1 audio

History / Biographical: Herman Arason was born on February 17, 1923 in Glenboro, MB. Herman's grandparents emigrated from Iceland in the 1870s. He married Donna Elvene Baldwin (1928-2006). Together they had three children: Signe, Laura and John.. Herman began his working life in Carrott River and was employed at a lumber yard and with Manitoba Hydro. From 1943-1945, he served in the Air Force where he trained as a navigator. Herman obtained a diploma in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba, being awarded the Nuffield Foundation Scholarship, which gave him the opportunity to study English farming practices. The remainder of his career was spent farming in the Glenboro area. Herman was active in the community, serving on and with numerous committees and organizations, including; the Agriculture Society, the Kiwanis Club, 4H Club, Curling Club, Glenboro Lutheran Church, Argyle Lutheran Parish, Olafson Brothers Foundation, Raystone Drop In Center and the Credit Union Board. From 1966-1980, he served as a municipal councillor for Argyle Municipality. Herman Arason died on January 11, 2008 at the Glenboro Health Centre. He is buried at Glenboro Cemetery.

Custodial History: As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.

Scope and Content: Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Herman Arason about Icelandic history in the Glenboro area and the Arason family history. Interviewer is Irene Brown.

Notes: History/bio information from the records and obituaries for Herman and Donna Arason. Description by Christy Henry.