Register of the Harold Forbush Oral Interview Transcriptions MSSI 50 Brigham Young University-Idaho Special Collections Brigham Young University-Idaho 2003 Contact Information Brigham Young University-Idaho Special Collections David O. McKay Library Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID 83460 USA Phone: 208/496-2986 Fax: 208/496-2374 Email: powellj@byui.edu Processed by: Date completed: 2003 Joel Miyasaki
Encoded by: Brian Shull 2004 Brigham Young University-Idaho. All rights reserved. Descriptive Summary Call Number: Title: MSSI 50 Creator: Forbush, Harold S. Repository: Extent: Biographical History Abstract: Scope Abstract: Access Open to Public Research Conditions of Use Harold Forbush Oral Interview Transcriptions Brigham Young University-Idaho Special Collections.5 linear feet Harold Sanford Forbush was born on December 2, 1921, in the small community of Driggs, Idaho. At age eleven, Forbush lost his sight in a tragic hatchet accident, and he subsequently attended the School for the Blind and Deaf at Gooding, Idaho. In retirement, Forbush has moved around the Snake River Valley, but he has continued to play a major historical role as an active member of the Upper Snake River Historical Society. This collection is the result of an ongoing joint effort between the BYU-Idaho Special Collections & Archives and the Upper Snake River Valley Historical Society. The collection is organized according to the numbering system used on Judge Forbush s original tapes. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from Harold Forbush Oral Interview Transcriptions must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the Special Collections Board of Curators. Preferred Citation Initial Citation: MSSI 50; Harold Forbush Oral Interview Transcriptions; Brigham Young University-Idaho Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho. Following Citations: MSSI 50, BYUISC. Biographical History Harold Sanford Forbush was born on December 2, 1921, in the small community of Driggs, Idaho. He was the first son of his parents, Elmer and Blanche Forbush. At age eleven, Forbush lost his sight in a tragic hatchet accident, and he subsequently attended the School for the Blind and Deaf at Gooding, Idaho. Graduating from high school in Sugar City, Forbush continued his education at Idaho State University and then at the University of Idaho. Forbush graduated from the University of Idaho Law School in 1949 and was admitted to the Idaho Bar Association in the same year. He practiced law in Driggs while also serving as the Teton County Attorney until 1973. In 1973, Forbush was appointed as the magistrate over Madison County and he continued in this capacity until his retirement in 1985. Being blind, Forbush became an excellent and detailed listener. He was passionate about collecting and preserving the history of Southeast Idaho. Forbush traveled extensively all over the Upper Snake River Valley and recorded his conversations with prominent individuals of the communities. He is known as one of the greatest and most prolific oral historians in Idaho. The results of Forbush s interviews have led to the publication of several books such as Education in the Snake River Valley, The Idaho Falls LDS Hospital, Pioneering the Snake River Fork Country, and History of Teton Valley, Idaho. In retirement, Forbush has moved around the Snake River Valley, but he has continued to play a major historical role as an active member of the Upper Snake River Historical Society. Scope and Content Note This collection is the result of on ongoing joint effort between the BYU- Idaho Special Collections & Archives and the Upper Snake River Valley
Historical Society. These two organizations are pooling their resources in order to transcribe a large collection of Harold Forbush s interviews in the series he titled Oral History of the Snake River Valley. These transcriptions represent a panorama of Southeast Idaho s social, religious, and political history. Of particular interest are the interviews that address the lives of minorities and the disabled. The collection is organized according to the numbering system used on Judge Forbush s original tapes. As the transcription process continues, the hope is to insert the new transcriptions within the same numbering system. Subject Tracings Places Subject Snake River Valley (Idaho) Education--Idaho--Snake River Valley--History Public schools--idaho--snake River Valley--History Teachers--Idaho--Snake River Valley Mormons--Education--Idaho--Snake River Valley Container List "Voices from the Past" "Voices from the Past" Box Tape Number Description 1 1 Taylor Brothers Raising Sheep: Gordon B. Taylor 1 2 Mail Delivery Ashton, Id- West Yellowstone: A. C. Nichols 1 4 The Spanish Speaking People Among Us: Agustin Gutierrez 1 5 Blind of Eastern Idaho: Alma B. Larson 1 8 Henry s Lake Area1910-35: William and Bertie
Rayburn 1 9 Newspaper Work in Sugar City: Nettie Garner 1 15 J. Earl Garner : J. Earl Garner 1 16 Rexburg Postal Services: Cyral A. Watson 1 18 Stage Coaches in the Park: Ira A. Stanton Howard 1 21 Changing the Landscape: Lowell R. Barrick 1 23 Early School Teaching: Andrew Anderson Nelson 1 25A Gravity Flow Sprinkler Irrigation: Melvin W. Burgner 1 26 History of Mud Lake: Mildred Stayley and Joe Hartwell 1 27 Grace Christian School: Pastor Jerry and Gail James 1 30 Impact of Depression on Sugar City: Norma and Cleo Browning 1 32 Boxing and Wrestling :Gordon Dixon 1 36 Eagle Rock: Fred W. Keefer 1 41 Rigby, Idaho: Omar Cordon 1 43 Sugar City: William and Douglas Pincock 1 48 Living Experiences in Fremont, Madison, and Teton Counties: Clendon Edgar Gee 1 58 A Life Sketch of Jacob Spori: Elizabeth Spori Stowell and Annie Spori Kerr 1 101 Pea Seed Industry: Fred O. Wilcox 1 136 Henry Alvin Harry Munn s Life Story: Alvin W. Munns 1 143 Scouting: Teton Peaks Council: Vernon L. Strong 1 151 Beet Sugar Factory, Sugar City: John Camphouse 1 153 He Was a Hero to Family and Friends : John Rolland Clark 1 156 Tommy Miyasaki s Triumph over Obstacles Along Life s Pathway: Tommy Miyasaki 1 159 Poole s Island Settlement John and J. Rulon Poole 1 163 Emory Gilbert Adams: Emory Gilbert Adams 1 174 John Schwendiman: Switzerland to Upper Snake River
Valley: John Schwendiman 1 180 Teton Flood & Recovery: W. Keith Walker 1 190 Hayden, Teton County: Jim Breckenridge 1 Clementsville: Silas Clements 1 Railroad Removal: Ashton to West Yellowstone: Dean L. Palmer 2 Summaries of Oral Histories of the Upper Snake River Valley Voices from the Past: Grace Christian School, An Idaho Historian, A Life Sketch of Jacob Spori tapes. 3 Harold S. Forbush Journal Vol. 10, 11, 12