True stories of everyday people
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Phyllis Jo Adair-Ward
Phyllis Adair-Ward tells the story of discovering two truths: discrimination at Riverside Park and the loving acceptance of her life-long friend, Mr. Quiggles. (A written version of this story appears in her book, “Wind-chimes and Promises.”)
Barbara Ann Steinmetz
Pets were an important part of Barbara Ann’s idealistic childhood in Brown County, Indiana. Little did she know that wild foxes would take someone dear from her and lead to a career in the medical field.
Kenneth Oguss
Fresh, tart cherries, a flock of hungry birds, gifts of lemons and seeds for the future. Ken Oguss tells the story of how fathers pass along the legacy of love to their sons and daughters.
Albert Leslie Coleman
Albert Colemen, a drummer like his father, reflects on playing Jazz all over the world with many of Indy’s best musicians.
Matthew Steward
After graduating from IU Bloomington with a degree in Political Science, Matthew Steward considered law school but applied to the Indianapolis Police Academy on a whim. Thirty five years later he has no regrets.
Paul Francis Smith
Paul Smith grew up in a Navy family. In the 1960’s when he was a teenager they moved from Athens, Georgia to Monterey, California. Paul talks about the challenge of fitting in and learning to be true to himself.
Nichole Nicholson Wilson
Nicole Wilson talks about how her Aunt Ruth, a nurse, got her started on a lifelong career in health care.
Karl Lee Manders
In an excerpt of his oral history Dr. Karl Manders describes his early work in Indianapolis finding non-surgical treatments for patients with chronic pain.
Gwen Althauser Betor
In this excerpt of Gwen Althauser Betor’s life story we hear how she is a survivor with a love of life, family and the poetry of the Hoosier Poet, James Whitcomb Riley.