Illinois State University Archivist April Anderson-Zorn is the keeper of all things history on campus and, in the latest episode of Redbird Buzz, she shares information and stories about three influential women from Illinois State’s past. Anderson-Zorn manages the Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives and is tasked with preserving and unearthing the history of Illinois State, as well as sharing that history with the campus community and beyond.

In this episode, Anderson-Zorn discusses Dr. June Rose Colby, Anna Ropp, and Dr. Patricia Ann Chesebro—each of whom had a unique impact on Illinois State University and the Bloomington-Normal community. From stories about participation in the Suffragist movement, to daily diary entries about life in the mid-1900s, to the genesis of Illinois State’s women’s studies program, you won’t want to miss this fascinating episode.

  • Archived article from The Vidette
  • Anna Ropp's handwritten journal
  • Two pages of a paper

Redbird Buzz is available on SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicStitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Transcripts of each episode are available online at Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/Podcast.