Record Group Number 57

Howard E. Wheelock Oral History Collection

Compiled by Patrick Sheary

April 1987

Howard S. Wheelock was a professor of history at Keene State College, Nathaniel Hawthorne College and at Brattleboro, Vermont. A great majority of the oral history tapes in this collection were produced by Wheelock's students in his various college classes.

The tapes have been divided into seven series, as follows:
I. World War II
II. Small Town History
III. United States in the Revolutionary Period
IV. The U.S Civil War
V. Vermont History
VI. Local History of the Early 20th Century
VII. Miscellaneous
VIII. James Powers N.H. Oral History graduate project.

Most of these topics correspond to specific class titles. The tapes generally contain interviews with local residents, but some are fictionalized accounts. The tapes in the "Miscellaneous" series are among the most interesting and include talks by Harold F. Drew and Robert Frost.

This collection was donated to the Historical Society by Howard E. Wheelock in November of 1985. The group contains 150 tapes dating from 1961 to 1979. The collection is stored in seven archive boxes.

Series I, World War II

Box 1, Folder 1
Wheelock notes about the collection

Box 1, Tapes 1-24
McQuillans during WW II. By James W. Weston, 12/1/78.
John & Joan Tyler of Troy, N.H. By Elsie K. Breen, 12/5/78. Topic: WW II.
Interview with Al Duhaime, 12/10/78.
Frank Sylvia of Hillsborough, N.H. Enlisted pilot of WW II. By Don Ager, 12/13/78.
David Greeno of Sutton, Mass. By H. Weagle, 12/16/78.
Reese Every on WW II. By Joe Longver, 12/18/78.
Side 1: Mrs. T. Kingsbury of West Brattleboro, Vt. (poor quality). Side 2: Mary Michaud of Spofford, N.H.
Mr. Olavi Maki of Fitchburg, Mass. By Anti Maki, Dec. 1978.
Mrs. L. Lambert of Surry, N.H. By Philip Alton, 12/16/78. Also Mrs. Lambert of Greenville, N.H. from town of Di-Jon, France.
Side 1: Christine Royce - Post-War Germany, Wildflecken Refuge Camp. Side 2: Howard Halt, Army engineer in the European Theatre. By Carolyn Locke, 1978.
William Pierce - Marines, 12/8/87
Edward Jenks - Navy. By David Bishop, 12/12/87.
Bill Priest, Sargeant, 101st Airborne. By Anthony Graci, 1978.
Col. Ralph Parker, U.S Marine Corps. By Linda Tetreault, 12/18/78.
Mrs. Phyllis Millard of Jaffrey, N.H. - Civilian nurse. By Bill Lee, 12/18/78.
Buss Cowland, served on the ship LIBERTY from 1943-1945. By William L. Porter, 12/15/78.
R. Every, WW II serviceman and 20 years later an account of duty in Ethiopia. 12/15/78.
Excerpts from letters written to Mrs. Thornton Paine, 194Os. Taped by Donald Kibbee, 1978.
Diary of Bataan Death March of Hubert Gater of Hilisborough, N.H. By George Broadley, 12/19/78.
John Alves of West Derring, N.H. - U.S. Calvary of W. Derring. By R.M. Kubacki, 12/20/78.
Mr. Alan Tawse on WW II. By Joseph Descoteau, 12/12/78.
Personal accounts of Daniel R. Fernandez. (poor quality) 3/8/78.
Col. James Powers - U.S. Marine Corps Battle of Tarawa. Introduction by James Powers, Jr., 1977.
Frank T. Olson of Brattleboro, Vt. By Richard Duke Jan., 1978.
Armand Quintin of St. Albans, Vt. By Robert Soucy, 5/1/79.

Box 2, Tapes 25-43 - World War II con't.
H. J. Vesper, Chief Navy Administrator in Europe and China fronts. By Jerry Vesper, 4/14/79.
Gloria Reynolds, daughter of interviewer Bette Atkins, 4/11/79.
John & Olive McDonald. By daughter, Brenda Burns, 4/30/79.
Mr. Eugene Jarvis of Brattlebroo, Vt. By Mary Bezanson, 4/10/79.
Ed Duby, P38 Crew Chief in Africa & Italy. By Leonard S. Hubbard, 4/8/79.
Steve Puduski of Brattleboro, Vt. - Navy. By Robert Funke, April, 1979.
Louis Levesque, WW II veteran. By Walter Charest, July, 1977.
Col. James Powers, U.S. Marine Corps on Pacific Theatre. By James Powers, Jr., 6/19/77.
Richard H. Sherwin, U.S. Navy. By Richard D. Duke, n.d.
Arnold Smith, gunner in Pacific theatre. By Roy D. Coburn, n.d.
Russell Ellis - U.S. Army. By Ed Dodge, n.d.
Tula Greene of Putney, Vt. "Hitler's Germany" (very interesting) by Walt Chocert, n.d.
Bud Cone. By Dennis Wesley (not clear sound), n.d.
William Pearce of Winchester, N.H. By Leonard Gendron, n.d.
John Neil, British Highlanders, 4th Army in Burma. By Randall Fiorey, n.d.
Mr. Everett Cameron, gunner's mate U.S. Navy. By Jack Cicero, n.d.
Robert Kiffen of Brattleboro, Vt, on Pearl Harbor. By William Miller, n.d.
Bert Ball, pilot. By Carl Sisco, n.d.
Stanley Kolinsek, U.S. Navy. By R.H. Warde, n.d.
For additional stories, see Series II, tape 18, 23; Series VI, tape 15, 16.

Series II, Small Town History

Box 3, Tapes 1-31
Grover Thompson of Winchester, N.H. By Peter Lawler, n.d.
Shaker Alfred Dupres of Marlborough, N.H. By Al Demerse, 2/13/78.
Mrs. June Trombley of Keene, N.H. By Jim Ingalls, 2/15/78.
Albert Baillargeon of Berlin, N.H. By Ronald Grondin, 2/11/78.
Side 1: Henry Kholhas of Walpole, N.H. By Garvin Edwards, 2/21/78. Side 2: George Edwards of Walpole, N.H. By Garvin Edwards, 2/21/78.
Mr. Richard Calef of Keene, on the Beaver Mills, Norwood and Calef Co. By Robert Curtiss, Feb. 1978.
Paul Souton of Hilisborough, N.H. Observations on town of Hillsborough, Historic aspects of tour. By James Perham, 14/16/79.
Mrs. Alice Sherwin of Keene, N.H. By Jack Wyman, Feb. 1978.
Miss Marion Lee of Winchester, N.H., 81 year old retired schoolteacher. By William Burns, Feb. 1978.
Charles Crathern, a town clerk of Mason, N.H. By Walt Mace, Feb. 1978.
Guy Bemis of Walpole, N.H on its history. By David Jeffrey, n.d.
Floyd Britton in Surry, N.H. By Gerald Livesy, Mar. 1978.
Harold Dickinson of Richmond, N.H. By Bob Parent, n.d.
Mr. Norman Roleau of Troy, N.H. By Edward Goodell, 1978, n.d.
Mrs. Elinor Paine of Westmoreland, N.H. By Donald Kibbee, Mar. 1978.
Walter & Isabella Palmer of Charlestown, N.H. on History of Fort #4 and its reconstruction in Charlestown, N.H. By Lucien Beam, Feb. 1978.
Mr. Leonard Mjchaud of Spofford, N.H. By Michele Parent, Feb. 1978.
Side 1: Mrs. Hazel Hastings of Gilsum, N.H. By Reese Every, 2/23/78. Side 2: Experiences of overseas service in U.S. Navy during WW II with Reese Every, USN, retired, of Roxbury, N.H. By himself, 2/28/78.
Agnes Rabuch of Keene, N.H. By Frank Murdough, 1/29/78.
Mrs. Eva Carison of Troy, N.H. By Ronald A. Pratt, n.d.
History of Winchester, N.H. Given by Edith Atkins. By Toni Davenport, n.d.
Mrs. Ruth Field of Keene, N.H. By Bob Goodrich, Mar. 1978.
Side 1: Alex Peducheck of Hinsdale, NH. Side 2: Alex Peducheck's experiences in WW II Pacific theatre. Both by Bill Porter, Mar. 1978.
Stanley Hemeon of Keene, N.H. By Joseph Longver, 3/6/78.
David Perry, Swanzey N.H. selectman for 26 years. By Bruce Phillips, 3/6/78. E. Erskine Broadley of Hilleborough, N.H. on textiles and depression times. By George Broadley, 2/27/78.
Harriett & Clair Wyman of Keene, N.H. on Hampshire Pottery. By Carol Nicholsen, Mar. 1978.
Mrs. Kenneth Rounds, 50 year resident of Westmoreland, N.H. By Rick Cote, n.d.
Side 1: Ray Whipple, Richmond, N.H. Side 2: Ray Scott of Ashuelot, N.H. By R. Fiocey n.d.
The Grafton Cornet Band. By Brenda Burns, 8/28/87.
Dick Spellman of West Swznzey, N.H. on life during WW II in Lebanon. By David H. Sheehan (distorted), n.d.

Series III, United States in the Revolutionary Period

Box 4, Tape 1-6
Thomas Lister Log, blacksmith during Revolutionary War, Jan. 1978.
Fictional story called "Letter to my Beloved Wife," on May 5, 1770 Boston Massacre. By Walter Charest, 1/3/78.
James Bean reads group of letters on apprenticeship & witches. Jan. 1977.
Influence of Puritanism in U.S. 1/7/80.
Log cabins, by Roy D. Coburn, 1/7/80.
Tristram Coffin, founder of Nantucket. By Bill Miller, 1/7/80.

Series IV, The U.S. Civil War

Box 4, Tape 1-9
Civil War diary, fictional story by Walter Charest, April, 1978.
Danri D. Wesley on the legalized slavery, 1820-1880. April 1978.
Carl Jansen on Civil War History, April 1978.
Forest Kimball on Sherman's March to the Sea, April 1978.
Log by a Confederate gunner. By Everett Trites, April 1978.
Bill Miller on Vermont in the Civil War, 5/1/78.
Ron Taplin on the Attack on St. Albans, 5/18/78.
Pre-Civil War letters. By E. Bowles, n.d.
Letters from Horace Clayton, 1858-1861, California, Civil War, & Vermont Infantry, 9/1/77.

Series V, Vermont History

Box 5, Tape 1-28
Senator Margaret Hammond of Springfield, Vt. on Vermont Legislature. By Mike T. Watson, n.d.
Life on a typical farm 60 years ago in Glover, Vt. By Bill Whitten, Aug. 1978.
Blanche Carpenter of Brattleboro, Vt. By Bob Warde, Aug., 1977.
Clara (Bibbons) Heald of Springfield, Vt., on early farm life in Vermont. By Carl Jansen, n.d.
Bertha Franklin, a retired Guilford, Vt. schoolteacher. By S. Williams, 8/31/77.
Ken Made on operation of a lumber brokerage business. By William W. Miller, 9/1/77.
Leaving Vermont with Paul Fay. Coming back to Vermont with Jon Reed. By Forrest Kimball, Aug. 1977.
Senator Robert Gamett on Vermont Legislture. By Vince Johnson (both sides), n.d.
Ed Waterman, Bell Telephone employee for 46 years. By Thomas Sturtevant, Sept., 1977.
Mrs. Lita Smith of Brattleboro, Vt. By Gordon Young, n.d.
Farming with oxen: interview with a Granville, Vt. farmer. By Joe Rinfret, Jr., 10/9/87.
Sally Carpenter of Guilford, Vt. A town clerk on "Woman's Role at a Town Meeting." By Karen Sturtevant, Sept. 1977.
Narration by an 8 year old Vt. lady who describes life in the early 1900s in Townshend, Vt. and Chesterfield, N.H. By Laurence Thompson, n.d.
Barn Talk - Country Humor. By John H. Wilson, 9/14/77.
Interview with a Vermonter. By L.S. Hubbard, Sept., 1977.
Rena Reed, town clerk of Dummmerston Ctr., Vt. By Walter Charest, 9/6/77.
Mrs. A. Hunt, woman logger and operator of a sawmill. By R.B. Hodgdon, n.d.
L. Wright on 1-91 highway construction. By M. Lyster, 8/23/77 (both sides).
Al Hogan Miller by Ron Taplin, 9/6/77.
Walter Needham of Guilford, Vt. on slate quarries and general life. By John Tatro, Aug. 1977.
Roland Lackey of Brattleboro, Vt. By Robert Sovay, Sept. 1977.
Bill Carleton of Londonderry, Vt. on the History of Windham, Vt. By Roy Coburn, June, 1979.
Richard Atomanuk on old gravestone epitaphs in Vermont. Aug. 1977.
Dana Chamberlain on old gravestone epitaphs on in Vermont. n.d.
Richard Duke of Hinsdale, N.H. on how he views Vermont today. By James Powers, 8/23/77.
Francis Coburn of Rockingham, Vt. By Roy Coburn, 6/10/77.
Jeanne Warde on "Story of a man's Life after he moves to Dummerston, Vt." 1752-1776. n.d.
Fictional account of a family's journey West from Brattleboro, Vt. to the state of Oregon. By Walt Charest, Feb. 1979.

Series VI, Local History of the Early 20th Century

Box 6, Tapes 1-21
Bill Taylor, WW I pilot. By Bob Parent, 3/20/79.
Continued interview with Bill Taylor, WW I pilot. By Bob Parent, 3/20/79.
Alfred Hale of Milford, N.H. By Richard E. Thompson, n.d.
Hank Crowell of Ramsey, N.J. By Kevin Scott, n.d.
Alfred Chagnon on Depression, Textile plant, union, & WW II. By Carole Manchester, 14/3/79.
Bernard Streeter. By Glenn N. Colburn, 3/17/79.
Merle Hamilton of Burlington, Vt. By David Curtis, n.d.
Clair Lavois, Ted Gagne, Alphosine Jerry on immigration in the U.S. 1915-1929. By Ron Dupont, n.d.
Roland Taylor on Depression years in Keene. By Bill Lee, April, 1979.
Otis McQuillan on the Depression. By Jim Weston, 1979.
Erskine Broadley on politics and the U. S. as a world power. By George Broadley, April 1979.
Mrs. Hazel Loomer. By Edward C. Goodell, April 1979.
Richard H. Sullivan. by Cheryl S. Caruse, 14/10/79.
Earl S. Hannaford of Troy, N.H. on the Depression and WW I. By David A. Bishop, 14/14/79.
Personal experiences of Alberto Lagac on isolation, propaganda and WW II in the Phillipines. April 1979.
Bernice Walendzik on the Depression and WW II. By Raymond Ruskowski, n.d.
ichard M. Kulbacki's observations in Greece in 1979.
Floyd Robbins of Keene, N.H. on the Depression years. By Ronald Grondin, 14/7/79.
Alice Perkins of Loudon, N.H. on WW I. By Bill Porter, April 1979.
"The Good Old Days?" by Hazel Hastings of Gilsum, N.H. By Tom Hastings, 14/10/79.
Lewis Dean on the Depression, 1929-1935. By Al Pelletier, 1977.

Series VII, Miscellaneous

Box 6, Tape 1-7
Interview with a disabled veteran of Vietnam and former guard of John F. Kennedy. By Ron Taplin, 6/23/77.
Douglas E. Whitney on "Operation Deep Freeze" in Antarctic, 1957-1958. By D. T. Whitney, April 1979.
Account of prospection to the Gold Fields in Death Valley. By William Porter, April 1978.
Robert Frost at Windham College, Vermont in June 1961.
Side 1: Sister Joan Marie of Manchester, N.H. on "White man's profile of the American Indian." 1975. Side 2: Origin of the town of Gilsum, 1976. Both by Howard E. Wheelock.
Keene American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, informal conversations prior to meetings at Keene City Hall. By Howard E. Wheelock, 2/9/79.
Howard F. Drew of Keene, former coach and principal of KHS. By Howard E. Wheelock, 14/8/76 (both sides).

Series VIII, James Powers Oral History Graduate Project

Box 7, Tape 1-12
Mrs. Philip Faulkner on Barry Faulkner.
Lillian Semple on the Heaton family.
President Gerald Ford's speech at KHS, 1976.
Robert Reidy on local experiences, 19 and 1950s.
Robert McCurdy on U.S. Army career.
Col. James J. Powers on Battle of Saipan, WW II.
Philip Marsilius on WW II experiences.
Philip Marsilius on WW II experiences.
Dr. Joseph Rose on WW II experiences.
Madam Monteux on Pierre Monteux.
Nancy Monteux on experiences in WW II France.
Simon Barendse on WW II and Pierre Monteux.