True stories of everyday people

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Vop Osil

Vop Osilli’s earliest memories are from Nigeria at the beginning of civil war when his mother, an American, decided it was time to leave.

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.

Mary Jo Huff

Storyteller and “50-yard-line-Momma” Mary Jo Huff tells about the different kinds of people and the many ways of expressing team spirit from the bleachers at I.U. Bloomington football games.

Nancy Ann Barton

Nancy Barton’s Mother kept a journal about important moments in Nancy’s life from birth to eighteen years of age. It is a gift of love that Nancy encourages others to do for their children.

Steve Teagarden

Steve Teagarden describes the origins of the “Nestle Inn” and observing the gentrification of Mass Avenue and the Chatham Arch neighborhood in downtown Indianapolis.

Joan & Daniel Chapman

Mother and son, Joan and Daniel Chapman, share the telling of how their ancestor John Johnson came to Indiana and in 1821 witnessed an historic decision at Conner Prairie.

Ben Thomas Asaykwee

Take the classic literature of Edgar Allen Poe and turn it into successful modern musical theatre. Absurd? That is exactly what actor/musician/playwright Ben Asaykwee did. Ben tells the story of why he created Cabaret Poe in Chicago and brought it to Indianapolis...

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.