History Up Close & Personal
Bisbee’s storied past is recorded, reflected, and retold in the Museum’s oral history collection. Share a smile at the memories of growing up, living, and working in Bisbee in its heyday as a thriving industrial city with a definite personality. If you are interested only in certain topics, such as mining, banking, holidays, ranching… you name it, use the keyword search.
Elaine Saba interviewed by Beverly Woods March 6th 2000
Content: Family Tree 00:10, Coming to Arizona 7:50, Employment 10:30, Sulphur Springs Valley Employment 14:00, Monsoon 14:58, Copper Queen Hotel 16:15, Salesmen 17:05, Copper Queen Hotel 17:50, Cochise County Social Work 18:10, Dr. Saba’s Family 23:40, Dr. Saba Coming to Bisbee 28:20, Country Club 30:30, Swimming Pool 31:20, Naco Nightclubs 32:10, Restaurants 32:50, Marriage to a Dr. 34:00, WWII 36:25, Copper Queen Hospital 42:10, Raising Children 48:00, Volunteering and other Work 50:48, Museum Involvement 55:50
Date Recorded: 06/03/2000
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenElizabeth Daume (Part II) Interviewer unknown-Oct 26, 1994
Content: Marriage 0:10, Motorcycles 3:20, Parade 4:21, The Great Depression 6:49, Commerce 8:20, Vandalism and Theft 16:02, Retirement 19:37, Lavender Pit 24:05
Date Recorded: 26/10/1994
Interviewed By: Not Set
ListenElizabeth Daume interviewed by Adelaide Elm
Content: Southern Arizona Auto 0:20, WWII/Military service 1:51, Various employment 4:01, Sutter and Gentry 6:01, Wages 8:30, African American soldiers 9:29, Legal work 12:02, Jim Gentry 13:40, Ranching 16:01, Judge Fred Sutter 17:32, Jim McNulty 20:50, Martin Gentry 25:30, Legal fee's 28:15, Probate work 30:19, Real estate 39:00, Office work 37:01, Bena Cook 40:20, Dictation machine 42:45, Office equipment 43:55
Interviewed By: Adelaide Elm
ListenElizabeth Daume interviewed by Adelaide Elm-Apr 22, 1987
Content: Biography 0:45,Immigration 2:00,German population in Bisbee 6:05, World War I (WWI) 7:30, Baptism 11:01,Mining 12:58, Bisbee Deportation 16:08,Street Car 19:05
Date Recorded: 22/04/1987
Interviewed By: Adelaide Elm
ListenElizabeth Daume interviewed by Beverly Woods-Oct 26, 1994
Content: Immigration 0:39,Transportation 4:55, Landmarks 5:18,Commerce 7:40, Horse and Buggy 8:13,Coaster Races 10:49,Street Car 12:16, Boarding Houses 14:20,Livestock 18:01,School Life 23:25,Grocery Stores 28:40, Circus and Theater shows 32:33, Movie Theater/Silent Movies 34:40,Street Car 37:34, Immigration 39:30, Cooking and Baking 40:25, Christmas celebration 44:05, Clothing/Apparel 45:40
Date Recorded: 26/10/1994
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenElizabeth Daume interviewer unknown-April 22, 1987
Content: Marriages 0:03, Death 2:45, Commerce/Lawyer Fee's 9:30, Law Structure and Probate 11:48, Buildings 13:50, Real Estate and Land ownership 14:30,Divorce 21:40, Office Equipment 25:20, Job Training 25:50, Union Meetings 33:14, Retirement 37:09, Politics 48;50, Death 58:30
Date Recorded: 22/04/1987
Interviewed By: Unknown
ListenElizabeth Semler interviewed by Clark
Content: Family Tree 00:10, Bisbee Hospital 00:30, Houses in Bisbee 2:35, Different Doctors 3:10, Dr. Frances F. Shine Biography 3:40, Bisbee Hospital 4:40, Dr. Shine’s Death 5:50
Interviewed By: Not Set
ListenElsie Hogan interviewed by Coleen Crowlie-March 16, 1982
Content: Birth 0:55,New Mexico territory 2:25, The Great Depression 6:10, Library extension 6:32, Women reading club 8:39, Friends of the Library 14:34, Banned books 16:34, Library extension 17:35, Children s books 20:15, Teaching 23:00, Vandals and renegades (drifters) 28:19, Caring for books 34:01, Children s books 35:00, Adult books 36:01, Love Stories 39:09, Working in the library 42:56, Library in the community 47:50, maintaining books 49:00
Date Recorded: 16/03/1982
Interviewed By: Coleen Crowlie
ListenElsie Ragsdale interviewed by Beverly Woods - Jul 24, 1990 (part 1)
Content: Lineage 0:15, English immigration 0:30, School life 6:10, Home life 7:40, School employment 11:10, Neighborhood 13:00, Courtship 14:40, Don Luis 15:45, Transportation 20:15, Lowell fire 20:45, Railroad station 21:10, Marriage 24:00, Illnesses 33:00, Deportation 34:55, Ethnic food 35:55, Diet 37:45, Bandstand 38:35, Country Club 40:45, Highland Park 42:05, Swimming Pool 42:05, Reservoir 44:30, Coaster races 47:55, Teaching job 49:50,
Date Recorded: 24/07/1990
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenElsie Ragsdale interviewed by Beverly Woods - Jul 24, 1990 (part 2)
Content: Stagecoach station 0:05, Gambling 1:10, Racket Store 2:05, Pythian Castle 2:30, Snow 4:40, School life 5:40, Train 9:00, English immigrants 9:40, Mayor Williams 13:40, Lineage 16:38, Horse & Buggies 18:20, 1918 Spanish Influenza 19:45
Date Recorded: 24/07/1990
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenEmily Trishka interviewed by Carl Nelson (One of Two)
Content: Origins of Bisbee 00:40, Discovery of the Mines 2:40, Searching for Ore 4:34, Saturday Nights in Bisbee 7:40, Sidewalks 8:00 Sassy’s Ice Cream Parlor 9:40, Coming to Bisbee 10:45, Ore Carts 12:18, Mules in the Mines 13:20, First Miners in Bisbee 16:34, Finnish Immigration 17:40, Immigration 18:50, World War I 19:54, Brokerage Offices 21:40, Lives of Women in Early Bisbee 23:40, Bathing 31:50, Bisbee Boom 37:50, Running Water 45:00, Mine Accidents 45:20, Hospital for Miners 46:17, Pay Day 49:15, Walking to School 50:26, Entertainment 51:50, Women’s Club 54:30, Transportation 57:40
Interviewed By: Carl Nelson
ListenEmily Trishka interviewed by Carl Nelson (Two of Two)
Content: Courtship/Cave Discovery 00:05, WWI 6:00, Retirement 11:20, Traveling 11:30, History of Cochise County 14:50, Depression 16:10, Interest in Indian Sites 20:20, Archaeological Discovery in Cochise County 22:00, Chiricahua Mountains 26:15, YWCA 26:55, Rains and Floods 33:45, CCC 40:25, 4th of July Drilling Competition 41:20
Interviewed By: Carl Nelson
ListenEnrique Cantu (**Spanish interview) interviewed by Valenzuela-1980
Content: Native American Attack 0:09, Employment 2:09, Mexican revolution 3:05, Transportation 3:50, Pancho Villa's raids
Interviewed By: Not Set
ListenEnrique Cantu (**Spanish interview) interviewed by Valenzuela-1980
Content: Mexican immigration 0:30, Mexican workers in a mining company 3:35, Lavender pit 4:40, Bisbee Deportation 5:18, Bisbee Deportation Death 7:05, Shootout 8:28, Bootlegging 10:30, Grocery store 12:05, Inflation 12:59, Bakery 14:15, Mexico 15:13, Mexican Saloons 16:21, Dance halls 16:52, Coming to Bisbee 18:02, Employment 23:10, Fire 26:30, Fire 27:40, Marriage 30:14, The Great Depression 32:36, Musical bands 32:55
Interviewed By: Not Set
ListenEsker Mayberry interviewed by Coleen Crowliet November 6th 1980
Content: Birth 00:35, Coming/Moving to Bisbee 1:40, Sunset Boarding House 5:30, Jones Hill 6:15, First Impressions of Bisbee 8:00, Brewery Gulch 8:30, First Day of Work 10:00, School for Mines 12:10, Mucker 15:45, Stoping 16:10, Stope Grounds and Crew 17:50, Mine Memories 26:30, Ghosts in the Mines 27:20, Accident and Injury in the Mines 30:00, Springs and Water Sources 47:30, Death in the Mines 48:48, Silicosis 53:50, Joking and Horseplay in the Mines 1:01:20
Date Recorded: 06/11/1980
Interviewed By: Coleen Crowliet
ListenEsker Mayberry interviewed by Coleen Crowliet November 6th 1980 (Two of Two)
Content: Dry Drilling 00:10, Fires 4:40, Rotating Shifts 5:55, Unions 8:35, Entertainment 12:20, Rats in the Mines 13:15, Different Shifts 16:00, Wages 19:30, Banks 19:45, Automobiles 21:30, Housing 22:00, Automobiles 22:40, Brewery Gulch 23:50, Population Increase 29:40, Boarding Houses 30:13, Criminals 35:00, Courtship 38:30, YMCA 40:55, Courtship 41:30, Mormon Church 45:30, Managers of the Mines Homes 47:35, Laundry 48:30, French Kitchen 50:30, Politics 51:35, Layoffs 54:00
Date Recorded: 06/11/1980
Interviewed By: Coleen Crowliet
ListenEster Clark Giving a Speech
Content: Introduction 00:05, Biography 2:10, War with Vietnam 3:00, South Vietnam 8:10, Women 15:30, Plumbing 19:25, Sleeping Accommodations 21:00, Communication 24:45, Pilots 27:10, Being Shot At 34:05, Risks of War 37:00, Allies During the War 41:05, Injuries 45:45, Informing Parents Their Child Has Died 51:40
Interviewed By: Not Set
ListenEugene Harris interviewed by Beverly Woods-Oct 26, 1992
Content: Civilian Conservation Corp 0:21,Baking 1:45,Cooking 2:19,Buffalo Soldiers 3:12, Montezuma's Pass 3:48, The Great Depression 4:50,Commodities 7:40,Wages/Pay 8:41,Mexican Currency 10:43, Sunnyside, Arizona 11:53,Train 12:12, Naco CC camp 13:00,Buffalo Soldier camp 13:20, Parker CC camp 14:10, Supply Route 16:17, Water spring 17:25,Entertainment 22:30,Discipline 30:42, Prohibition 31:00, Bootlegging 32:12,Alcoholism 33:36,Death 38:29,Education 39:40, Dams 46:30, WPA 49:47,Food 54:15,Phelps Dodge 55:25,Miner's wages 56:30,World War II 59:58
Date Recorded: 26/10/1992
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenEva Riley Rylance interviewed by Beverly Woods - Mar 17, 1997
Content: Lineage 0:10, 1918 Mexican expropriation 1:20, Warren 6:00, Schools 6:50, Car raffle 8:20, Sports 9:28, Proprietorship 10:45, Home life 14:35, Gardening 16:10, Diet 20:00, Dinnertime 24:45, Loretto Academy 26:00, Mexico's 1817 anti-clericalism 27:00, Catholic churches 29:00, Church meals 33:00, Child rearing 35:70, Chores 38:25, Tennis 40:45, Pastimes 41:10, Trains 42:50, Lowell market 46:15, Grocery stores 47:15, The Great Depression 49:02, Christmas 51:05, Teaching positions 54:10
Date Recorded: 17/03/1997
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenEvelyn O'malley interviewed by Keller Hogan
Content: Union Strike 0:32, Train 0:35, Family Tree 0:50, Burro train 1:00, St. Patrick's church 1:28, Spanish Flu Epidemic 2:28, Mining accidents 3:30, St. Patrick's church 4:45
Interviewed By: Keller Hogan
ListenEverett Wittig interviewed by Beverly Woods April 28,1998
Content: Marriage 0:35, Family linage 0:52, Tombstone history 1:30, Wagon train 2:36, Apache raid 3:03, Barber shops in Bisbee 4:37, Baseball Warren ball field 5:55, Family lineage 8:37,School 9:18, WWI 11:09, Family lineage 12:20, Movie theater 13:30, Bisbee junction 14:30, Train ore boxes 15:00, Ore transportation 17:00, Rough Riders 18:30, Mine shaft collapse 21:45, Family home 22:50, Neighborhood 24:28, Fricks dance hall 25:58, Tamale vendor 29:10, Streetcar 29:55, Utilities 30:40, Buss service 31:19, Main street 32:31, Police dept 33:50, Schooling 35:28, African American Community 37:18, School integration 38:03, Closure of Franklin School 38:20, 4th of July celebration 39:14,Parade 40:39, Buffalo soldiers/African American soldiers 43:06, 4th of July celebration 43:54, Schooling 46:50, Phelps Dodge 47:50, Fire Dept 50:40, Underground fire 52:10, Retirement 54:25, School 57:10
Date Recorded: 28/04/1998
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenFelipe Barcelo interviewed by Beverly Woods January 13th 1997 (One of Two)
Content: CCC Camps 00:11, Family Tree 00:20, Fairbanks 2:45, Patagonia 7:50, CCC Camp 13:00, The Great Depression 18:20, Erosion Control 24:40, Being Away from Family 25:40, Time Period of Program 27:20, Uniforms 29:30, Wages 30:25, Housing 33:20, Food 34:50, Youth in Program 37:00, Record Keeping 40:55, High Trail 45:55, Entertainment 46:20, CCC Reunions 48:00, Entertainment 49:00, Girls Camp 49:40, Mess Hall 52:15, Christmas 54:10, Forest Service Camp 57:40, Traveling 58:50
Date Recorded: 13/01/1997
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenFelipe Barcelo interviewed by Beverly Woods January 13th 1997 (Two of Two)
Content: Building a House 00:10, Sickness 2:00, Colossal Caves 2:55, Bugs 5:10, Snow in Globe 5:55, Blasting in the Mines 6:25, School 7:20, Newspapers 8:20
Date Recorded: 13/01/1997
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenFlorence Boss
Content: Schooling 0:10, Various Employment 0:50, WWI 2:25, Shop Class 4:05, Teaching 7:15, Various family homes 8:00, W.P.A/C.C.C 13:03. Various employment 16:01, Teaching positions 18:58, Archaeological excavation 23:27, Central School book drive and book restoration 25:24, School Government 28:30, Various teachers and their various employments 29:01
Interviewed By: Not Set
ListenFlorence Brown interviewed by Stewart Clark-Nov 10, 1970
Content: Schooling 0:57, Saloons 2:33, Main Street 5:10, banquets 6:58, Central school 7:52, graduating class 9:25, Basket weaving 9:45, Fundraising 10:19, Naco, Sonora 11:40, Spelling Bee 13:10, Schooling 13:33
Date Recorded: 10/11/1970
Interviewed By: Stewart Clark
ListenFlorence Noulin interviewer unknown-Sept 10,1978
Content: Family 0:30, Train 1:00, Lowell Arizona 1:15, Employment 1:40, Phelps Dodge Corporation 2:00, Bisbee Deportation 3:05, Lavender Pit 3:30, WWI 3:50, Marriage 4:10, Ice delivery 4:45, Street car 5:44, Theater 6:35, Automobile 7:35, Football 8:31
Date Recorded: 10/09/1978
Interviewed By: Not Set
ListenFloyd Harris (tape 2) interviewed by Beverly Woods- Oct 10, 1990
Content: Flu epidemic/Spanish Flu 00:23, Mining accident 1:55, Hospital 2:45, Company hospital 6:15, Musical band 7:44, Model "T" 9:11, Phelps Dodge store 10:50, Concert 12:00, Hereford, Arizona 14:39, Prohibition 16:16, Serbian community 18:50, Public fighting/domestic violence 19:20, Marriage 19:53, Mexican dances 20:42, Dance halls 23:25, George Sellers as a musician 23:50, George Sellers as an artist 28:35, The death of George Sellers 29:20, Construction 30:47, Barbers 36:20, United States currency 37:00, Fourth of July 38:03, Butcher shop 40:30, Brewery gulch 41:50, City Marshall 42:10, Showing family photos 42:30
Date Recorded: 10/10/1990
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenFloyd Harris interviewed by Beverly Woods-Nov 14, 1990
Content: Orpheum Theater 0:10, Hypnotist show 0:21, Dance shows 3:20, Lyric Theater 3:35, Charlie Chaplin shows 4:48, Woolworth 5:54, Eagles Hall 6:45, Theater owners 9:54, Railroad transfer wagons 11:18, Accident 13:15, Construction 16:05, Marriage 18:08, Labor Day 26:48, Phelps Dodge Store 27:25, Lowell produce 28:18, Tin Town 29:45, Mexican immigration 30:10, South Bisbee 31:34, Garbage pickup 33:45, Model "T" 34:15, Garbage dump 36:08, Street car 37:59, Motorcycle 38:58, Mexican miners 42:00, Street car 43:50, Railroad 44:54, Fourth of July 46:12, Brewery Gulch Days 47:20, Coaster races 51:32, Floods 53:29
Date Recorded: 14/11/1990
Interviewed By: Art Kent
ListenFloyd Harris interviewed by Beverly Woods-Oct 10, 1990
Content: Family history 0:19,Marriage 0:55,Greenway School 3:50,Circus 4:55,Dance hall 5:13,Popular Dance 6:55,Violin players 7:48,Prospecting 8:40, Dutch immigration 9:05, Family estate 10:50, Phelps Dodge 12:57, Southern Raid Road 14:35, Steel Construction 15:05, Model "T" 16:45, Phelps Dodge Store 17:10, The Great Depression 19:41, CC camp 21:34, Baker Canyon 22:25, Serbian, Greek and German immigrants 22:33, Livery Stable 25:03, Automobile 26:26, Street car 28:40, Golf 30:10, Plumbing 31:28, Goats 33:44, Water Irrigation 34:44, Gardens 36:10, Cemetery 36:45, Horse and Buggy 38:00, Weather 38:41, Vegetable garden 42:40, Farmers market 43:10, Maxwell Hill 44:05, Meat market 44:50, Slaughter house 48:10, Mining clothes 50:52, Miner wages 52:40, Hostess Franchise 55:01, World War II 55:25,Miner deportations 57:11
Date Recorded: 10/10/1990
Interviewed By: Beverly Woods
ListenFrances Walker Interviewer Unknown
Content: Family Tree 00:45, Train and Traveling 5:00, Dairy 8:03, Warm Drinking Water 8:45, Hospital 8:45, Smallpox 13:40, Justice of the Peace 15:30, Teaching Certification Test 19:20, Rough Riders Recruitment 22:30, Indians Selling Items 31:20, Hail Storms 35:40, Kettle to Cook Ham 37:20, First Orange 38:05, Homestead 41:00, Mormons 42:50, Cattle and Cowboys 45:30
Interviewed By: Unknown
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