This collection contains interviews conducted by Dr. Donald Braid, his students, and Dr. Margaret Brabant, Director of Butler’s Center for Citizenship and Community. Interviewees address a variety of topics, including neighborhood safety and how the area has changed over time. They also discuss relationships with the university and Butler students. Many residents lived near or next to students renting for their senior school year, with speeding cars and trash commonly cited as issues. Despite this, the interviewees speak positively of Butler and its students.

Some of the residents lived in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood for their whole lives and were elderly at the time of their interview. They note changes over time, including people passing away and their adult children renting out houses to students or others. While acknowledging the reasoning, full-time residents were not happy about this. Many interviewees also note how the neighborhood integrated early on and the desire to be accepting of all people; they also note the economic disparities in the Butler-Tarkington area.

One of the interviews is with Patricia Cochrane, the great-great granddaughter of Ovid Butler and the grandniece of Booth Tarkington. In her interview, she explains more of the history of Butler University, Indianapolis, and her family. Another noteworthy interview is with Marie Delores Eldridge who is blind and dealt with someone breaking into her home; she discusses how the neighborhood came together to assist her. Another interview of interest is with Luther and Mildred Hall, longtime residents who discuss issues of race in Butler-Tarkington and in Indianapolis.

This collection contains cassette tapes of oral history interviews; most also include transcripts. There are three anonymous interviews and two interviews that are restricted with no permission for public use.