Collection Timeline

Browse the collection by the year that the oral history was recorded.

1991 to 2020

1991
The interview recounts Thomas Shoji Takemura's early childhood and family life on a truck gardening farm in Fife, Washington before the start of the Second World War, as well as their forced evacuation to the Assembly Center in Puyallup, Washington. Takemura's experience of camp life is recalled in some detail. During this time, neighbors agreed to take care of the family's property. Takemura eventually obtained a release to work at a U & I factory processing sugar beets in Chinook, Montana, where he met his future wife. He also discusses his involvement in the national redress movement and related lecturing at local area schools.
The interview discusses Eudoro Estrada's life in Mexico, his struggles when he first arrived in the United States, and his efforts to start and maintain what became a successful reforestation business. Estrada also describes his family life and briefly touches upon the discrimination he encountered as a Mexican American businessman in Washington State.
Italians in Hilltop
The Changing Peoples of Hilltop
The interview recounts Joseph Kosai's personal experiences as a Japanese American citizen forced to evacuate his Tacoma, Washington residence on May 18, 1942 in response to the issuing of Executive Order 9066. Joseph, who was eight at the time, was transported with family members, first, to an assembly center in Pinedale, California, then to Tule Lake, where Kosai's extended family was dispersed and sent to different camps. Joseph, his mother, and younger sister were sent to the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho, where they would remain until May 17, 1945. In the interview, Kosai recalls his impressions of life in the internment camp. He also describes his readjustment after being released from Minidoka, as well as the impact of discrimination upon his subsequent educational and career opportunities. He also discusses his involvement in the national redress movement and other civil rights issues.
The joint interview with married couple, Nick and Rose Tarabochia, covers their family life and early struggles to earn a living and raise a family during the Depression. Among the topics discussed by Nick Tarabochia are: his childhood in Brookville, Washington, the life of a fisherman in the Pacific Northwest (including a consideration of purse seine fishing versus gill netting), and Native American fishing rights. Subjects covered by Rose Tarabochia include: her upbringing, her self-reliance as a fisherman's wife, and her real estate acumen.
A Brief Study of Land Use by Indian and Pioneer Communities on the Key Peninsula
Luke Joinette, former Executive Board member and secretary-treasurer for the Tacoma chapter of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International League, discusses his work with the Local 61 labor union. Recounting the events surrounding the unions 1969 strike, Joinette reflects on the confrontations between picketers and employers and between the local chapter and its national affiliate. He concludes with some thoughts on the current state of the Local 8, the newest incarnation of the Local 61, and on the unions sharp decline in membership since the 1970s.
The Tacoma Rescue Mission: Hope for the Homeless

1992
The collection contains a lengthy interview with Milton P. Andrews Jr., in which he discusses his experiences growing up as the son of a fundamental (Free Methodist Church) preacher in Missouri, his education, religious training, and his own spiritual and philosophical shift to a more progressive brand of religion and into activism for social justice. Andrews details his controversial tenure as the leader of several churches in Ohio, New York and Washington State, including Epworth Lesourd Methodist Church in Tacoma, where his stance against the Vietnam War led to his forced resignation in 1970. The interview only briefly touches on Andrews's involvement with the Hillside Community Church.
Tacoma Judaism: One Hundred Years
Will James Conner talks about his fifty years in the theater management business and shares some of the history of the Temple Theatre, which he ran from 1932 to 1975. Reflecting back on hundreds of stage shows, music productions, and motion pictures, Conner provides some insight into the changing face of entertainment and entertainment technology before, during, and after World War II. In addition to the Temple, Conner also managed a number of other Tacoma theaters, including the Blue Mouse, the Music Box, the Rialto, and the Roxy (now the Pantages), and he touches upon each of these during this lengthy, in-depth interview.
Community members and church leaders reflect on the history and legacy of St. Leo Church, a Jesuit parish located in Tacomas Hilltop neighborhood. Long-time parishioners Patricia Ditter and Barbara Thomashofski and former parishioner Doris Barkley discuss the churchs growing pains in the wake of Vatican II and the subsequent emergence of its social justice ministry. Reverend David Alger, director of Associated Ministries, describes some of St. Leos numerous out-reach programs and shares his thoughts on its position as a spiritual anchor within the community. Lastly, Father Bill Bichsel, a former associate pastor at St. Leos and a well-known social activist, discusses his commitment to social justice and his involvement with several church-related projects, such as the Martin Luther King Center.
The History of Council 28: The Washington Federation of State Employees
The interviews with both Curtis Dungey and Chuck O'Donahue discuss their association with the Tacoma Smelter and ASARCO. O'Donahue, who worked at the plant for over twenty years (1963-1985), also was active as a union leader for Local 25. Dungey was the senior environmental scientist for ASARCO who oversaw the closure of the plant.
Leonard Holden, founder of the Tacoma Friends Meeting, and Julius Jahn, a long-time member of the Religious Society of Friends, talk about the history of the Quakers and reflect on the personal experiences and revelations that inspired them to become pacifists and Conscientious Objectors. Holden shares his efforts in establishing a permanent Quaker meeting place in the Tacoma area, and Jahn describes his experiences with various Quaker groups and sects throughout the United States. Both men expound on the various services and humanitarian projects that the Tacoma Friends Meeting has been involved in, from draft counseling services to collaborative efforts with other churches to rehabilitate low-income housing.
This project includes interviews with the then minister of Tacoma Buddhist Temple, Reverend Kosho Yukawa, and Mrs. Yaeko Nakano, a longtime member of Tacoma Buddhist Temple and its principal organist. Yukawa describes Buddhist religious practices, the activities of the Temple and its various organizations, his family, and Sunya Pratt. Nakano discusses her family life growing up as a Japanese American in Tacoma, Washington during the Depression, her education, internment experiences during the Second World War, her training and work as a musician, and her involvement with the Tacoma Buddhist Temple in many capacities.

1993
The Community of Day Island
Community leader Helen Stafford shares her life story, describing her childhood in Kansas and her experiences as a young African-American woman in Depression-era Tacoma. Reflecting back on over sixty years of civic involvement, Stafford comments on her work with the Matron's Club, the NAACP, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and the Washington Public Employees Association labor union. She also provides numerous insights into the changing face of Tacoma after World War II.
Harold Moss reflects on his forty years of social activism in the Tacoma community and shares stories about the citys gradual shift toward racial integration and equality during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. He also discusses his childhood in Detroit, his early campaigns for public office, and his eventual appointment to the city council in 1970, earning him the distinction of being the first African-American to hold a public office in Pierce County. An addendum includes quotations from Mosss inaugural speech after being appointed Mayor of Tacoma in 1994, the first African-American to serve in that capacity.
Tacomas Nihon Go Gakko, Japanese Language School
Two longtime members of the Kitsap County YWCA share the history of their organization, tracing its evolution from a wartime social club to a community outreach task force. The Lillian Walker interview focuses on the organizations early years, as well as Walkers civil rights activities. The Carolyn Hershberger interview covers the establishment of the ALIVE (Alternatives to Living In a Violent Environment) program and its merger with the Kitsap YWCA in the late 1970s.
Four female veterans reflect on their military careers and share their connections to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at American Lake. Ruth Nordstrom, a long-time volunteer at American Lake, describes her time as an office clerk for WAAC (Womens Army Corp) during World War II and for WAF (Women in the Air Force) during the Korean War. Anne Gregory, a psychiatric nurse, talks about her experiences in Vietnam as a member of the Army Nurse Corps. Linda Wilhelm, a resident of the domiciliary, discusses her service time in the US Navy during the Vietnam era and describes some of the difficulties she faced as a gay woman in the military. Ren Wilson, a former domiciliary resident, recounts the high and low points of her Army career and talks about the social barriers she encountered as an African-American female officer. All interviewees comment on how the VA can better serve female veterans.
Ottilie Markholt talks about her involvement with various Pierce County labor unions, including the Metal Trades Council and the Office Employees Union, and shares some historical perspective on the Tacoma labor movement. A noted author and historian, Markholt also describes her efforts in chronicling the histories of individual union chapters and their national affiliates and provides commentary on a series of photographs showcasing union activities during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
Squaxin Island Lives

1994
Michael Royce discusses his time as a civil rights activist in the South and shares his thoughts on college life during the tumultuous 1960s. Drafted into the army following his graduation from college in 1968, Royce reflects on his military experience at Fort Lewis and talks about his involvement with the Lewis-McChord Free Press, an underground anti-war newspaper.
The Safe Streets Campaign: Tacoma and Pierce County Respond to Youth Violence
An Honorable Man
Sisters and lifelong Tacoma residents Louise Turner and Bernice Canada share their family history and reflect on how the city's racial attitudes have changed during their lifetimes. They describe their experiences as African Americans growing up in turn-of-the-century Tacoma and comment on the rise of segregation during and after the World Wars. Turner and Canada also touch on their work as Eucharistic ministers. The interview concludes with their thoughts on the importance of family values.
A Tradition of Excellence: The Sonntags and Public Service
A concrete look at our community
Joseph and Katy Schibig and Joseph Marty describe their experiences as Swiss immigrants to Tacoma and reflect on the legacy of the citys close-knit Swiss community. Areas of focus include the Tacoma Swiss Society and the Swiss Hall and Tavern, which Marty managed from 1952 to 1963.
Sister Mary Cabrini Rohr (Frances Rohr, 1910-1997) discusses her decade-spanning nursing and teaching career, including her time as director of the School of Nursing at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. Special focus is given to the schools 1954 changeover from a three-year professional program to a one-year practical program, a transition that Sister Cabrini personally oversaw.

1995
Washington State Senator Rosa Franklin talks about her nursing career and her political involvement at the local and state levels. She touches on her work with the Hilltop Children's Clinic and other outreach healthcare programs and addresses issues relating to health care reform and the nursing profession. Throughout both interviews, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy communities and encouraging citizens to take a more active role in the political process.
Longshore Workers in Tacoma

1998
Robert Richard Kraemer Jr, Betty Dahl Kraemer, and Renee Kraemer-Rhoads present their family history and share stories about the several generations of Kraemers, Jaegers, and Kitchens who have lived in the Tacoma area. Particular focus is given to Nelda Jaeger-Kraemer, one of the first women to graduate from the University of Washington Law School.
Washington State Senators Shirley Winsley and Lorraine Wojahn discuss their decade-spanning political careers and comment on trends and shifts in American politics.
The History of Murray and Rosa Morgan
Puyallup Tribal Elder Lena Landry and Puyallup Tribal Historian Judy Wright discuss the plight of Pacific Northwest Native Americans during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and reflect on the life of Peter Stanup, a Puyallup tribal leader and activist whose 1893 death remains a source of enduring controversy. Charles Thomas, Peter Stanup's great-grandson, also shares his family's quest to uncover their history and their discovery of their connection to Stanup.

2007
Lyle Quasim discusses civil rights issues in America and shares his history of social activism. Areas of focus include his time in the Air Force and his work with Shelter Half, an underground anti-war organization run by GIs. He also touches on his work with the Safe Streets Campaign and other local civic programs.
Dale Standley discusses his U.S. Naval career and describes life aboard the USS Hatfield, a destroyer that patrolled the North American west coast during World War II.
The Drug War and Civil Rights
Discrimination is the Bosses Tool: Tacoma Longshore Unions and African Americans
Wilmott Ragsdale presents his life story and gives an overview of his decade-spanning journalism and teaching careers. Notable highlights from this lengthy collection of interviews include: Ragsdale's childhood in Tacoma's early Proctor District; his time as a war correspondent in England during World War II; his opposition to the Canwell Committee and subsequent involvement with the academic freedom movement; and his travels to South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
La-Sy-El: Daughter of Swinomish
Jenaro Castaeda, a former migrant worker, describes life growing up in a post-World War II farm labor camp and comments on the social barriers he has faced as a Mexican-American. He also touches on his work with the Washington State Office of Minority and Womens Business Enterprises and expresses his hopes for greater recognition and understanding of Washingtons minority communities.

2008
Puyallup tribal elder Lorraine Joseph shares the history of the Indian Shaker Church and discusses how faith and prayer have shaped her life.
In this series of interviews, Puyallup Tribal Elder Lena Landry recounts stories from her childhood, focusing in particular on her time at the St. George's and Chemawa Indian Schools and at Cushman Indian Hospital. She also touches on her later work with the Metropolitan Development Council and the Puyallup Tribal Council.

2009
Community leader Bil Moss looks back at six decades of social activism and discusses her involvement in Tacomas civil rights movement. She describes her early work to secure open housing in Tacoma, which arose from her personal struggles to purchase property outside the Hilltop area, and her work with the Tacoma Chapter of the Links on the Sickle Cell Project. Moss touches on a number of her civic and political activities in these three lengthy interviews and shares some insights into the social barriers she has faced as an African-American woman.
Dawn Lucien: Civic Pride and the Ebb and Flow of Tacomas Development
Ramona Bennett: Puyallup Tribal Indian Activist

2011
Highlights from the personal story of Gloria Stancich, longtime civil rights activist and community leader, are discussed and placed in historical context. An active participant in numerous LGBTQ organizations, Stancich describes her path to civic involvement and personal acceptance, which includes a marriage, divorce, and eventual coming out to her son and family.
Serving on the USS Mason: Breaking Racial Barriers in the U.S. Navy
Carrie Little and the Tacoma Community Gardening Movement
Guadalupe House
Adriene Tillman and Shirley Aikin examine the social trends and attitudes that have shaped their experiences as African-American nurses. Particular attention is paid to the interviewees involvement with the Ebony Nurses Association of Tacoma, a local organization that provides professional and personal support to its members. Other topics of discussion include Tillmans union activity with the Washington State Nurses Association, Aikins teaching career at Pacific Lutheran University, and the current strengths and weaknesses of the nursing profession.
Patty Rose gives an overview of her nearly four decades of involvement with the Tacoma labor movement and discusses her current position as secretary-treasurer for the Pierce County Central Labor Council. She describes the PCCLCs role as an umbrella organization and talks about the specific political and educational resources that are gathered on behalf of members. She also comments on some of the pressing issues currently faced by labor unions and American workers in general, including outsourcing, rising healthcare costs, and loss of pension benefits.
In this pair of interviews, Grant and Corinne Larson describe life in the Taylor Bay community of Key Peninsula. Grant Larson, a Taylor Bay native whose grandparents immigrated to the area in 1857, shares stories from his childhood, comments on his early fishing and logging careers, and reflects on how the community has changed since his youth. Corinne Larson describes the rural lifestyle of Taylor Bay in the 1950s and also talks about their time as a husband-and-wife fishing team in Alaska.

2014
JoAnn Tryfon discusses her mother's unbringing in Idaho, father's imigration to the United states and his hat shop in downtown Tacoma. She also discusses her own upbringing, her community involvment and relationship with the Greek Orthodox Church in Tacoma as well as her general experience of being a Greek-American.
Maxine Mimms discusses her educational experiences as well as efforts to develop educational opportunities for the African-American community in the Hilltop area of Tacoma, Washington. Mimms is the founder of the Evergreen State College Tacoma branch as well as the Maxine Mimms Academy, an educational outreach program.
James Walton: From Texas to Tacoma
Father Bill Bischel discusses his life as a Jesuit priest, as well as joining a tradition of radical Catholic non-violent activism. A particular focus is paid to his role in the Disarm Now Plowshares action where he, and four others, broke into the Bangor Trident nuclear submarine base near Bremerton, Washington, to symbolically disarm nuclear weapons stored there.
Robert Elofson discusses his early life being raised outside the Lower Elwa KlallamTribe in foster homes, his college years earning a double bachelors degree in physics and biology at Western Washington University and his involvement in the Western Washington Native American Student Union. This led to him being the first fisheries biologist for the Lower Elwah and his involvement in the Elwha dam removal and restoration of the Elwha river ecosystem. The original sound recording of the interview is not included.
Dorothy Knight recounts her family's journey from Moss Point, Mississippi, to Tacoma, Washington, and compares and contrasts life in the Northwest and the Deep South. The interview focuses in particular on the interplay between region and racism within the United States.
Local musician Brian Skiffington presents a history of the modern hardcore punk movement in Tacoma, Washington. Heavily involved in the punk and hardcore scenes as a drummer and venue-booker, Skiffington discusses notable bands and individuals and touches on the philosophical and political aspects of the punk and hardcore subcultures. He describes his involvement in local venues, including the Lake City Community Center, the Viaduct, and the Frameshop, as well as "punk houses" such as the 1227 House and the Bunny Ranch. The influence of bands such as Greyskull and Left With Nothing are also discussed.

2015
Upholding the Hippocratic Oath: A Story of Medicine in Tacoma and its Fight Against AIDS
Mr. Morris McCollum, "Mr. Mac" as he affectionately known, is one of Tacoma's most respected business and community leaders. He is certainly one of the longest lasting. Shortly after arriving in Tacoma in 1957 Mr. McCollum purchased the K Street Department Store which was located on the corner of 12th and K. He operated the store for several years. At the time the K Street business sector, one of the city's twelve business districts, was second only to downtown Tacoma in terms of business activity. Businesses such as hardware stores, banks, small department stores, appliance dealers, butchers, markets, cleaners, clothing stores, and restaurants lined the streets. In 1960, he moved to 11th and Broadway and opened what to become the quintessential men's store "Mac the Knife," later shortened to "Mr. Mac's." At the time the Tacoma business district was being adversely affected by the building of the Tacoma Mall which would, after its completion, lure many of the surrounding businesses to it. Mr. Mac stayed, however, and became president of the K Street Booster Club, an organization dedicated to promoting the interests of small family owned businesses and the community that surrounded them. In addition to having an active interest in the business community Mr. McCollum also became dedicated to the areas youths and his interests in sports, boxing in particular, lead him to becoming involved with the Tacoma Athletic Commission, eventually becoming its president in 1978. Recognized by the city of Tacoma with the 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. award Mr. McCollum remains a leading figure.
The Burley Community: Preserving the Past
This project focuses on the significance of zoos and local volunteer groups on the promotion and successful implementation of conservation efforts. More specifically, this project focuses on the efforts of Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium as well as the Point Defiance chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers. This project includes an interview with fulltime keeper and Point Defiance AAZK president, Alicia Pike, who assisted in providing significant insight into the last fifteen years of conservation efforts in Tacoma. Ms. Pike has been working in the zoological field and an active member of AAZK for over a decade. She has worked at several zoological facilities in both Washington and Oregon. Furthermore, she has been directly involved in the implementation and success of several conservation efforts, including the red wolf breeding program at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. In the context of the zoo, she assists in the care, breeding, and maintenance of the Sumatran tigers, lowland anoa, small-clawed otters, and clouded leopards as well as the care for other endangered species at the zoo. She has lead and continues to lead many of the keeper talks at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, providing information and facilitating Q&A sessions with the community so as to inspire local participation and promotion of wildlife conservation. As both an active member and president of Point Defiance AAZK, Ms. Pike has helped organize and lead several local conservation efforts that work directly with members of the local Tacoma community. Over the course of our interview, Ms. Pike not only discussed the significance of Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and AAZK as facilitators of conservation, but also discussed at great length the relation between these organizations and Tacoma, describing Tacoma�s general receptiveness to the work of conservation efforts and citizen scientists.
Examining the social, economical, and communal effects of the Puyallup Land Claims Settlement of 1990, this research essay explores these various elements through the assistance of an interview conducted with the current Puyallup Tribal Chairman, Bill Sterud. Sterud was also the Puyallup Tribal Chairman at the time of that the settlement took place, providing a vivid recollection of the Tribal community before and after the settlement and how the settlement changed the course of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians forever. This research essay also explores several of the major issues found within the non-Indian community surrounding the land claims settlement as well.
South Tacoma Then and Now
This project is comprised of an oral interview, recorded and transcribed, with Mr. Jack McQuade, co-owner of The Swiss pub, located at 1904 Jefferson Avenue, Tacoma, WA. The research paper investigates the factors involved when Mr. McQuade started this business during the early 1990's, as well as, examining how this helped revitalize and preserve the south downtown Tacoma setting on the UW Tacoma campus. The Swiss is a first-rate location for inspection due to its existence for over 100 years. Mr. McQuade has been the owner for as long as UW's 46 acre downtown campus has been in existence, his insight provides invaluable perspective on the transition over last 25 years of both the campus and his business in relation to one another.
In 1973 the war in Vietnam had ended for the United States and by 1975 the Vietnam War had effectively ended altogether. Following the end Vietnam War, the life of the South Vietnamese people would be disrupted and the new regime in Vietnam would implement harsh new laws and regulations against the South Vietnamese population to stabilize the new government. The chaos towards the end of the Vietnam War led to the United States to accept large numbers of Vietnamese refugees into the country. Did the United States do enough to help the refugees, or did their concerns go unheard? The purpose of this oral history project is to gain thoughtful information about the perspectives of Vietnamese refugees and their trials and tribulations during their voyage to freedom and once they arrived to America. This oral history project includes personal stories of Nhung Huynh and Thanh Huynh's refugees escaping on boat and their lives while waiting to resettle in America.

2017
Telegrapher for the Northern Pacific Railway in Tacoma
Philip H. Red Eagle was born in 1945 in Tacoma, Washington. His mother, Marian Steilacoom, of Salish decent, was born near Port Angeles, Washington. Philip's father, Philip Red Eagle, a member of the Dakota Tribe, was born near the Missouri River on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. Phillip spent the first fourteen years of his life in Tacoma, attending Stanley and McCarver schools before moving to Sitka, Alaska with his family in 1959. Philip joined the Navy shortly after graduating from high school, serving in Vietnam for five years from 1969-1973. After Vietnam, Philip returned to Washington and began undergraduate studies at the University of Washington where he earned two bachelor's degrees. The return to civilian life after the war affected Philip and he struggled with PTSD and related issues like depression and insomnia. Philip found that art, writing, and taking part in the revival of his culture helped him confront his PTSD and over the last 30 years Philip has contributed greatly to the revival and expansion of Indigenous culture in the Pacific Northwest.
Born in rural, eastern Montana, Bruce Arneklev, 79, can be seen as an unlikely match to have led the Tacoma School District's desegregation program evaluation in the 1970s. Arneklev earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Oregon and his Educational Doctorate in educational psychology at Utah State University before moving out with his family of five for an evaluation role with the Tacoma School District. Arneklev was hired to evaluate the district's Emergency School Aid Act for its first four years, 1973-1977. ESAA was a federal program that funded school desegregation efforts. Tacoma began voluntarily desegregating its schools in 1966 with a limited school choice enrollment for its segregated central-area schools and expanding to district-wide enrollment policies to reduce effects of de facto segregation over the next three years. Arneklev worked for an additional twelve years in the district's evaluation department before working as a school psychologist for ten years, retiring in 2000. He lives in the North End of Tacoma with his wife, Dixie, dog, Charlie and has several children and grandchildren in the Tacoma area.
The child of left leaning social activists, Laurie Arnold grew up during a time of great change in the country and the Tacoma community. The same year Laurie started first grade, McCarver Elementary in Tacoma became the first magnet school in the country and began the desegregation process of Tacoma Public Schools. Though Laurie only attended through fifth grade, her experiences there lasted a lifetime. Throughout her educational journey, Laurie attended many schools, and the one that remained clearest in her memory was McCarver. One of her fondest memories was Friday Activities, and she could still recall the teachers she had as well which teams she belonged to. Laurie lived in Hilltop most of her childhood and only spent about seven or eight years away before returning home to Tacoma for good. In that time, she lived and attended schools in Seattle until age fourteen. Roughly a month into her ninth grade year, Laurie dropped out of school and moved to Florida until age seventeen. Upon her return, Laurie completed her GED, Associate�s, Bachelor�s, and Master�s degrees all in the South Puget Sound region. She taught at the Tacoma Urban League for many years before she found her way to Bates Technical College where she currently works. Laurie continues to serve the Tacoma community and is a proud Hilltop native.
When Races Collide: Willie Stewart and the Voluntary Desegregation of Tacoma Public Schools
Still Fighting after All These Years: A Puyallup Tribal Member's Perspective

2019
In April of 2019, a Pacific Lutheran University Religion 393 class set out to interview members of the Tacoma Buddhist Temple with the purpose to study the acculturation of religion and the ways that the role of religion in the Tacoma community has changed overtime. The class was broken down into three groups of 3-4 students each in order to interview Miyoko Kanda, Donna Sasaki and Crystal Inge, who are all members of the Tacoma Buddhist Temple. Each person was interviewed in order to glean more information about the time period they were most active in and specific questions regarding temple culture. This project was initiated with the intent to preserve the different perspectives of the members mentioned above through oral history as an ongoing project to collect and archive oral histories of relevant members of Tacoma from its foundation to present day.

2020
Covid 19- The resilience of everyday People
Pandemic in Her Baby Sling: The Iranian American Women's Story of Migration Traumas and Labor Hardship During 2020's COVID-19 Pandemic
This project is based off of oral interviews, recorded and transcribed, with Thurston County farmers: Ann Petricola and Joel Baranick of Ellis Creek Farm and Kevin Jensen of Riverbend Ranch. The research essay explores the immediate trends seen in small farms during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring 2020. In a time of great uncertainty and fear, small farms across the US suddenly saw a spike in interest for direct to consumer sales while also facing processing bottlenecks and financial uncertainty. The experiences of Ellis Creek Farm and Riverbend Ranch paint a picture of small farms as safe, flexible, and community oriented sources of food and highlight some of the specific challenges they have faced during this time.