Generation Exchange

Generation Exchange was a collaborative initiative between Mid-Continent Public Library, Heritage Center, Johnson County Park & Recreation District, Johnson County Library, Kansas City Kansas Public Library, and North Kansas City Public Library. The purpose of the project was to collect and share oral histories between generations on careers, neighborhoods, and events.

View Items in the This Collection: 38 Items

Sue Thompson was born in Merriam, Kansas and moved to Kansas City, Kansas after she married her husband, Chuck. They raised two boys together and Sue spent many years volunteering for the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, the Bar Association…

Alvin Sykes has lived in Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri, Topeka, and Omaha, Nebraska. He is well know for his work as a human rights activist, and his search for justice based on the truth. He has conducted legal research in the several…

Dora Munyon experienced many difficulties in her early life. Family troubles resulted in a separation from her siblings and placement in an orphanage. After unsuccessful marriages and issues with alcoholism, she eventually met and married the love of…

Vida Peers worked at Mid-Continent Public Library Headquarters from 1960-1977. She is now retired. This interview was recorded at the MCPL Family Reunion by Graham Fox (Assistant Manager of the Blue Ridge location) on Sunday May 31, 2015 at Arrowhead…

Mike Burke served on the Mid-Continent Public Board of Directors from 1979-1982. This interview was recorded at the MCPL Family Reunion by Andie Paloutzian on Sunday May 31, 2015 at Arrowhead Stadium on the 50 year history of the library…

Every year KCPT / PBS sponsors a young writers contest for students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Sophia, Madeline, Ishya, Finland, Jana and Clark were a few of this year's winners. Each was interviewed by children's author, Ann Ingalls at the…

Every year KCPT / PBS sponsors a young writers contest for students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Ronan, Eleanor, Owen, William, Ayanna were a few of this year's winners. Each was interviewed by children's author, Donna Keith at the Woodneath…

The ladies of the Valley View United Methodist Church Faith Circle are Deanna Klein, Sammie Snell, Louise Evans, Pat Chambliss, Ginny Snider, Lavon Hayman. In this interview six women, ages 70 to 80, share their childhood memories of the telephone,…

Lawrence Abdalla was born in Kansas City, Missouri and later moved to Kansas City, Kansas where he graduated from Wyandotte High School. He studied engineering at Kettering University and worked for several years at General Motors. After taking an…

Pat Gaunce worked for USD 500 and Kansas City, Kansas Public Libraries for more than 40 years. She served as the branch manager of the West Wyandotte and F.L. Schlagle branches and was instrumental in the founding of both. A lifelong Kansas City,…

Dan Schepis has been conservation agent for the past 3 years. He discovered this position while obtaining his Masters in Biology. Dan finds mixing his love for the outdoors and law enforcement within his job duties each day endlessly rewarding.…

Melissa Brown was born in Kansas City, Missouri on May 14, 1970. She lived in the Kansas City area for 18 years until she married her husband, Hollis Brown, and moved to Parris Island, South Carolina. The lived there for 3 years and gave birth to…

Larry Franklin has a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry and an MBA. He worked for 5 years as an Analytical Chemist before moving into Information Technology. He has worked 30 years in the IT field and 20 years as a database administrator. He was manager…

Jasen Ballenger is a wildlife biologist with degrees from Missouri State and Baker Universities. He has varied experience working for the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Clay County parks, among…

Pat Stidham was born in Longview, Texas in 1954. At the age of five, his family moved to the West Texas town of Kermit. Pat graduated in 1973 before attending Rice University on a football scholarship. He married and welcomed his daughter into the…

Chris Eaton had been a teacher for 30 years before retiring. She went to SW Missouri State for Education, and was married in 1976. She taught in Buffalo from 1975-1977 and taught 3rd grade in the Liberty area for 28 years at Platte County R-3.She…

Teresa Leggard started writing poetry in high school and began to write short stories shortly thereafter. She was an English major in college, then applied for a writer position at Hallmark. Teresa got an editorial job there and also pursued an MFA…

Cody grew up in the Parkville, MO area and went to school in the Park Hill School District. He works with the Mid-Continent Public Library as the Woodneath Press Manager. He has a Bachelors Degree in English Writing from Park University and is…

Hollie Westring spent her childhood in southern Illinois, attending high school in Hale, Mo. She later received her bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Central Missouri. She now lives in Kansas City, Missouri and has gone on to…

Karen Baiers was born in Watervliet, Michigan. She grew up on the farm, then moved to Kansas City in 1968 after graduating from Michigan State University.

Interviewee Birth Year: 1945
Interviewer Birth Year: 1997
Interviewer Relation:…

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