Mesa (Ariz.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Found in 51 Collections and/or Records:
Oral history of Isaac Owen Rogers, 1981, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MSM97-181
Abstract
Born in Mesa in 1903, Rogers tells of how his family was sent by Brigham Young to colonize Arizona. His father, Isaac Higby Rogers, worked as a blacksmith and invented a new device to shoe mules. He recalls details of farming with no machinery and home life with no electricity or running water. They used wet burlap to keep milk, eggs and butter cool. Rogers' grandfather was president of the Indian mission of the Mormon church, and Rogers gives a lot of detail about the daily life of Native...
Dates:
1981; Digitization: 2006 March
Oral history of Iser Tibshraeny, 1985 February 21, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MSM02-51
Abstract
Oral history talk during which the audience asks questions.
Dates:
1985 February 21; Digitization: 2006 March
Oral history of Lelah Schornick, 1976 May 5, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MSM97-184
Abstract
Schornick tells of her family's move to Mesa from Cherryville, Kansas, in 1909, to help her father's bronchiectasis. She recalls crops grown in those days: almonds, peaches, cantaloupe, citrus, dates. There were many ostrich farms and they ate ostrich eggs. She also talks about keeping cool by sleeping outside and wrapping water jars in wet burlap. Schornick married her husband Eugene (Gene), in 1917, and they had two children. Gene fought in World War II and retired from a career at Salt...
Dates:
1976 May 5; Digitization: 2006 March
Oral history of Louetta Freeman, 2002 September 7, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MSAoh-f877a
Abstract
Freeman tells the story of her families move to Arizona in 1927 in a covered wagon. She talks about her father's experience as a school bus driver driving relatively long distances to pick up kids for school and mentions the homes where her family lived. She recalls that her family had one of the first phones in Mesa and that many people stopped in to borrow it. Freeman describes downtown Mesa and mentions several business including Molly's, J.C. Penney's, Woolworth's, and Everybody's...
Dates:
2002 September 7; Digitization: 2006 March
Oral history of Lucille Peterson Hanson, 1985 January 10, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MSM02-46
Abstract
Hanson begins by telling the story of her parents' move to Mesa at the request of Brigham Young; they were asked to help ?colonize? the area. Her father, Hyrum Smith Peterson, served as the Town Marshall of Mesa, but was killed while serving in office. She talks about becoming a teacher and marrying Thomas Franklin Riggs, a blacksmith. Hanson discusses plays, parks, dances, and other things residents of Mesa had for entertainment. She describes dealing with the hot weather, medicine, and...
Dates:
1985 January 10; Digitization: 2006 March
Oral history of Mr. and Mrs. Larkin Fitch, 1980 March 4, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MSM97-151
Abstract
As one of the last farmers to hold farm land inside the city limits of Mesa, Mr. Fitch discusses the difficulties of holding onto his land and farming in the city. He talks about his career as a farmer working with dairy, sheep, cotton, citrus, and hay. The Fitches have been in Mesa since it was a town of about 4000 in 1928, and have lived in the same house on N. Center since 1933. Mr. Fitch talks about how much Mesa has grown, the development of houses and business, and the loss of farm...
Dates:
1980 March 4; Digitization: 2006 March
Oral history of Norris and Margaret Steverson, 1984 July 9, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MSM02-42
Abstract
Mr. Steverson was born in Mesa in 1910 at the corner of Main and Sirrine in the Territory of Arizona, and lived in many different places, including, Yuma, El Paso, Florida and Mexico City, Mexico. He gives his family's background and information about his parents. His father played for the St. Louis Cardinals and a team in El Paso. He worked as an was an engineer on the Roosevelt Dam. Steverson's mother, Laura B. Rogers Steverson Quick, earned a lifetime teaching certificate from Tempe...
Dates:
1984 July 9; Digitization: 2006 March
Oral history of Ralph Openshaw, 1982, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MHM2005-027-026-1
Abstract
Openshaw gives an account of life in Mesa, Arizona, where his family moved in 1902. Openshaw was one of the founders of the United Dairymen of Arizona, which helped establish the dairy industry in Arizona. He mentions some of the local businesses, and talks about recreation and the value of a dollar in earlier times. He also describes transportation and freight operations in Mesa in the early 20th century.
Dates:
1982; Digitization: 2006 March
Oral history of Shirley Palmer, 1988 February 15, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MHM2005-027-027-1
Abstract
Palmer begins by telling that she was born in Mesa, Arizona, and has lived there all her life. She describes her schooling and names many of her teachers. She recounts that although her family was poor, she never felt poor. She gives some family history and tells of her grandparents, the Hills and the Stapleys, settling in Mesa. She talks about everyday life including doing laundry, preserving food, and sleeping outside in summer. Palmer tells about dating and marrying her husband, Lehi...
Dates:
1988 February 15; Digitization: 2006 March
Oral history of Walter Haws, 1985 August 16, 2006 March
Item
Identifier: MHM2005-027-014-1
Abstract
Haws begins by telling his story of being born in Mexico on the national holiday and being given the middle name Profirio, after Mexican President, Porfirio Diaz. He tells about working in the mines in Globe, Arizona, marrying his wife, and moving to Mesa to ranch with his brother. Haws discusses losing his cotton farm and becoming a truancy officer to make a living ? a job that he had for 37 years. He describes the area surrounding his first house near Southern Avenue and Mesa Drive and how...
Dates:
1985 August 16; Digitization: 2006 March