Anshel Brusilow was born in 1928 and raised in Philadelphia by musical Russian Jewish parents in a neighborhood where practicing your instrument was as normal as hanging out the laundry. By the time he was sixteen, he was appearing as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also met Pierre Monteux at sixteen, when Monteux accepted him into his summer conducting school. Under George Szell, Brusilow was associate concertmaster at the Cleveland Orchestra until Ormandy snatched him away to make him concertmaster in Philadelphia, where he remained from 1959 to 1966. Ormandy and Brusilow had a father-son relationship, but Brusilow could not resist conducting, to Ormandy's great displeasure. By the time he was forty, Brusilow had sold his violin and formed his own chamber orchestra in Philadelphia with more than a hundred performances per year. For three years he was conductor of the Dallas Symphony, until he went on to shape the orchestral programs at Southern Methodist University and the University of North Texas. Brusilow played with or conducted many top-tier classical musicians, and he has opinions about each and every one. He also made many recordings. Co-written with Robin Underdahl, his memoir is a fascinating and unique view of American …

Interview with Jose Gonzalez, an anesthetist and Army veteran of the Vietnam War. In the interview, Gonzalez describes his experiences while serving as an Army nurse in Vietnam. Gonzalez discusses what life was like during his assignment to the 24th Evacuation Hospital, and includes details concerning relationships between doctors and nurses, morale, American relations with Vietnamese civilians, recreational activities, entertainment, and his Bronze Star award. He also recalls the adjustments that both he and many of his comrades dealt with post-Vietnam, and shares his attitudes toward the war.

Interview with Darrell Harrington, an anesthetist and Army veteran of the Vietnam War. In the interview, Harrington describes his experiences while serving as an Army nurse, and includes details on his assignments to Chu Lai, Da Nang, and the 91st Evacuation Hospital in An Khe. Harrington also discusses the treatment of wounded troops and enemy soldiers, relationships between doctors and nurses, general morale problems, and recreational activities. He recalls his return to the States on thirty-day leave as well as post-Vietnam adjustments and his attitudes toward the war.

Transcript of an interview with Keith Heavrin Jr., homesteader and simple life advocate. Heavrin shares concerning his childhood; military experiences in Vietnam; love of the sea; discovering the Nearings and the Simple Life; decision to homestead in Maine; memories of the Nearings and the Good Life Center.