Elder Interview-Charlene Cornelius
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Charlene CorneliusEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.061Tags
Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Cornelius, Charlene Elsie Born 2/14/1935 Parents: Frances Mabel (Sickles) Cornelius & Charles Solomon Cornelius They lived by Silver Summer School in a 2 room house. Then they got a farm house on what they call now Van Boxtel Road, by the water tower. Her parent’s had 15 children. She had 2 daughters, 6 grandchildren 7 great grandchildren. Her grandparent’s on her mother side is Elsie Cornelius and Albert Sickles. Her grandparent’s on her father side is Marilyn Charles and Salmon Cornelius. All her grandparent’s spoke Oneida language. But she didn’t know how to speak the language. Her mother went to an Indian School in Keshena, and her father went to Tomah, then to Hampton. And I went to Carlisle Indian School. When I started school I was 6 years old. She went to Chicago Corner’s. They had to walk quite a way’s to school. She went to that school until 3rd grade. Then they moved. Then she went to St. Mary Catholic School, she went there for 3rd and 4th grades. Then they moved again she went to Silver Summit School, she graduated 8th grade. Later on she moved to Chicago and finishes her school there. Their Christmas was hard times. They went through the line twice to get a bag of candy, peanuts, oranges, popcorn balls, candy canes and apples. They use to get some thing from the church and her parents use to buy them one present’s. They use to put candy on their Christmas tree. Her mother and her family were Catholic and they were Methodist. When they were young they went out to pick beans when she was 7 or 8 years old. Then they had to babysit their younger brothers and sisters. They were taught to cook and to do laundry and the house work. They use to go to White people houses for Hoyon. The white people use to give them fruit’s and cookies. When they went to Oneida they got doughnuts. Hoyon meant to her was Happy New Year. She was a teacher in Chicago. She was the only Indian in Illinois to become a teacher. Her advice to the young is staying in school get their education. Be proud of who you are, and respect others and elders. Stay away of drugs.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media