Brooke Boyst, an EMU Historic Preservation graduate student, interviews Steven Beard for the Ypsilanti bicentennial celebration on August 19, 2023. Beard, an "old hippie" since 1975, values Ypsilanti's smaller, friendlier community compared to Detroit and Ann Arbor. He enjoys walking his dogs in Riverside Park and appreciates the city's progress in infrastructure. Beard hopes to be remembered positively and shares his philosophy of dealing with difficult people. He recounts a story about a guest from Antarctica who found 15-20 degrees Celsius a heat wave and a flooding incident in Riverside Park that stranded carp.

Steven Beard, Oral History Interview, 2023

Kat Hacanyan, an EMU Historic Preservation graduate student, interviews Taja Tucker Silva for the Ypsilanti bicentennial celebration. Taja, a biologist and artist, moved to Ypsilanti in 2013 after living in Ann Arbor. She appreciates Ypsilanti's small-town feel, walkability, and natural surroundings. Taja has never left Michigan and values the community's familiarity. She notes improvements in downtown businesses and a decrease in crime since her arrival. Taja hopes for future improvements on Water Street and expresses a desire to contribute to environmental efforts, particularly in removing invasive species.

Taaja Tucker-Silva, Oral History Interview, 2023

Thomas Dusbiber attended the Roosevelt School from Kindergarten in 1954 until he graduated in 1966. In this interview, Tom recounts his time at Roosevelt, talking about the quality of the teachers, the struggles of high school athletics, and where the popular hangout spots were when he was in school. He also explores the legacy of the school, and the reasons why so many former students remember it so fondly. 

Tom Dusbiber, Oral History Interview, 2023

In this interview Ypsi native Kenneth Curtis shares their experiences with Ypsi Pride, the first of which they attended in 2017. Curtis's first Ypsi Pride inspired them to start a GSA [Gay-Straight Alliance] at their high school, and later opened the door for them to join the Ypsi Pride board in 2021. They explain the difficulties of throwing Pride during pandemic, the importance of community spaces, and the hopes that Ypsi Pride will continue to grow and improve.

New tracks tagged #Center For Oral History Research