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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Eighteenth Interview with Al Look
Al look talks about the many books he authored, the many speeches he gave, and his techniques for public speaking. He speaks about his endeavors in paleontology, the many places he visited during his travels, and his written contributions to local history. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Eighth Interview with Al Look
Al Look talks about his father’s grocery store in the early Twentieth century, an incident involving his cat, and a shipment of butter. He mentions his family’s move from Nebraska to Stockton, Kansas. He speaks about the various jobs he had, his education, and the dangers of the open prairie. He also recalls the activities the children would participate in for fun. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Eighth Interview with Craig B. Aupperle
Craig Aupperle talks about Grand Junction, Colorado’s first cemeteries, funeral houses, and mortuaries. He also gives an account of pioneer funeral rites and ceremonies, including burials led by horse-drawn buggies. He then discusses the locations of early roads, including the Rhone Creek Toll Road from Mesa County to Glenwood Springs, and the Hogback Road to Plateau Valley. 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.
Eighth Interview with Dudley W. Mitchell
Dudley Mitchell describes some difficult times working for the railroad, including a very serious accident that occurred in Grassy, Utah, when an eastbound train jumped the tracks and many people were killed. Dudley also discusses his daily tasks as a car distributor, including information about payroll, the terminals, filing systems, important job duties, and all the freight distributed by 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.
Eighth Lecture by Al Look: Meeker Massacrre
In a tape-recorded lecture, Al Look talks about the tensions between White River Utes and US Government troops overseen by Nathan Meeker that led 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.
Eleventh Interview with Al Look
Al Look talks about driving a team of mules for a laundry wagon, playing hooky from school and stealing watermelons in Stockton, Kansas. He discusses duck hunting and teaching his son gun safety. He speaks about working and then selling his homestead in Dove Creek, and about his experiences in the Four Corners area. He talks about playing high school football on a championship team, and attending the University of Nebraska. He relates working as an usher in a theater that hosted Vaudeville events, where he met or saw stars such as the Marx Brothers, Harry Houdini and Will Rogers. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
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.

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