Summary

Title: Transcript of an Oral History Given by Larksfield Place Resident Nelda Kell

Interviewer: Rita Pearce

Type: Transcript of taped interview

Publication date: October 27, 1997

Summary: A detailed account of growing up in the 1920s and life in the 30s in small town Kansas. She talks about Prohibition, Life in the Great Depression, and the impact of World War II rationing on their lives. Nelda Johnson Kell was born June 1, 1913. She spent her early years in Florence where her father built the historic water tower. She recalls school days, teenage activities, her courtship and marriage to James Kell, who worked at the Harvey House. Her two children were delivered by Dr. Hertzler. The family moved to Wichita, where Jim bought and rehabilitated business buildings and owned a number of shoe repair shops.

Key words:

Retirement; Larksfield Place; Family; Wars; World War Two; WWII;  Holidays; Junction City Kansas; Toganoxie Kansas; Florence Kansas; Sweden; Harvey House; Florence water tower; childhood diseases; pneumonia; chicken pox; whooping cough; appendicitis; phonographs; Girl Reserves; Wichita; PEO; Hollywood; silent movies; Christmas; Marion Toli; The Perils of Pauline; croquet games; school days; Epithedra; courtship; Dr. Hertzler; Newton Kansas; childbirth; Ford automobile; Maxwell automobile; Dade Business College; Livingston's Cafe; Wichita Eagle newspaper; Ralph's Shore Repair; Ralph Stromeyer; Gold Ahead; Alzheimer’s Disease; Prohibition ;WCTU; Women’s Christian Temperance Union; Great Depression; Presbyterian Church; Ponca City; Progressive Series Music Teachers Association; Kansas University; Sunday School; piano teacher; Bethel Hospital; Newton Kansas; real estate; Topeka Kansas; Raymond Brown; Life of Louie Pasteur; Paul Muny