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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Recording of Mesa County Historical Society Meeting, September 22, 1975
Ted Albers, Bob Hall, Lowell Heiny and James “Jim” Kyle discuss the early history of Grand Junction and Mesa County, Ute Indians, and the formation of the Mesa County Historical Society at the September 22, 1975 meeting of the Society. This recording is provided by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado, and the Mesa County Historical Society.
Recording of Mesa County Oral History Project Meeting, January 22, 1979
In a meeting of the Mesa County Oral History Project in January 1979, John Brumgardt, Mike Menard, and Wayne Randolph of the Museums of Western Colorado discuss the value of oral history as a historical resource, and the collections of the Museums of Western Colorado. This recording 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.
Recording of the Twelfth Annual Basque Festival in Grand Junction, Colorado
At the annual Basque Festival in Grand Junction, Colorado, Evelyn Kyle interviews former Basque sheepherder and hotel owner Jean Urruty about Basque culture, speaks to other Basques, and records Basque war cries, singing, and folk songs. She also describes the dances of the Basque. This recording 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.
Roads and Trails: A panel discussion of the Mesa County Historical Society
In a panel discussion sponsored by the Mesa County Historical Society, Bud Bradbury, Bill Benson, and Howard Brouse talk about the history of roads and trails in Mesa County, Colorado and on the Western Slope. 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.
Second Interview with Addie (Russell) Maynard
Dr. Addie (Russell) Maynard tells stories of her life as an osteopathic doctor in Mesa County, Colorado, including a time when she helped a woman give birth on a train with barely any supplies. She also touches on the social life in Grand Junction when she was a child, changes throughout the years in the practice of medicine, and the various medical resources available to early Mesa County residents. 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.
Second Interview with Al Look
Grand Junction, Colorado newspaper columnist, amateur historian, geologist and paleontologist Al Look discusses the Soup Eaters organization that he helped found during the Great Depression, Dalton Trumbo, American Indian archaeology and digs on the Western Slope, and his contacts with the Navajo. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Second Interview with Alfred Flagg
Alfred Flagg talks about his education and training as a hair stylist, women’s historic hair styles, and the methods and materials he used as a stylist. 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.
Second Interview with Andrew E. Riddle
Andrew E. Riddle discusses his sheep ranching operation in Navajo country, around the Monument Valley area in Arizona. He also describes attending a Navajo Yeibichei festival in 1940, squaw dances, the relationships between Indians and the settlers, and Navajo methods of sheepherding. 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.
Second Interview with Ann (Reese) Stokes
Ann Stokes talks about her father-in-law Walter Stokes and his involvement in Nineteenth century labor strife as a union coal miner in Colorado. She describes his establishment of the Stokes Mine after he moved to Mesa County and describes the mine’s operations. She speaks about early phone service in Palisade. She discusses her mom’s job as a nurse in rural areas, which included tasks like housecleaning, cooking, and sewing baby clothes for new mothers. She talks about the prevalence of Black Lung amongst coal miners, including her father and father-in-law. She remembers businesses and institutions from Palisade’s history, including Fred Martin’s undertaking business, which he owned and operated prior to starting Martin Mortuary in Grand Junction. She talks about death and dying, and about funeral rites and ceremonies from the early Twentieth century. She recalls going to basketball games or outdoor concerts in the park. She speaks about driving and repairing early automobiles and traveling on early highways. She recounts her trip to Denver to adopt a child. She talks about doing the laundry in the days before washing machines, about food preparation, preserving food, and other aspects of homemaking. She speaks about hairstyles, fashion, and sewing her own clothes. She describes life around her family’s membership in the Baptist Church. Finally, she talks about swimming in the Colorado River, her father’s pipe smoking, Halley’s Comet, and solar eclipses. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Second Interview with Anna Gertrude (Barker) Foster
Anna Foster talks about teaching at the Mesa School, beginning in 1908. She remembers some of the teachers and students at the school, and going sledding with them for fun. She speaks about the role of the Mesa’s Methodist church in providing community for people of all Christian faiths. She describes stagecoaches that delivered between towns, traveling the old Hogback Road from Palisade, and the building of the Plateau Canyon Road. She recalls early attempts at growing fruit near the town of Mesa, including her husband’s apple orchard, and she tells about packing peaches in Palisade. She talks about the many rural schools in the area, including the Egalite School and the Mormon Mesa School. She remembers camping in the summer with Roy and Ida Sisac and others. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Second Interview with Anna McGinley and Mae (McGinley) Plunkett
Anna McGinley talks about teaching at the Hunter School in early day Mesa County. She and her sister Mae Plunkett also talk about their school days and about the lives of their parents John and Theresa McGinley, who were immigrants and Mesa County pioneers. 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.
Second Interview with Armand de Beque
Armand de Beque, son of De Beque, Colorado founder Wallace A.E. de Beque, talks about the history of the oil shale industry in Western 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.

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