Interview with George McColm, a Navy veteran and an agricultural expert, concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. McColm discusses his education at Kansas State College, his experiences in agricultural marketing research, his employment with the Production Marketing Administration of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, his employment at Topaz Relocation Center for Japanese Americans (1942-1944), his induction into the U.S. Navy (1944), his role in planning for the invasion of the Japanese home islands (1945), and his role in writing Japanese land reform laws during postwar American occupation. Appendix includes photocopies of various biographical documents concerning George McComb and his career in the U.S. Navy and in agriculture.

Interview with Willard B. Naughton concerning his experiences while employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression. Naughton worked at a camp in Council Grove, Kansas (Company 4703). This interview covers his childhood, his experiences in the Great Depression, his experiences as a hospital orderly in the CCC, and his biggest takeaways from working in the CCC.

Interview with Allen S. Kilborn, a former member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Boone, Iowa, regarding his experiences and memories of participating in the CCC during the Great Depression.

Interview with David McGuire, a college professor from Waldo, Kansas, regarding his education and music background, career in music education at the University of North Texas, the development of the College of Music, and band history.

Interview with Raymond F. "Hap" Halloran, businessman and U.S. Army Air Force WWII Veteran (878th Bomb Squadron, 499th Bomb Group, 73rd Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force) concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.

Transcript of an interview with Reverend William McElvaney, Dallas clergyman and social activist. McElvaney discusses concerning his childhood and education in Dallas; membership in Methodist Church; pursuit of undergraduate and MBA degrees from SMU; career in banking and oil businesses; decision to enter Perkins School of Theology at SMU and Union Theology Seminary in New York; influence of Reinhold Niebuhr; family life; pastorship of Methodist church in Justin, Tex., St. Stephen's United Methodist Church of Mesquite, Tex., and Northhaven United Methodist Church of Dallas; involvement in Dallas civil rights movement, particularly around issue of fair housing, and efforts to integrate Mesquite schools; involvement in antiwar movement; career as teacher and administrator at Saint Paul School of Theology of Kansas City and Perkins School of Theology; efforts to make Northhaven a "reconciling congregation", opinions on "Religious Right" and its role in American politics.

The New Yorker recently referred to Pat Metheny as “possibly the most influential jazz guitarist of the past five decades.” A native of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, just southeast of Kansas City, Metheny started playing in pizza parlors at age fourteen. By the time he graduated from high school he was the first-call guitarist for Kansas City jazz clubs, private clubs, and jazz festivals. Now 66, he attributes his early success to the local musical environment he was brought up in and the players and teachers who nurtured his talent and welcomed him into the jazz community. Metheny’s twenty Grammys in ten categories speak to his versatility and popularity. Despite five decades of interviews, none have conveyed in detail his stories about his teenage years. Beneath Missouri Skies also reveals important details about jazz in Kansas City during the sixties and early seventies, often overlooked in histories of Kansas City jazz. Yet this time of cultural change was characterized by an outstanding level of musicianship.

The nine stories in Mike Alberti’s debut collection shine a sharp light on small-town American life —not the Arcadian small towns of yesteryear, but the old mill towns hanging on after the mill has stopped running, the deserted agricultural communities in the middle of vast industrial farms, places where bad luck has become part of the weather. But even in these blighted, neglected landscapes, the possibility of renewal always presents itself: there is hope for these places and the characters who inhabit them. In these fresh, innovative stories, some people let you down, but some people don’t.

Interview with Bruce Elliot, a Navy veteran and POW from Montezuma, Kansas. Elliot discusses his family, joining the Navy and volunteering for Asiatic service, the start of war and the bombing of Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines, retreat to Corregidor, capture by the Japanese, escaping internment on Palawan and joining Moro guerillas, sabotage, linking up with Australian forces, evacuation to Australia and returning to the United States, becoming a deepsea diver, and Korean War service. In appendix are a photo of Elliot, a map of the Philippines, two photos of a POW camp on Palawan, and a photo of three of his comrades.

Interview with Colonel John E. Olson, a Army WWII veteran and POW from Leavenworth, Kansas. Olson discusses his family background, commissioning in the Army from West Point, assignment to the Philippines in 1939 as an infantry officer, the start of the war, withdrawal to Bataan and the ensuing battle and surrender, the Bataan Death March, internment at Cabanatuan, transfer to Osaka, experiences there in internment at a factory labor camp, liberation, organizing the evacuation of POWs, returning to the US, and his postwar career.

Interview with Pam Livingston, a Denton, Texas public servant from Kansas. Livingston discusses growing up, her family, attending North Texas State College (UNT), her impression of Denton, her jobs with the city, being a certified business development specialist, church activity, changes in Denton over time, and thoughts on community. In appendix is a picture of the Denton County Courthouse, and one of the Denton County Confederate Memorial.

Interview with Howard Charles, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Partridge, Kansas. Charles discusses growing up in the Great Depression; joining the Marine Corps and training; assignment to the USS Houston (CA-30) at Manila as a heavy machine gunner and events before the war; the Battle of Sunda Strait and sinking of the Houston; capture by the Japanese and being held at Serang, Java; experiences in internment and forced labor at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, various camps along the Burma Railway, and Saigon; liberation; psychological treatment, trauma, and adjusting to civilian life. In appendix is a letter written by Charles to Marcello including additional information for the interview.

Interview with J. W. Stoker, a cowboy from Weatherford, Texas. Stoker discusses his family and growing up, getting involved in the rodeo, traveling shows, being drafted into the Army and serving in Korea, celebrities he has worked with, the Six Flags Wild West Show, induction into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, contemporary rodeos, his favorite acts, and reflections on his career. In appendix are two promotional photos of Stoker and his horse, and three of him performing.

Interview with Thomas A. Chipman, who is a World War II veteran and restaurant business owner from Hill City, Kansas. In the interview, Chipman discusses his experiences as a medic and driver in the European Theatre during the war. He describes what basic training and his induction into the Army was like, and also talks a little bit about when he was sent to the Pennsylvania Military College to earn a degree in engineering. Chipman recollects when his battalion was transported to England and France in order to fight in several battles that included the Battle of the Bulge. He describes what it was like to stay in Europe, and includes details such as the attitudes toward battlefield carnage, the evacuation and transport of the dead and wounded, the capture of German prisoners-of-war, and civilian refugees. Chipman reminisces of the German surrender and his return to the United States, where he started a restaurant business career.