Project Jukebox

Digital Branch of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program

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Mary Larson

Worked in the Oral History office in the early 1990's. She is the Doris Neustadt Professor of Library Service and Head of the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program, and she came to OSU after working in oral history at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Nevada. She has served as a member of Council for the Oral History Association (2003-2006), filled two three-year terms on the board of the Southwest Oral History Association, and has chaired numerous committees for both organizations. Most recently, she served on the Oral History Association (OHA) task force which rewrote the professional standards and guidelines for the methodology, and in October 2011 she became President of OHA (2011-2013). She was the media review editor for The Oral History Review for five years, and she has been an editor for the H-Oralhist listserv since 2000. Her areas of interest include the intersections of anthropology and history, issues of shared authority, ethics and technology, and rural women's history. Among her oral history publications are a methodological chapter in the Handbook of Oral History and two books, Famiglia e Cucina: Stories and Recipes from Northwestern Nevada's Italian-American Community (2007) and We Were All Athletes: Women's Athletics at the University of Nevada (2011).
Mary Larson appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

As Interviewer

Interview Title Archive #: Oral History Project Abstract
George Sullivan 95-81 Wrangell-St.Elias National Park

George Sullivan was interviewed by Mary Larson on June 16, 1990 in Kennecott, Alaska during the Kennecott Kids reunion. In this interview, he talks about his time working for the mine, some scary experiences in the mill, and what life was like at the mine in 1937.
Stephen Matthew 92-05-18 Fairbanks Native Association

Reverend Stephen "Steve" Matthew was interviewed on February 12, 1993 by Walter Newman, Sr. and Mary Larson at Steve's home in North Pole, Alaska. Steve's wife, Valerie, was also present during the interview. In this interview, Steve talks about the Alaska Native land claims movement, the early meetings that were held in the interior, the chiefs and politicians who were involved, and the formation of the Fairbanks Native Association and the Tanana Chiefs Conference. He also talks about growing up along the Yukon River, working at the Tanana hospital, the history of Tanana, the delivery of health services and the Community Health Aide Program, traditional potlatches, and changes in modes of transportation. The intervew has been edited: it was recorded on two tapes (92-05-18 and 92-05-19), but only the audio of Tape 1 is included here. Tape 2 (ORAL HISTORY 92-05-19) is available at the Oral History Program, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

As a Person Present at Interview

Interview Title Archive #: Oral History Project Abstract People Present
Sam Demientieff, Interview 1 92-05-17 Fairbanks Native Association

Sam Demientiefff was interviewed on February 9, 1993 by Walter Newman Sr. in the conference room of the Fairbanks Native Association's office in Fairbanks, Alaska. Mary Larson of the UAF Oral History Program was also present. She ran the recording equipment and interjected occasional comments. The setting was relaxed, as Sam and Walter have known each other for some time, and Walter also was very well-versed on the issues being discussed. The interview was more of a discussion or dialogue than a one-sided response to questions. In this interview, Sam talks about the early days of the Fairbanks Native Association (FNA), its formation during the Native land claims period, and the people involved in the organization's founding. He also talks about his role in FNA, the various programs they run, and key events in FNA's history. In additon to talking about FNA, Sam shares some of his family history, and discusses author James Michener, and George Attla's contribution to dog racing.

 Mary Larson