Title: Oral History Interviews of the March on Milwaukee Oral History Project
Inclusive Dates: 2007-2008

Creator:

• March on Milwaukee Oral History Project

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 281

Quantity:

• 1.4 cubic ft. (3 boxes including 28 audio cassettes)
• 108 digital files (33.3 GB)

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Collection consists of abstracts and audio recordings of interviews conducted as a class oral history project at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The interviews concern the open housing marches that took place in Milwaukee in 1967 and 1968, and general civil rights issues in Milwaukee.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0281

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The March on Milwaukee Oral History Project was designed to help document the open housing movement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin of 1967-1969, led by Father James Groppi, Alderwoman Vel Phillips, and the Milwaukee NAACP Youth Council. It was also intended to help commemorate the 40th anniversary of the open housing marches in September 2007, which included a day-long conference at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), exhibits at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and America's Black Holocaust Museum (both located in Milwaukee), and a commemorative march and program on the city's James E. Groppi Unity Bridge (formerly the 16th Street Viaduct). The oral history interviews were conducted by Amanda Wynne, a UWM history graduate student intern, undergraduate students in Professor Michael Gordon's fall 2007 senior history seminar, and by Michael Gordon himself. Interviewees include Margaret (Peggy) Rozga, Father Groppi's widow and the organizer of the 2007 commemoration; several priests who participated in the demonstrations and other civil rights activities; Frank Aukofer, a journalist who covered the demonstrations for a local newspaper; members of the NAACP Youth Council and the NAACP YC Commandos; and ordinary citizens.

The collection consists of taped interviews and abstracts of the interviews. Topics covered typically include biographical information, involvement in or recollection of the open housing marches in Milwaukee, and race relations in past and present Milwaukee. Many of the interviewees discuss their reflections on the civil rights movement in light of their religious affiliations.

The collection case file includes legal release forms signed by all participants.

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

Selections from this collection are included in the UWM Libraries' digital collection The March On Milwaukee: Civil Rights History Project.

• Frank A. Aukofer Papers. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 189.

• James Groppi Papers. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EX.

• Sherman Park Community Association 1992 Oral History Project Records. UWM Manuscript Collection 111.

Access Restrictions

Researchers must use digital access copies of audio records. There are no other access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Michael Gordon donated the collection to the Archives in November 2008 (accession 2008-036).

Processing Information

Ellen Engseth and Megan Hawley processed the collection at the Archives in December 2008.

Preservation Information

George Blood L.P digitized the audio cassette recordings which had not been digitized as part of the March on Milwaukee digital collection project in August 2015. Audio preservation master files were created as 96 kHz/24-bit resolution 2 channel broadcast .wav files. Audio access copies were created as 44 kHz/192 kbps bit rate 2 channel .mp3 files.

	Adelman, Norman, 2008 May 14 Scope and Content Note: Adelman moved to Milwaukee from New York, and worked with the Milwaukee Jewish Community Center and the Children's Outing Association. He reflects on his experiences working with Father James Groppi and Lloyd Barbee through the Freedom Schools and Milwaukee United School Integration Committee (MUSIC), the NAACP Youth Council, and the open housing marches.
Box   1 Folder   1	Abstract
	Interview
Box   2 Audio   1-2	Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the network access copies available at the archives.
Electronic Folder     \Adelman, Norman\	Physical Description: 4 digital audio files
	Arms, Adolph "Pappy", 2007 August 17 Listen to this interview, view the index, and search the transcript. Scope and Content Note: Arms was born in Milwaukee and attended North Division High School before joining the Commandos. He discusses fellow marchers, the Freedom House, the 1968 Poor People's Campaign in Washington, D.C., and job discrimination in the local union. Lastly, he recalls his impression of the Black Christmas boycott and the civil disturbances in July 1967.
Box   1 Folder   2	Abstract
Box   2 Audio   3	Interview Physical Description: 1 audio cassette  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the interview in the online version.
	Arms, Mary, 2007 July 29 Listen to this interview, view the index, and search the transcript. Scope and Content Note: Arms, a member of Milwaukee's NAACP Youth Council, discusses her arrest and treatment by the Milwaukee police, protests, the Freedom House fire, the Black Christmas economic boycott, and her involvement with the Commandos including her naming of the group, and the Commando-ettes. Arms also reflects on Father Groppi as a leader, a priest, and a father figure to children.
Box   1 Folder   3	Abstract
Box   2 Audio   4-5	Interview Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the interview in the online version.
	Aukofer, Frank, 2007 November 16 Listen to this interview, view the index, and search the transcript. Scope and Content Note: Aukofer, a Milwaukee native, began covering civil rights for the Milwaukee Journal in 1964, thus reporting most of the 1967 open housing marches. He discusses racism in past and present Milwaukee, his relationship with and impressions of Father Groppi, his experiences in reporting the marches, the Youth Council's use of the media during the protests, the roles of Mayor Maier and police chief Breier, the success of the marches, and current journalism.
Box   1 Folder   4	Abstract
Box   2 Audio   6	Interview Physical Description: 1 audio cassette  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the interview in the online version.
	Butler, Shirley, 2007 August 29 Listen to this interview, view the index, and search the transcript. Scope and Content Note: Butler, a native of Milwaukee, attended St. Boniface School and Pius High School. She discusses discrimination as a child and student in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee NAACP Youth Council, the Commandos and Commando-ettes, and joining Father Groppi in the Poor People's Campaign in Washington, D.C.
Box   1 Folder   5	Abstract
Box   2 Audio   7-8	Interview Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the interview in the online version.
	Cullen, Michael, 2007 November 20 Scope and Content Note: Cullen, a Catholic priest, moved to Milwaukee in 1964. He reflects on his relationship with Father Groppi and discusses influences that led him to civil rights activity. He discusses the meaning of the open housing marches, and the leadership role of Father Groppi with the marches and the NAACP Youth Council.
Box   1 Folder   6	Abstract
	Interview
Box   2 Audio   9-10	Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the network access copies available at the archives.
Electronic Folder     \Cullen, Michael\	Physical Description: 3 digital audio files
	Diederichs, Carl, 2007 November 13 Listen to this interview, view the index, and search the transcript. Scope and Content Note: Diederichs, a Franciscan priest from Appleton, Wisconsin, speaks of discrimination and changes in Milwaukee Catholic parishes due to white flight and African-American migration, participating with Father Groppi and open housing marches, and black leadership in the Catholic Church.
Box   1 Folder   7	Abstract
Box   2 Audio   11-12	Interview Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the interview in the online version.
	McGhee, Joyce, 2007 Scope and Content Note: McGhee, a Milwaukee native, attended Rufus King High School. She became involved in the open housing movement at the age of fifteen. She reflects on the Black Christmas boycott and her experiences with the open housing marches including its dangers, her family as marchers, diversity among marchers, and being a schoolgirl during the activities.
Box   1 Folder   8	Abstract
	Interview
Box   2 Audio   13-14	Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the network access copies available at the archives.
Electronic Folder     \McGhee, Joyce\	Physical Description: 3 digital audio files
	O'Halloran, Pam, 2007 August 16 Listen to this interview, view the index, and search the transcript. Scope and Content Note: O'Halloran, a native of Milwaukee, was one of the first white members of the NAACP Youth Council in the late 1960's. She speaks about picketing the Eagles Club, her dissatisfaction with the non-violence approach, Father Groppi as a leader in the community, and refutes reports regarding the July 1967 riots.
Box   1 Folder   9	Abstract
Box   2 Audio   15-16	Interview Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the interview in the online version.
	Rozga, Margaret (Peggy), 2007 June 19 Listen to the 2007 interview, view the index, and search the transcript. Scope and Content Note: Rozga was born and grew up on Milwaukee's South Side and became interested in civil rights while attending Alverno College. She recounts her experience registering voters in Alabama during the summer of 1965, meeting and later marrying Father Groppi, the Eagles Club protests of 1966, her experience with the open housing marches, and her role with the NAACP Youth Council.
Box   1 Folder   10	Abstract
	Rozga, Margaret (Peggy), 2008 August 19 Listen to the 2008 interview, view the index, and search the transcript. Scope and Content Note: Rozga discusses her experience registering voters in Alabama in 1965, the NAACP Youth Council's decision-making process and its national reputation, life at the Freedom House, how the Youth Council became involved with open housing, and Father Groppi's motivation.
Box   1 Folder   10	Abstract
Box   2 Audio   17-18	Interview Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the interview in the online version.
	Salas, Barbara, 2007 July 22 Scope and Content Note: Salas, a Milwaukee native, speaks about being a white member of the NAACP Youth Council, meeting at the first Freedom House with Father Groppi, the Commandos and Commando-ettes, marching across the 16th Street Viaduct, the Freedom House fire, rallies at St. Boniface, participating in school boycotts and the Freedom Schools, police relations, and Mayor Maier.
Box   1 Folder   11	Abstract
	Interview
Box   2 Audio   19	Physical Description: 1 audio cassette  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the network access copies available at the archives.
Electronic Folder     \Salas, Barbara\	Physical Description: 2 digital audio files
	Schoenfeld, John, 2007 November 13 Scope and Content Note: Schoenfield, born in Milwaukee and a Missouri Synod Lutheran, discusses the planning committee for the first open housing march, including the role of South Side Hispanics, treatment by and surveillance from the police, the passage of open housing legislation, and a meeting called by Mayor Maier after the Martin Luther King, Jr., assassination.
Box   1 Folder   12	Abstract
	Interview
Box   2 Audio   20-21	Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the network access copies available at the archives.
Electronic Folder     \Schoenfeld, John\	Physical Description: 3 digital audio files
	Sell, William, 2007 November 17 Scope and Content Note: Sell, a native of Milwaukee, speaks of participating in civil rights and anti-war campaigns during his tenure as a priest at St. Catherine's Church, his relationship with Father Groppi, the march across the 16th Street Viaduct, division in the Catholic Church regarding civil rights, and the Catholic Church's role in open housing and civil rights.
Box   1 Folder   13	Abstract
	Interview
Box   3 Audio   22-24	Physical Description: 3 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the network access copies available at the archives.
Electronic Folder     \Sell, William\	Physical Description: 5 digital audio files
	Waldheim, Peter, 2007 October 6 Scope and Content Note: A Milwaukee native, Waldheim joined the NAACP Youth Council and Commandos in 1967. He discusses his earlier civil rights activities, Father Groppi, the Commandos, the experience of being white in a largely African American group, opposition and violence during marches, life at the Freedom House, and the passage of local open housing legislation.
Box   1 Folder   14	Abstract
	Interview
Box   3 Audio   25-26	Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the network access copies available at the archives.
Electronic Folder     \Waldheim, Peter\	Physical Description: 4 digital audio files
	Williams, Jean, 2007 August 29 Scope and Content Note: Williams, born in Milwaukee, became involved in the civil rights movement through her husband Sylvester. She speaks about intact bussing, Father Groppi and St. Boniface parish, Friday night dances at the Freedom House, and picketing of the Eagles Club and various aldermen.
Box   1 Folder   15	Abstract
	Interview
Box   3 Audio   27-28	Physical Description: 2 audio cassettes  Access Restrictions: The original audiocassettes are restricted. Reaserchers must listen to the network access copies available at the archives.
Electronic Folder     \Williams, Jean\	Physical Description: 3 digital audio files