The Women's History Project welcomes your interest in our oral histories. If you would like to read them, please contact Peg Siciliano at the History Center of Traverse City: 231 995-0313 or by email at pegps@ameritech.net

 

Women’s History Project of Northwest Michigan

Oral Histories (March, 2011)

 

1. Alison, Mary Lee:  Benzie County, lifelong dairy farmer on a centennial farm in Platte Township.
2. Ambrose, Barbara:  Grand Traverse County, rorensic anthropologist, handbell musician.
3. Armstrong, Elizabeth:  Leelanau County, local historian, Presbyterian.
4. Barrett, Marge:  Leelanau County, journalist, pilot, English/journalism teacher.
5. Bates, Darlene:  Benzie County, magistrate, local historian.
6. Baver, Pauline:  Benzie; local historian, one of first NMC faculty in 1951.
7. Beeby, Betty:  Antrim County, artist, writer, Mackinaw Mural Children in Art.
8. Bellinger, Marcia:  Grand Traverse County, Pathfinder and NMC teacher, art gallery owner.
9. Brigham, Ester:  Grand Traverse County, musician, Duck Lake historian.
10. Brinkman, Margaret:  Grand Traverse County, teacher at TC high school, antique expert and collector.
11. Chatfield, Amy:  Leelanau County, WWII air traffic controller, pre-school teacher, retail for 60 years.
12. Dennos, Barbara:   Grand Traverse County, Dennos Museum, art benefactor, Pres. Women’s Club, VP Women’s League, Munson.
13. DeVol, Helen:  Grand Traverse County, Old Mission cherries.
14. Dodd, Margaret:  Grand Traverse County, politician/mayor of TC, from  Scotland, teacher, Red Cross worker.
15. Dunn, Margaret:  Grand Traverse County, community volunteer, Zonta, Professional Women’s Club, Grace Episcopal.
16. Dutmers, Patricia:  Grand Traverse County, resort business, community volunteer, Opera House.
17. Faist, Pearl:  Grand Traverse County, raised on a farm near Reed City, TCAPS librarian for 35 years.
18. Ferrar, Nancy:  Grand Traverse County, joined Marines during WWII; physical therapist at many hospitals, worked with polio patients.
19. Fitzgerald, Betty:  Grand Traverse County, native TC resident, dietary manager at TC Medical Care Facility.
20. Fredrickson, Daphne:  Grand Traverse County, family cherry business, lived on Sixth St., civic involvement in DAR, AAUW.
21. French, Dorothy (Dottie):  Grand Traverse County, second-generation TC resident, occupational therapist, special-ed teacher, source of local history.
22. Garn, Phyllis:  Grand Traverse County, horses, community volunteer.
23. Gyr, Marian:  Leelanau County, joined Marines during WWII, worked on bombers, met husband in Switzerland (he was a POW); divorced, settled in Benzonia, a “minimalist.”
24. Hale, Carol:  Grand Traverse County, League of Women Voters, Central Neighborhood, State Theater restoration, Maritime Heritage Association, Downtown.
25. Herrman, Elinor:  Antrim County, rural housewife, local historian.
26. Herta, Grace:  Antrim County, musician, amateur scientist, local historian.
27. Hyslop, Martie:  Grand Traverse County, homemaker, family resort on Old Mission.
28. Hill, Gladys:   Grand Traverse County, rural housewife, local historian, honey bee keeper.
29. Janis, June:  Grand Traverse County, environmentalist, politician, Torch Lake League of Women Voters.
30. Jerue, Blossom:  Grand Traverse County, grew up on Old Mission farm, raised dogs for over 35 years.
31. Johnson, Mary:  Grand Traverse County, nurse, cherry farm owner, Peninsula historian, music teacher.
32. Kauffman, Margaret (Peg):  Grand Traverse County, League of Women Voters, environmentalist.
33. Keenan, Mary:  Grand Traverse County, TCAPS art teacher, artist.
34. Kipley, Jeanne:  Grand Traverse County, hosted her own radio program at WTCM, Director of Downtown Development Authority 1975-85.
35. Kroupa, Leona:  Grand Traverse County, rural teacher, State Hospital historian, farm wife, Leelanau historian.
36. Kyprie, Lou:  Grand Traverse County, native of Canada, local historian of nursing.
37. Lanham, Dorothy E. (Dottie):  Leelanau County, commercial artist, Rand Mc Nally Encyclopedia author, Pottery Shop owner, expert on Petoskey stones, Old Settlers’ Association, Burdickville rural schools.
38. Lanham, Dorothy M. (Dottie):  Leelanau County, rural homemaker, Burdickville historian.
39. Levin, Molly:  Grand Traverse County, rural homemaker, local historian, and cherry farm wife.
40. Maitland, Helen:  Grand Traverse County, cherry farming, active volunteer.
41. McCleary, Ruby Barnes:  Antrim County, farming, raising draft horses.
42. McManus, Clara:  Grand Traverse County, helped husband George operate cherry farm, raised nine children, involved with 4-H, set up fund to establish Grand Traverse Pavilions.
43. Mericle, Rebecca:  Grand Traverse County, NMC librarian, Inuit art.
44. Milliken, Elnora:   Grand Traverse County, radio/TV hostess, gardening show, musician, founder of TSO (Traverse Symphony Orchestra) worked in local theater, owner of Milliken House Inn.
45. Milliken, Helen:  Grand Traverse County, First Lady of Michigan 1969-83, worked on passage of Equal Rights Amendment and other women’s issues, environmental issues, gardening.
46. Moon, Clara:  Grand Traverse County, artist.
47. Morrison, Rosella:  Grand Traverse County, cherry farm.
48. O’Dell-Fales, Margaret:  Antrim County farming, Township Clerk.
49. Okerstrom, Shirley:  Grand Traverse County, social worker, Northwestern Michigan College fund raising and first woman to be trustee chair, local political campaign volunteer.
50. Parker, Elizabeth (Betty):  Grand Traverse County, teacher, politics.
51. Parsons, Betty:  Grand Traverse County, community leader, League of Women Voters, Grand Traverse Musicale worker.
52. Peterson, Ann:  Grand Traverse County, First woman “Elk,” piano player all over northern Michigan.
53. Petritz, Althea:  Benzie County, started Pet-Ritz Pie business with husband George, Cherry Hut restaurant, Crystal Mountain Resort.
54. Pitcher, Dorotha:  Leelanau County, resident of Leland, worked on uncle’s cherry farm as adolescent.
55. Schaub Theresa:  Grand Traverse County, librarian, children’s literature promoter, Interlochen volunteer, editor of local newsletter.
56. Simmons, Margaret (Peg):  Grand Traverse County, local historian, Red Cross volunteer, Grand Traverse Pavilions contributor, Opera House historian.
57. Solomonson, Violet:  Grand Traverse County, telephone operator on Old Mission for 56 years.
58. Southwell, Unis:  Leelanau County, rural homemaker, quilting professional.
59. Steadman, Bernice:  Grand Traverse County, aviator, author, Zonta worker, politician.
60. Stulen, Dotty:  Grand Traverse County, local TC historian and homemaker,  worker in TC theater.
61. Sullivan, Helen:  Grand Traverse County, politician, zoning regulator.
62. Tompkins, Ida:  Grand Traverse County, TCAPS administrator and school board member, local politician, campaign worker, contributor.
63. Votruba, Gretchen:  Grand Traverse County, teacher, local historian, community worker, owner of Vortruba’s Leather Goods on Front Street, TC. 
64. Wikle, Louise:  Leelanau County, centennial farm owner, classic country music expert, rural historian.
65. Williams, Dorothy (Dottie):  Grand Traverse County, teacher, counselor, Garden Club member, Jung Study Group.
66. Wunsch, Anna:  Grand Traverse County, journalist, teacher, Peninsula cherry farming.