Saluki Stories: Oral Histories from SIU

Today we speak with Reginald Petty and Edna Paterson-Petty about how they met, collecting African Art, and their hopes for East St. Louis.

This episode was recorded at the Petty home in East St. Louis during the spring of 2022. Mr. Petty relates how Dick Gregory convinced him to come to SIUC. His story provides a window to race relations in Carbondale in the Fifties and the importance of Delyte Morris in making things better. 

This is a repeat of our interview with sculptor, Richard Hunt that aired August 11, 2021. Richard Hunt received an Honorary Degree in Public Arts from SIUC on Saturday, May, 7 at the spring commencement.

On Saturday, May 7, SIUC awarded Richard Hunt an Honorary Doctorate in Public Art at the spring commencement. We are revisiting the August, 2021 episode to allow more people to hear from this incredible man. Richard Hunt was selected to install the first public art at the Obama Presidential Library. Swing Low hangs in the National Museum of African American HIstory and Culture, Washington D.C.

Scott Furtwengler talks about his time in Carbondale where he worked in Morris Library, the people who influenced his life, and his part in the music scene in Carbondale during the 80s and 90s.

Jimmy Wright talks about life after SIU. In this episode we hear about Jimmy's life in New York City, Jean-Michel Basquiat, his series of drawings of gay life before AIDS, Gay art, and how he became part of the movie, Saturday Night at the Baths. Then AIDS changed the world. We hear about how he came to paint his spectacular still lifes.

Jimmy came to SIU after a BFA from the School of the Art Institute. He had just completed a world tour fellowship from the School of the Art Institute. He focused on an MFA in bronze sculpture and printmaking. In this episode Jimmy talks about why he came to Carbondale and talks about his experience, sculpture department chair Tom Walsh, the fire that burned down his house, studio, and most of his...

Amelia Blakely, a Pulitzer Center Fellow, credits her degree in Philosophy as the inspiration behind her investigative reporting. She spent her final semester in isolation because of the Covid 19 outbreak. 

In Tales of Forgotten Chicago, Richard Lindberg shines light on the many small folklore and big stories that make up the rich tapestry that is Chicago. In every engaging chapter gives new insight. We learn of the connection between SIU and the beginnings of the International Special Olympics, the time that John Wilkes Booth walked the stage of McVicker's Theater in downtown Chicago, the day the Be...

H. B. Koplowitz talks about growing up in Carbondale, working at the Daily Egyptian, Morris Library, and his career in journalism. He is the author of the iconic history of Carbondale in the 1960s and 70s, Carbondale After Dark. It is available at: Carbondale After Dark And Other Stories: Expanded Edition: Koplowitz, H B: 9780979139369: AmazonSmile: Books .

Dr. Batinski discusses his new book Forgetting and the Forgotten: A Thousand Years of Contested Histories in the Heartland. It is a history of Jackson County Illinois, published by the SIU Press in January 2022. It is available at your favorite independent books store and at the SIU Press website, http://www.siupress.com/books/978-0-8093-3837-5

Dr. Batinski speaks about his time at SIU and his book, Forgetting and the Forgotten: A Thousand Years of Contested Histories in the Heartland. His book is available at your local bookstore or online at the SIU Press online store at: http://siupress.com/books/978-0-8093-3837-5

Today we return to the Story of retired Air Force Four Star General, Larry O. Spencer. General Spencer has such an inspirational Saluki Story, we decided to revisit our conversation last November.

Keith Davis talks about his time at SIUC as a Cinema and Photography major. He credits the faculty in C&P having a major influence on his career that lead to his role as chief curator of photography at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. He continues to work with Charles Swedlund, telling the rich history of photography.

Jarrin is a 1994 Graduate of SIUC with a Degree in Mass Communications. He was the Missouri Valley Conference 400 meter hurdles champion in both 1991 (52.83) and 1992 (51.96). He was also all-conference in 1992 (400M hurdles and 4 X 400m relay) and in 1994 (55m hurdles indoors and 110m hurdles outdoors). He now teaches English and is the head boys cross-country coach and assistant track and field...

In this episode Kathryn Harris speaks about how she became a librarian and how that decision culminated in her position as Library Services Director at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, IL. Ms. Harris is known for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman and other historical figures. Through her portrayals she brings history to life for children and adults throughout the y...

Kathryn Harris, retired Director of Library Services at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum speaks about her life and family growing up in Carbondale. She also tells me how her experience as a student worker in Morris Library affected her later career. She remembers some of the Morris Library luminaries, Allen Cohn and John Y. Simon.

Greg graduated in 2008 with a BS in Zoology and a 2019 masters degree in Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management. He discusses his mentors at Touch of Nature, Eric Oberg and Steve Garipy. His masters project Paddle for Patriots, took him down the length of the Mississippi River in a kayak. That trip raised $27,000 for veterans at SIUC

Robert Hartley co-authored Death Underground with David Kenney, published by the Southern Illinois University Press in 2006. We speak with him this week because December 22 will be the 70th anniversary of the mine explosion in West Frankfort that killed 119 miners. Coal mines have been core to the Southern Illinois economy. It touched the lives of countless families throughout the region.  We...

Steven Dew was the Lincoln Academy Laureate from SIU while an undergraduate. He talks about his Honors Program classes and the faculty who made an impact on his life. The faculty he mentions are Dennis Galloway, Radio and Television and Jan Thompson, Journalism. He worked on one of the early videos for the SIU Day of Giving, 2018 working with Rebecca Renshaw and Britni Bateman.

Jeremy Finley talks about his career as an investigative reporter for WSMV in Nashville, TN. He has gone undercover to document corruption and traveled the world to report his stories.

Jeremy is the Chief Investigative Reporter for WSMV TV in Nashville, TN. He has received a National Edward 4 Murrow award for investigative reporting and a National Emmy nomination for investigative reporting. Jeremy also has published two novels, The Darkest Time of Nigh t, and, The Dark Above .

General Larry O. Spencer completed his SIUC undergraduate degree in Industrial Technology without ever stepping on the Carbondale campus. He took his classes on one of the many military bases served by the SIU Extended Campus program. General Spencer has an inspiring story to tell. He wrote it down in his book, Dark Horse: General Larry O. Spencer and His Journey from Horseshoe to the Pentagon, is...

Juana and her family immigrated from Cheran, Michoaca, Mexico in 1995. They settled in Cobden, IL where they found work in the many apple orchards. They also found a growing community made up of other immigrants from Michoacan. Juana faced many obstacles as she pursued her education but she also found mentors at SIU to encourage pursuit. She is a talented artist who recently had her paintings on e...

Todd talks about his time at SIU and how he and his roommate loaded up a trailer and, the day after graduation, headed for fame and fortune in New York City. The fame and fortune was not as planned but he did find a marvelous career in book publishing. We also talked about his new book, Little Pieces of Hope: Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World .