Welcome to the John Novak Digital Interview Collection


Daisy GaryTake a moment to hear Daisy Gary and her experience having some dinner guests (mp3, 337 KB, 1:08 min).

Daisy remembers when her father allowed three white men who were new in town to stay at their home. They ate dinner together at the same table and they even slept in her brother's room with him.

Some time later when she was in town, Daisy saw one of the men who had stayed with them and she said "Hi, Charley," and he replied "Mista Charley." Daisy called him "Mista pile a slop!" She was outraged. Daisy was older than him and since he had grown up he treated her as if he was above her. He had acted as if her father wasn't the one who had taken him in, fed him, and treated him and the other men as if they were family.

From that point on whenever she seen him she would smile and say "Hi Charley" and he would say that she was "just evil."

Listen to the full interview or read the transcript to learn more about Daisy Gary's experiences.


About the Collection

The John Novak Digital Interview Collection consists of interviews about immigration, migration, and the Civil Rights Movement. The interviewees, who range in age from 20 to 90, speak of their experiences moving to and within the United States.

This developing collection supports the goal of learning about history and human progress from the experiences of ordinary individuals. The Collection does not seek to interview famous individuals but to provide a better understanding of the challenges and choices ordinary people face in their daily lives. Each interview has audio files (MP3) and an interview index or transcript.

The project began in 2004 as part of a Teacher-Scholar award received by Professor Dena Scher in the Psychology/ Social Sciences Department of Marygrove College. In 2006, librarian Michael Barnes adapted the digital interviews into a special collection within the auspices of the Marygrove College Library. Today, Professor Scher continues to facilitate additions to the collection, while librarian Christine Malmsten maintains the website.