Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 21/7/215
Bernard Mahler Timberg (1946-2010)
Oral Histories, 1968-2006, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Timberg, Bernard Mahler (1946-2010) |
| title: | Oral Histories |
| dates: | 1968-2006, undated |
| extent: | 0.71 linear ft. (1 card file box and 1 half-document box ) |
| collection number: | RS 21/7/215 |
| repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Bernard Mahler Timberg Oral Histories, RS 21/7/215, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Biographical note
Bernard Mahler Timberg was born July 25, 1945, in Washington, D.C. He earned his B.A. (1971) in comparative literature from the University of California, Berkeley, his M.S. (1976) from Iowa State University in journalism and mass communication, and his Ph.D. (1979) from the University of Texas, Austin in radio-television-film. While at Iowa State, Timberg worked with Professor James Dow of the Department of Foreign Languages on his Master of Science degree. Dow also had an interest in local folklore and oral history. Timberg's creative thesis was titled "Voices of Iowa: a Descriptive Thesis" (call no. ISU 1976 T481) and was a series of radio programs which included stories and oral history traditions from around the state of Iowa. His storytellers included Albert Parks Butts, who reminisced about his time working for the railroad; Orville K. Snav (a.k.a. Al Crowder), who owned a satirical company in Mason City that produced BunaBs, which apparently had no practical use; Mabel Bartenhagen, who recounted her years working on Mississippi river boats; and Abe Mezvinsky, who discussed his life story and his memories of living in Russia before emigrating to the United States. After receiving his Ph.D., Timberg taught at many schools around the country, including the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Queens College of the City University of New York, Rutgers University-Newark, Radford University, Virginia Tech, and East Carolina University. He continued to write and produce radio and television programs and published many books and articles on the media, mental health issues, and Jewish studies, among other interests. Timberg was married to Judy Tooley. He had two children, Eli and Katie, and two step-children, Sonya and Carla. He passed away July 23, 2010. |
Collection description
The collection (1968-2006, undated) contains coursework and materials from Timberg's Master of Science thesis at Iowa State University and audio recordings of oral history interviews conducted by Timberg during his time at Iowa State. Included in the tapes are the original recordings identified and indexed in the appendix of his thesis. Timberg gathered oral histories from a variety of Iowans including Jack Shelley, Albert Parks Butts, Mabel Bartenhagen, Abe Mezvinsky, Lewis Morris, Jack Musgrave, and Lida Green. |
Related materials
Organization
The collection is organized with audio recordings in Box 1 and additional materials in Box 2. |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Interview with Mabel Bartenhagen on Riverboating, part 1 (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
2 |
Interview with Mabel Bartenhagen on Riverboating, part 2 (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
3 |
Interview with Mabel Bartenhagen on Riverboating, part 3 (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
4 |
Interview with Mabel Bartenhagen on Riverboating, part 4 (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
5 |
Music for Mabel Bartenhagen Program (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
6 |
Interview with Lewis Morris on Water Witching (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
7 |
Interview with Lewis Morris on Water Witching (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
8 |
Interview with Lewis Morris on Water Witching (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
9 |
Phone Call to Lida Green, State Historical Society of Iowa, Jack Musgrove, Director of State Museum and Archive (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
10 |
Phone Call to Jack Musgrove, Lida Green on Water Witching (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
11 |
Interview with Ernie C. Deane on Ozarks Folklore (3 1/4 inch reel to reel tape) |
1975 |
1 |
12 |
Interview with Albert Parks Butts: Kate Shelley Story as told by Butts; "The Romance of the Railroad" Story of Albert Parks Butts (7 1/2 inch reel to reel tape) |
undated |
1 |
13 |
"The Romance of the Railroad" Story of Albert Parks Butts (7 1/2 inch reel to reel tape) |
undated |
1 |
14 |
"The Romance of the Railroad" Story of Albert Parks Butts (7 1/2 inch reel to reel tape) |
undated |
1 |
15 |
"The Romance of the Railroad" Story of Albert Parks Butts (7 1/2 inch reel to reel tape) |
undated |
1 |
16 |
"The Romance of the Railroad" Story of Albert Parks Butts (7 1/2 inch reel to reel tape) |
undated |
1 |
17 |
"The Romance of the Railroad" Story of Albert Parks Butts (7 1/2 inch reel to reel tape) |
undated |
1 |
18 |
Interview with Mabel Bartenhagen (cassette recording) |
1975 |
1 |
19 |
"A Railroad Man Reminisces, Part I and II" with Albert Parks Butts (cassette recording) |
undated |
1 |
20 |
"Orville K. Snav: Or What is a BunaB?" (cassette recording) |
1975 |
1 |
21 |
Interview with Abe Mezvinsky (cassette recording) |
1975 |
1 |
22 |
Interview with Abe Mezvinsky (cassette recording) |
1975 |
1 |
23 |
Interview with Abe Mezvinsky (cassette recording) |
1975 |
1 |
24 |
Kate Shelley Story as told by her nephew Jack Shelley (cassette recording) |
undated |
2 |
1 |
Biographical Information |
2006 |
2 |
2 |
Correspondence with James Dow |
1975 |
2 |
3 |
Course Notes |
1974 |
2 |
4 |
Orville K. Snav BunaB Project and Correspondence |
1975 |
2 |
5 |
Research Paper for Art 150 |
1968 |
2 |
6 |
Thesis Proposal |
1974 |
2 |
7 |
Transcript of Abe Mezvinsky Interview |
1975 |