Bergstedt, Lillian (Schaper)
Biffert, Norman James
Brew, Roger and Linda
Brinkman, Curt and Madella (Grevious) (Kruckenberg)
Brown, Winifred (Goth)
Brydl, Raymond & Virginia (Kostelecky)
Buresh, Robert and Margaret (Petryszak)
Burr, Evan Jr. and Joy (Sorenson)
Carlson, Grant
Chase, Lydia (Sage) & Voight, Anna
Cook, Cecil “Bud”
Darcy, Pat and Evelyn (Schield)
Darwin, Ed and Alice (Nodland)
Dinkins, Paul & Beryl (Odren)
Dvirnak, Elmer and Kay (Fannick)
Dvirnak, John and Alice (Fannick)
Dvorak, Martha
Edwards, Thomas James
Fenton, Thelma (Edwards)
Ferebee, Cliff and Marion (Frank)
Fiegel, Frankie Herman
Fischer, William “Buster”
Fisher, Agnes
Fisher, George and Cora (Reum)
Frafford, Solway “Sally”
Fredericks, John “Buzz” and Judy
Frei, Anna (Weidner)
Gehrman Family: Walter “Pete” Gehrman (father) and Emogene (Cusson) Smith (daughter)
Gjermundson, Eva (Carlson)
Gleich, Pius
Grevious, Gerald
Gunwall, John and Julia (Schwindt)
Haag, Casper and Irene
Hansen, Mary (Brandt)
Hartman, Roy
Hauck, Adam and Millie (Doll)
Hauck, Paul and Magdalena
Hauck, Rosella (Nodland)
Haugen, Adeline “Toody”
Hovden, Ellsworth and Philomena
Hovden, Morris
Hutmacher, Alex and Karen
Jepson, Wilbur
Jurgens, Leota (Jacobs Perhus)
Keating, Betty (Pegg) (Jenson)
Kelling, Mamie (Fisher) (Random)
Kisse, Almont Emil
Kisse, Esther
Kittilson, Clair
Klee, Esther (Dahlen)
Klee, Matthew Carl
Kling, Florence (Rowe)
Kling, Harlin and Marie
Knopik, Hubert Charles
Knopik, Martin
Knutson, Bethol (Olson)
Knutson, Reuben and Phyllis (Olson)
Kralicek, Tony and Bertha “Beth” (Ficek)
Kukla, Walter and Ardis (Kittilson)
Larsen, Sydney (Bailey)
Leintz, Christine
Loffelbein, Fred and Helen (Fisher)
Lutrell, Eva (Madsen)
Lynch, Kathryn (Dvirnak)
Mann, Ewald & Olga (Rehling)
Martin, Dorothy (Peterson)
McConnell, Kathryn (Martian)
McMahen, Helen (Knutson)
Meduna, Jerry and Frances (Knopik)
Meier, Josephine (Abfalder) (Keller)
Mittelstadt, Beverly (Hartman)
Mittelstedt, Emma Rose (Kind) (Weisenberger)
Mjolhus, Irene (Fandrick)
Moen Sisters: Anna Marie (Moen) Dahlen and Ruth (Moen) Antonson
Murphy, Ethel (Dehlinger) (Knutson)
Myran, Henry Thomas
Neal, Betty (Twist)
Newton, Evelyn (Sweetman)
Nodland, George and Kayleen (Bang)
Nodland, Randolph and Ileene (Kopp)
Nordahl, Ann (Gregory)
Nordsven, Elmer
O’Neil, Owen
Paulson, Edna (Kolstad)
Paulson, Ingvald “Inky” and Clara (Gjermundson)
Pelton, Aagot (Vetleson)
Pelton, Dorotha “Dot”
Regeth, Henry
Roll, Allen and Ione
Rohde, Clarence and Ida
Sand, Robert and Edna (Nupen)
Sandvik, Thorris and Lynell
Schaper, Sig and Luella ( Wolf)
Schepper, Dan
Schettler, Delbert and Kay
Schmidt, George and Joy (Sjkefte)
Schmidt, Guenther
Schmitz, Harvey William “Pickles”
Schollmeyer Brothers: Alfred and Joe
Schollmeyer, Angeletta “Angie” (Pitzer)
Schumacher, Tony and Claudia
Schweitzer, Amelia “Emily”
Schweitzer, Joe
Seidel, Lorriane (Traxel)
Selle, Betty (Thomas)
Severson, Roy
Sitter, Fred
Smith, Emogene – see Gehrman
Spelvoy, Gladys
Steffen, Elsie (Mohl)
Steffen, Louis Henry
Stetson, Theola (Benzie)
Stohler, Oscar and Lorraine
Swenson, Alton
Sword, Martha (Krieger)
Synnes, Marvin
Thompson, Rodney and Adeline (McConnell)
Transtrom, Edna (Rasch)
Twist, David
Tysver, Melvin
Vaagen, Anne (Roberts)
Vaagen, Marlys (Pletan)
Voigt, Andrew and Mary (Loraas)
Voigt, Dawne (Dahlen)
Voight, Anna – see Chase
Walth, David
Watkins, David
Weigum, Sharon (Force)
Wetsch, Florence Mae (Edwards)
Wetsch, Tony and Mavis “Mickey”

There are approximately 20 more in various stages of completion.  Names will be added when the transcripts are ready.

There are also many submitted family histories / genealogies and short histories done by various volunteers available to read in our library.