Greek-American Oral History Collections


This notification came through the (MGSA) Modern Greek Studies Association - October 24, 2013

GREEK-AMERICAN ORAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS


This is to announce the Greek-American Oral History Collections, a work in progress by Elaine Thomopoulos, a historian and a new member of the MGSA Transnational Studies Committee. Below is a preliminary list of Collections.

Our committee invites directors of modern Greek programs, researchers, librarians, 
heritage activists, staff in museums and preservation societies, as well as other interested
parties to share their knowledge of resources with us. We would welcome not merely web links 
to collections but, if possible, narratives and/or lists that identify and describe the archive in detail.

Please forward all information to Elaine Thomopoulos ‎[thomop@msn.com]‎ 

  • Greek-American Oral History Collections [A Work in Progress]

Queens College Hellenic-American Oral History Project: Greek http://www.qc.cuny.edu/Academics/Degrees/DSS/Sociology/GreekOralHistory/Pages/Interviews.aspx On the Internet.

“Features recorded oral history interviews of immigrants and American-born Greeks. The library contains personal narratives about ethnic and racial identities, as well as profiles of Greek American administrators, artists, businessmen and -women, politicians, professionals, students, and workers. Additional interviews will be added as they become available.”
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National Hellenic Museum http://www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/
Has over 300 histories covering Chicago, Tarpon Springs, Colorado, NY, Virginia/D.C., Berrien County, Michigan and others.
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Berrien County Historical Association in Berrien Springs, Michigan
Fifty interviews of Greeks who made their home in Berrien County, Michigan or who vacationed there. (These oral histories are also available at the National Hellenic Museum).
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Grand Rapids Public Library. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Collection 277 contains material gathered for an exhibit in the 1980s at the public museum.
"Greek-American Family: Continuity through Change” It includes oral histories of the following: 
Boxes 10-15 Masters

Boxes 16-21 Usage copies (UT.GH#)
Box 10 and 16
UT-GH.1 Mrs. Christopoulos [could be Sophia, Maria, Wilma - 1981 city directory]
UT-GH.2 George Karaganis (2 tapes)
UT-GH.3 Marion Orphan
UT-GH.4 George and Bess Orphan
UT-GH.5 Vestpers Holy Trinity G. O. choir
UT-GH.6 Maloley (2)
UT-GH.7 Marianne and James Sampanis
UT-GH.8 Bicentennial Biennial Clergy: Laity Congress; Young Adult Symposium Tues. July 6, 1976, Philadelophia PA Archbishop Iakovos, H. M. Petrakis speakers
UT-GH.9 1976Switchboard Thalia Cheronis Selz: A Sallas, N Macroidis, Patrakis, Songs of Independenc and Freedom: Denis Mimitreas; Piano: Vasilios Gaitanos, Poem: Dance of the Zalongon, Alex Karanikas, Shepherds of Freedom: The years of war, Petrakis, Songs, Sonnets
UT-GH.10 Six tapes of meetings about the exhibit
UT-GH.11 Clark Afendoulis (2)
Box 11 and 17
UT-GH.12 Chris Afendoulos
UT-GH.13 George Afendoulos (2)
UT-GH.14 Sam Afendoulos (2)
UT-GH.15 Tina Afendoulos (2)
UT-GH.16 Steve and Sally Andrinidhes (2)
James Zarafonetis
Delia Zarafonetis (2)
Cleopatra Sedaris
Steve Frangos
UT-GH.17 Bessie Arrigo
UT-GH.18 Steve Bacalis (2)
UT-GH.19Joan and James Bogdan
UT-GH.20 Mary and Paul Bogdan (2)
UT-GH.21 Sophia Cachicalis (2)
Box 12 and 18
UT-GH.22 Paul and Connie Chardoul
UT-GH.23 Constantine Dallis (2)
UT-GH.24 Alex Demar and Delia Zervonitis (2) [zarafonetis?]
UT-GH.25 Alex Demar (3)
UT-GH.26.1 Elaine Mitchell, Delia Demar
UT-GH.26.2 and .3 Mrs. Demar
UT-GH.27 Angelo Dimitriou (2)
UT-GH.28 Emma Dukis and Eleni Limber
UT-GH.29 Andreas Fortias (2)
UT-GH.30 Gounos Sourmelou (2)
Box 13 and 19
UT-GH.31 Dean Georgacakes (2)
UT-GH.32, 33, 34 Vivian Hampers (7)
UT-GH.35 Helen Johnson
UT-GH.36 Athena Jaffas (3)
UT-GH.37 Angeline Kachoutis
UT-GH.38 Gus Koukias (2)
UT-GH.39 Sam and Jeannette Koukios
Box 14 and 20
UT-GH.40 Tom Kouchoukos (2)
UT-GH.41 Andy Limber
UT-GH.4 2Alex Mitchell
UT-GH.43 Elaine Mitchell
UT-GH.44 Terry Monoyios
UT-GH.45 James Nicholas (2)
UT-GH.46 Chrysoula Panopoulos (2)
UT-GH.47 Christo and Joan Panopoulos
UT-GH.48 Jane Patsakos (2)
UT-GH.49 Peter Patsakos (2)
UT-GH.50 Ted Sampanes
UT-GH.51 Ted and Linda Sampanis (2)
Box 15 and 21
UT-GH.52 Mary Skouras
UT-GH.53 Bill Savara
UT-GH.54 E. Stavrou
UT-GH.55 Irene Stavrou
UT-GH.56Johnny Theodore (2)
UT-GH.57 Jim Triant (2)
UT-GH.58 Spiro Vlahos
UT-GH.59 Bill Zarafonetis
UT-GH.60 George Zarafonetis
UT-GH.61 James H. Zarafonetis
UT-GH.62 Sharon Zarafonetis
UT-GH.63 Mrs. M. Zazoupoulos
UT-GH.65 Nicoletta and Alexander N. Paranos (2)
Boxes 22 (masters) and 23 (usage)
UT-GH.64 Mike Zervos (2)
13 more tapes of music, lectures

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University of Missouri-St. Louis UMSL Project
The Greek Professorship at UMSL is investigating the history of the St. Louis Greek-American Community. Students will be interviewing members of the community and research materials will be deposited in the Mary E. Critzas Archives of the Greek Culture  Center on the campus of UM-St. Louis. s.”
For information contact Dr. Michael Cosmopoulos, Hellenic Government-Karakas Foundation Professor of Greek Studies, University of Missouri-St. Louis, tel. (314) 516-6241, e-mail cosmopoulos@umsl.edu
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The Youngstown State University Oral History Collection,

The collection began in 1974. It preserves first-person narratives of northeastern Ohioans who have participated in, or closely observed events which have significantly affected both the state and nation.  
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tsakopoulos Collection University Library California State Univ. Sacramento http://library.csus.edu/tsakopoulos/oralhistory.asp
List of interviewees and the year each was recorded:
1.  Bill Rotas, 2006
2.  Speros Sarlis, 2006
3.  Irene Compoginis, 2006
4.  George Tzikas, 2006
5.  George Mackis and Elaine Mackis, 2006
6.  Vaso Mayer, 2006
7.  Dr. Stratis Zampathas, 1984
8.  Marie Brauou, 1985
9.  Presbytera Eleutheria Dogias, 1985
10.            Father Demetrius Dogias, 1985
11.            Eugene Fotos, 1984 & 2005
12.            Tony Stathos, 2006
13.            Mary Stathos, 2006
14.            Helen Caparis, 2005
15.            Mary Lydon, 2006
16.            Bess Anton Feil, 2006
17.            Stella Demas and George Ballis, Louis Demas, and Marilyn Demas, 2005
18.            Julie Mamalis, 2006
19.            Nicholas Kerhoulas, 2005
20.            Gus Petrakas, 2005
21.            Koula Poulos, 2006
22.            Vasilis Verrios, 2006
23.            JoAnne Alexia Demas Horrell, 2006
24.            Jim Vallas, 2006
25.            Louis Demas, 2005
26.            Zita Vlavianos Hosmer, 2013
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State Historical Society of Missouri
S0644 Greek American World War II Oral History Project, 2000
“This collection is available at The State Historical Society of Missouri. If you would like more information, please contact us at shsresearch@umsystem.edu.
Taped interviews with Greek-American men of St. Louis who fought in World War II, conducted in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Greece's entry into the war.”
Box 1
Series 1 - Master Tapes
T644.1 Spiro Abadgis T644.2 Trefont Abadgis T644.3 Spiro Boudoris, 8/10/00 T644.4 Emmanuel Cassimantis T644.5 Thomas A. Ginos, 5/5/00 T644.6 Bill Glastris, 7/8/00 T644.7 Leon Golfin, 3/24/00 T644.8 Tasso Karides T644.9 George Liringis, 4/20/00 T644.10 George Nicozisan, 8/2/00 T644.11 Bill Papageorge, 6/28/00 T644.12 Babe Pappas, 7/16/00 T644.13 George Pappas, 6/21/00 T644.14 Nicholas Stamulis, 7/12/00 T644.15 Elias B. Vlanton, 3/12/00
Box 2
Series 2 - Copies
T644.1 Spiro Abadgis T644.3 Spiro Boudouris, 8/10/00 T644.4 Emmanuel Cassimatis T644.5 Thomas A. Ginos, 5/5/00 T644.6 Bill Glastris, 7/8/00 T644.7 Leon Golfin, 3/24/00 T644.8 Tasso Karides T644.9 George Liringis, 4/20/00 T644.10 George Nicozisan, 8/2/00 T644.11 Bill PapaGeorge, 3/12/00 T644.13 George Pappas, 6/21/00 T644.15 Elias B. Vlanton, 3/12/00
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Utah Division of State History, Utah Department of Heritage and Arts. http://www.heritage.utah.gov/apps/history/findaids/B01644/B1644.xml
The Helen Z. Papanikolas Oral Histories Collection, 1969-1974 A Register of the Collection

Persons interviewed :

Angelos, Georgia
Cononelos, Louis
Cozakas, Efrosini
Demiris, Olympia
Demiris, Peter
Jerefos, Katherine
Kisamitakis, Athena
Klekas, Wilma Mageras
McMichael, Millie Mageras
Papanikolas, Helen
Parchinski, Michelle
Paulos, Theodore
Stephanopoulos, George
Ypsilantis, Eugenia
Zamboukos, Virginia Latsis
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Greeks in Washington
Oral histories from the Greek-American community in Washington State.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IHRC Univ. of Minneapolis  Includes over 100 oral histories from Daughters of Penelope http://www.ihrc.umn.edu/support/greek.php  
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Got Greek –The Next Generation Initiative’s National Student Survey
“The Got Greek” National Student Survey is the first national online survey of American university students of Greek ancestry”
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University of Kentucky Libraries: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History

Smithsonian Archives of Art. http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews
Includes transcribed interviews with several Greek-American artists.
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Library of Congress American Folk Live Center
Arete: The Memories of Greek-American Women: An Oral History Collection Project. This collection contains oral history interviews with people of Greek descent living in the United States, collected during 1987-88.
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Library of Congress American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940

Life histories compiled and transcribed by staff of the Folklore Project of the Federal Writers’ Project for the U.S. Works Progress (later Works Project Administration (WPA) from  1936 to 1940. There are several Greeks among them.  Transcripts are on line.
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Library of Congress Veterans History Project www.loc.gov/vets/
Library of Congress. American Folklife Center Tending the Commons: Folklife and Landscape in Southern West Virginia
Includes a few oral histories of Greeks of Whitesville or about Greeks of Whitesville
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USC Shoah Foundation http://sfi.usc.edu
Audio-visual interviews with survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust. Includes Greek Jews. 


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