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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Interview with Nellie (Edwards) Robbins
Nellie Robbins describes the hardships she and her family faced when moving to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1931, and her longtime employment working with the Salvation Army. She also talks about the different charities served by the Grand Junction Salvation Army, its organizational structure, local people involved in the organization, and events it put on. 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.
Interview with Nellie (Snyder) Sewell
Nellie Sewell describes the early settlement of the Thompson Creek area by the Thompson and Sewell families. The Interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Nevada (Lynch) Burford
Nevada Burford discusses the history of her pioneering parents, who came to Grand Junction in 1882 and homesteaded in Kannah Creek. She also talks about the Handy Chapel and Grand Junction’s early African-American community. 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. *Transcript for Tape 2 of 4 only.
Interview with Norah (McGinley) Flynn
Nora McGinley Flynn discusses her experience growing up in the Grand Valley in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries, her career as one of Mesa County's early schoolteachers, her family’s involvement with the founding of Grand Junction, and her family’s various employment positions with the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Olive Jean (Mann) Groves
Olive Jean (Mann) Gordon discusses the early buildings, businesses and people of Grand Junction, Colorado. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Orlin Corn and Esther Eiler
Orlin Corn and his sisters Esther, Betty, Edith, and Lelia discuss the murder of rancher Charles Sieber, early 20th Century ranching in Mesa County, and school life in Appleton. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Orpha Shugar Hall
This interview examines the life of Orpha Shugar Hall, an early resident of Unaweep Canyon, Whitewater and Grand Junction. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Orville and Helen Altenbern
Orville and Helen Altenbern discuss their early lives in both De Beque and the nearby Roan Creek area of Garfield County. They also talk about life and work on a sheep and cattle ranch. 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.
Interview with Patrick Metoyer
Patrick Metoyer talks about negotiating with the Veterans Administration Hospital on his father's behalf and how this led to his cofounding of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Veterans Network, to his broader work as a veterans' mental health activist in Mesa County and nationally, and to his father's eventual turnaround. He also reads some of his poetry, discusses his beginnings as an artist and a poet, and goes into his participation in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Paul Scott Ferris
Paul Scott Ferris talks about his experiences as a member of the US Air Force during the Vietnam War, beginning in 1969. He describes his growing doubt about the war while deployed as a pilot, and his ultimate opposition to the war. He speaks about attending graduate school as a veteran, the help he received from a student veteran’s organization, his companionship with veterans, and his relationship with other students. He discusses his interest in Buddhism, in revisiting Thailand and Vietnam, and in the Vietnamese language. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Paul and Wanda Breckler
Paul and Wanda Breckler talk about the annual tours of Colorado that they conducted for teachers for many years during the 1970’s and 80’s. They speak in depth about their tour of the Colorado National Monument and working with local historian Al Look. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Pearl (Hopple) Redmon
Pearl Redmon, a longtime postal clerk in De Beque, Colorado, talks about the history and buildings of the town. 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.

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