Notes on Oral History Tapes
Scope and Contents
This collection contains documents dating from the late 1940s to 2008. The collected papers reflect the life work of Betty Louise Fouch, including her personal published and unpublished writings, a variety of correspondences with family and friends, genealogical information, newspaper clippings from local and non-local sources, paperwork related to Betty’s health, divorce, and children, a substantial amount of addressed and unaddressed cards, as well as myriad lists and miscellaneous ephemeral items. This particular series consists of two processed boxes containing a mixture of postcards, letters, photographs, etc., focusing on the Anderson family. These boxes also contained several oral history tapes, with accompanying notes. The remainder of the series consists of a collection of calendar books, and a large amount of photographs of miscellaneous subject matters. In particular one portion of photographs depicts Ralph Spaulding and Amy Franszine during and after World War I, along with large amount of family photos. The common themes within the collection include: Hammond, IN, alcoholism, the Veteran’s Association, people with disabilities, issues of the role of women in the domestic and professional workplace (and broader social and cultural circles), sexual identity and homosexuality (particularly in the Jim Jordan letters), feminism, student activism, HIV/AIDS, Vietnam (in particular documents relating to her son Terry Kohler), Chicago, and creative writing (e.g., poetry, short stories, creative non-fiction, etc.). The collection of documents related to overeating and dieting suggest that this was an issue that Betty struggled with, in particular later in her life. Betty’s concern for the treatment of people with disabilities may stem in part from her daughter, Jamie Fouch, who was born with a mental disability.
Dates
- Creation: 1940-2008
Creator
- From the Collection: Fouch, Betty Louise Spaulding Kohler (Donor, Person)
- From the Collection: Peterson, Faith (Person)
- From the Collection: Bridges, Arthur (Person)
- From the Collection: Anders, Jennie (Person)
Extent
From the Collection: 5.0 Cubic Feet (10 Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Western Michigan University Archives & Regional History Collections Repository
Charles C. and Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490
arch-collect@wmich.edu