True stories of everyday people

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Sherril Lyn Adkins

In the Summer of 1966 Sherril Adkins got a job as a waitress at Catfish King in Birmingham, Alabama. Having grown up on integrated military bases she had not yet experienced the racism of ordinary white folks of the South. When the restaurant would not serve an...

Michael Lee Hall

HIS STORY: One day Michael Hall walked to his local vintage store to buy a jean jacket and while there he found a woman who would say “I do!”. He explains. Heather Irene Hall tells her story about meeting Michael during her Life Stories Project interview.

Ansuyah Naiken

Ansuyah voted for the first time in her life in 1994. She describes the excitement and euphoria of the first democratic election held in South Africa and the rise to power of the African National Congress.

Andrea Angela Davis

After surviving breast cancer and gaining a lot of weight, Andrea Davis set a goal to participate in races every month and lost over 100 lbs. In this commentary after her written account, Angela tells about some of the races she attended and some of the things she has...

Michael O’Brien

Michael Obrien talks about training to go to India with the Peace Corps in 1973, how growing up in a large family on a Wisconsin dairy farm helped prepare him for that work and how stories and language affect our world view.

Letha &Tisha Pletcher

Letha Pletcher tells her granddaughter Tisha about living near the railroad in Pierceton, Indiana during the 1930’s; playing in grain elevators, air that smelled of peppermint, and feeding the hungry.