Mesa County Oral History Project

The Mesa County Oral History Project began as a joint project of the Museums of Western Colorado and Mesa County Libraries (MCL) in 1975. The Oral History Project collected tape-recorded interviews with pioneers of Mesa County and surrounding areas, and interviews with the children of pioneers. The Central Library housed the duplicate audio cassettes and provided patron access to the histories. The Museum stored the master tapes and kept files and transcripts related to the oral history collection. The Mesa County Historical Society also contributed significantly to the Oral History Project by collaborating with the library and museum to select interviewees, and by providing interviewers and other volunteers. Mesa County Libraries no longer partner with the Museum in housing duplicate copies of tapes. But the library now works with the Museum to digitize interviews from the Mesa County Oral History Project and to provide online access to the interviews through Pika, the library catalog. The Museum continues to house the original audio cassettes, interview transcripts, and other source material for the project. The Library and the Museums of Western Colorado still record oral histories with residents who have important knowledge of the area’s history. Please note that some interviews contain language that listeners or readers may consider offensive. Mesa County Libraries does not condone such language, but has included interviews in their entirety in the interest of preserving history.

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Eleventh Interview with Dudley W. Mitchell
Dudley Mitchell talks about the election campaigns of U.S. Representative Wayne Aspinall, and the campaign caravans they held in Western Colorado. Mitchell also discusses his work as the “ribbon candy expert” at the Miller Candy Factory in Grand Junction, the history of the Grand Valley’s Interurban line and the Grand Junction streetcar line, working at the Lyceum Theater on Main Street as a young man, and teenage escapades, such as causing streetcar derailments and sneaking onto the roof of the Armory to see John Philip Sousa and his band play. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of the Mesa County Public Library and the Museum of Western Colorado.
Eleventh Lecture by Al Look: A tribute to Dr. E.H. Munro
In a recording of unknown date, Al Look speaks to fellow Grand Junction Lions Club members about Doctor E.H. Munro, a Lions Club founding member and local physician. He also reads a speech written by Munro about the history of the Lions Club. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. *An incomplete recording of this speech was also provided in Oral History interview 534.
Fifteenth Interview with Al Look
Al Look touches on the history of Lake City, Delta, and Creede, Colorado in the context of his travels there. He also discusses his trip to the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932 as a chaperone for fifteen boys. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Fifth Interview with Al Look
Al Look talks about the history of the Ute Indian tribe in Colorado, about their relations with the U.S. Government, conditions at the White River Agency, and about the events leading up to the Meeker Massacre. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Fifth Interview with Charles "Frank" Moore
Charles Moore discusses his career in the U.S. Grazing Service and U.S. General Land Office, and talks about ranch life in Eastern Utah and Western Colorado. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Fifth Interview with Craig B. Aupperle
Craig Aupperle, longtime resident of Grand Junction, describes the traveling salesmen that came through town and the circuses that performed on the old hospital grounds. He also talks about early doctors in the Grand Valley, early sawmills on Pinyon Mesa, freight wagons, deer hunting, and high school sports. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Fifth Interview with Dr. Everett H. Munro
Dr. “E.H.” Munro talks about the history of the Grand Junction Lions Club and its members, hunting mountain lions in Utah, his fishing trip with President Herbert Hoover during Hoover’s speaking trip in Western Colorado, and shooting mishaps while hunting deer. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.
Fifth Interview with Dudley W. Mitchell
Dudley Mitchell talks about his jobs as car distributor, bill clerk and chief clerk for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. He also discusses Grand Junction’s local mines and mining-related railroads. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.
Fifth Interview with Glenn W. McFall
Glenn McFall talks about early doctors in Grand Junction, Colorado and their treatment of patients, including the story of Dr. Everett Munro removing McFall's son's tonsils on the dining room table, and Munro performing an emergency appendectomy at a home in Unaweep Canyon. He also discusses the Strawberry Days Glenwood Springs to Grand Junction bicycle race, old Western Slope hotels, the rigors of early interstate automobile travel, competing in the auto parts sales business during the Depression, and the brothels and prostitutes of Colorado and South Avenues. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Fifth Lecture by Al Look: Ancestral Pueblo Culture
Mr. Look gives a lecture about ancient Pueblo cultures of Colorado and the Southwest. This recording is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
First Interview with Addie (Russell) Maynard
Dr. Addie Russell Maynard discusses her family life, her schooling during youth, and experiences as an osteopathic doctor and schoolteacher in Mesa County, Colorado. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.
First Interview with Al Look
Grand Junction, Colorado newspaper columnist, amateur historian, geologist and paleontologist Al Look discusses Grand Junction personalities such as Walter Walker and William J. Moyer, pre-radio reporting of World Series scores and boxing matches, and other aspects of Mesa County history. This interview is made available via signed release by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Historical Society.

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