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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Third Interview with Anna McGinley and Mae (McGinley) Plunkett
Sisters Ana Mcginley and Mae Plunkett describe in detail their household life and childhood growing up on a homestead in the Hunter District of Mesa County, Colorado, with an account of household furnishings, chores, and leisure activities. They also talk about the growth of Grand Junction and of North Avenue as a main thoroughfare, time spent on the Colorado National Monument, Mesa County Fairs, and the Interurban rail line. 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.
Third Interview with Armand de Beque
Armand de Beque talks about the history of Ravensbeque, Colorado, founded by his father Wallace A.E. De Beque prior to the town’s relocation to the present site of De Beque. He speaks about Wallace De Beque’s training and career as a pioneer doctor, and about the family’s roots in both Canada and France. He talks about his brothers’ service in Europe during World War I and the military service of his sons. He discusses his memories of growing up in Mesa County, talks in general about the history of De Beque, and surveys the collection of the small De Beque history museum that he maintained. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Third Interview with Charles "Frank" Moore
Charles “Frank” Moore discusses his participation in U.S. Government surveys in Western Utah, his interactions with Navajo Indians, and his career in the U.S. Grazing Service. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Third Interview with Craig B. Aupperle
Craig Aupperle talks about the early history of schools and education in Grand Junction and Mesa County. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Public Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Third Interview with David Combs: Social Justice Series
Local African-American activist David Combs talks about his reaction when Barack Obama was elected president of the United States in 2008 and 2012. He remembers feeling the audience’s excitement during Obama’s campaign speeches at Cross Orchards and Grand Junction High School. He speaks about Obama’s role in leading the nation’s discussion on race through incidents such as the death of Trayvon Martin. He discusses discrimination towards Obama from certain quarters of the American populace, which Obama overcame to serve as a two-term president. The interview was conducted on behalf of the Social Justice Archive in the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and Black Citizens and Friends.
Third Interview with Dr. Everett H. Munro
Dr. Everett Munro discusses his career as the City Health Officer for Grand Junction, beginning in 1922, the vaccination and sanitation campaign against smallpox and diphtheria, and both his research on silicosis and advocacy for uranium workers. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Third Interview with Dudley W. Mitchell
Dudley Mitchell talks about the history of his family in Pitkin, Eagle, and Garfield Counties, and his acquaintance with Democratic politicians, including Ed Taylor. He also talks about his boyhood spent in Cardiff, Colorado, and about his career working on the railroad. 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.
Third Interview with Eda May (Baker) Musser
Eda Musser talks about life in Delta, Colorado after moving there in 1908, when she was thirteen. She discusses landmarks such as the LeVeta Park School, the Anna-Dora Opera House, and the Delta House Hotel. She describes her involvement in the Spoon Club and other aspects of social life. She speaks about her family’s move west from Illinois using an immigrant car. She talks about meeting and marrying rancher Kelso Musser and their move to Cedar Mesa near Cedaredge. She goes into their later move to the Musser’s LMJ Ranch in Escalante Canyon, and gives many details about the canyon. She talks about the life of a ranch wife and her many responsibilities, but also talks about dances she attended. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Third Interview with Emma (Berg) Nagel
Emma Nagel talks in detail about Christmas programs held at the Highpoint School near Fruita, Colorado and about Christmas traditions at home when she was a child. She also discusses her busy life as a homemaker, with information on butchering animals, grinding wheat and making bread, sewing and caring for clothes, caring for chickens and milking the cow. 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.
Third Interview with Gertrude D. (Geiger) Rader
Gertrude Rader talks about the profession and lives of teachers, who were primarily women, in Western Colorado during the early Twentieth century. She discusses how, in small communities, women were expected to be much more than teachers including: Doctors’ assistants in a pinch, de facto members of the families that they boarded with in cases of illness or maternity, and moral pillars of the community. She includes many anecdotes from her own teaching career in Mesa County, and explains the important social role that schools played in their communities. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Third Interview with Glenn W. McFall
Glenn McFall shares a range of anecdotes and stories about life on Colorado's Western Slope, from "lobo wolves" and fish fries, to cowboys and bootleggers, to morticians and doctors during the depression. 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.
Third Interview with Helen Elizabeth (Maher) Bowman and Marion George Bowman
Marion Bowman talks about the origins of the Mesa County Peach Administrative Board, an elected body that helped establish fair peach pricing and advocated for the local peach industry. He discusses peach marketing, transportation, inspection, labor, and competition from other peach-growing regions. He recalls agricultural cooperatives involved in the marketing of area produce. Helen Bowman also contributes the occasional insight. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.

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