True stories of everyday people
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Shirley Anne Charles
One of 13 children growing up in Washington, Indiana in the 1940’s, Shirley Charles tells of shared wardrobes and the time consuming chore of washing clothes.
Mary Webster & Damon Richards
89 year-old Mary Webster, recorded with her son Damon Richards, tells of her brief experiences with segregation during college and the importance of family.
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.”)
Beverly Martin
As a young person, Beverly Martin applied degrees in Sociology and Library Science along with her parent’s sense of adventure to her work in the VISTA program near Laredo,Texas.
Gwendolyn Julia (Judy) Kelley
Gwendolyn Kelley tells about seeing the change in Indianapolis during the civil rights movement and the legacy of her poem about Martin Luther King Jr., “The Dream In You.”
Jackie Nytes
From Jackie Nytes account of learning about the issues facing inner city families though her neighbor Dorothy’s family in a newly integrated Mapleton Fall Creek neighborhood South of 38th Street.
Carol Bussell
Born in New York, Carol Bussell is a professor at IUPUI who uses stories in her teaching. She came to her Life Stories intervew with family artifacts, journals, diaries, photos, and most importantly books!
Lou Weiss Harry
Heather Irene Hall
Heather Irene Hall tells her story about meeting the man she would marry in a Broad Ripple Vintage store while shopping for a jean jacket. Michael Hall tells his version of the story elsewhere on this website.