Oral history of Lelah Schornick, 1976 May 5, 2006 March

Schornick tells of her family's move to Mesa from Cherryville, Kansas, in 1909, to help her father's bronchiectasis. She recalls crops grown in those days: almonds, peaches, cantaloupe, citrus, dates. There were many ostrich farms and they ate ostrich eggs. She also talks about keeping cool by sleeping outside and wrapping water jars in wet burlap. Schornick married her husband Eugene (Gene), in 1917, and they had two children. Gene fought in World War II and retired from a career at Salt River Project during which he helped install the electrical system at Parker Dam. Schornick talks in length about her extensive collections of Native American art and artifacts including pottery, blankets, and kachinas. She gives detailed history of the art and much information about the daily lives of Native Americans.