Collection Number

Contact Information

The Library, Special Collections
Cal Poly Humboldt
One Harpst Street
Arcata CA 95521
URL: http://library.humboldt.edu/humco/holdings/warren.htm

Processed by

Carly Marino, Special Collections Librarian & Archivist
Hannah Evans, Special Collections Internship Coordinator
Jorden Goodspeed, Special Collections Student Intern

Date Collection Processed

Spring 2025

Language

English

Collection Creator

KIEM

Dates Covered by Collection

Date Span:1840s-1950s (estimated)
Bulk dates: 1880s-1910s

Size of Collection

1 linear foot (63 tapes)

Abstract

The KIEM Old Timers' Oral Histories Series are first-hand accounts of the very beginning of non-indigenous settler development in Humboldt County in California. The interviewees are those who have personal stories or know of detailed stories relating to colonization and the following development of this region. 

Access

Available for research by appointment. Digitized audio available at https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/old_timers/

Copyright

Copyright has not been assigned to Cal Poly Humboldt. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce in any format, please contact the Special Collections Librarian.

Acquisition Information

Biographical Information

KIEM originally statrted as a radio class at Humboldt State College with their first braodcast happening on October 30, 1941. By 1955 they renamed to KHSC and began regularly scheduled programmng for six hours every week day. On October 4, 1972 the call letters changed to KHSU reflect the name change from "Humboldt State College" to "Humboldt State University." Today KHSU remains in operation by students on Cal Poly Humboldt's Campus. The Old Timers series audio was originally recorded on 16" laquer disks, then later updated to 8" reel to reels, next transferred to cassette tapes and finally digitized for online access. The orginal laquer disks were recorded on a transportable device, most likely allowing the interviewer to travel to the "Old Timers" homes to record their stories. This audio recording would have then been played on KIEM's "Old Timers Radio Show."

Scope and Content

Recordings of interviews made in the late 1940s about time periods ranging from the 1860s to the early 1910s. Interviews include individual oral accounts of Humboldt County history of settlements, companies, and relations with natural resources and tribes. These interviews also provide bodies of insightful information about interview methods of radio journalists, and the history of medical, agricultural, mineral, and fishery businesses in Humboldt county, as well as specific locations of certain historical structures and their past functions.

Arrangement of Collection

All of the tapes are housed in one box. Two additionally pieces of information include one binder compiled by the Humboldt County Historical Society which contains sparse transcripts and summaries of broadcasts, and one binder created by a previous HSU student who researched the Old Timers Radio Show and created a few transcripts and summaries of a few oral histories. 

Related Works

Bibliography 

Cal Poly Humboldt article, "KHSU History" 

Subject Headings

Oral history--California
Oral history collection
Oral history--Societies, etc.--History