Oral History Interview with Peter Webber

Partial Transcript: "Would you like to tell me a little about your background?"

Segment Synopsis: Peter Webber remembers growing up in New England and Pennsylvania and early memories of WWII. He outlines his early career making prototype models for products and working at a Quaker school in Pennsylvania until finally settling on organ making and tuning.

Subjects: Friends Select School (Philadelphia, Pa.); Industrial design; Organ (Musical instrument); Organ builders; Tuning; WWII

Partial Transcript: "I saw the ad in the paper for the Steiner-Reck Company."

Segment Synopsis: Webber outlines his career in organ building, starting in Finley, Ohio, before moving to Louisville to work for the Steiner-Reck company among others. He discusses moving between companies and being self-employed as an organ tuner, and lists several organs that he has worked on.

Also mentioned is Terry Bourney, organist at the Unitarian Church and Webber's business partner.

Keywords: Steiner-Reck Organs

Subjects: Organ (Musical instrument); organ builders; organists

Partial Transcript: "What instruments have you worked on after Steiner?"

Segment Synopsis: Peter Webber discusses the work he has done with his own Organ company Webber Pipe Organs. He discusses the organ at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Louisville, as well as other projects undertaken by Webber Pipe Organs.

Keywords: Webber Pipe Organs

Subjects: Organ (Musical instrument); Organ pipes; tuning

Partial Transcript: "How about if we talk now about your involvement with the church?"

Segment Synopsis: Peter Webber discusses his life-long involvement with the Unitarian Universalist church. He mentions teaching religious education at different grade levels, singing in the church choir, and his family's involvement in the church. He also gives insight on church history, specifically the merger of the Unitarian and Universalist churches. He ends the segment by detailing the experimental organ he donated to the church following the fire in the 1980's, as well as the original Steiner-Reck organ.

Keywords: pipe organ

Subjects: Organ (Musical instrument)

Partial Transcript: "Why don't we talk a little bit about the fire?"

Segment Synopsis: Webber discusses his initial reaction to the fire that burned the First Unitarian Church in Louisville, what was damaged or lost, and a music collection that was saved from the fire. He outlines the rebuilding process, including the guidelines set up by the building committee and his involvement in setting up the acoustics for the main sanctuary. He also gives architectural details about the new and old church. Webber briefly mentions John Gage's Homefront, a radio program recorded in the church sanctuary that highlights local folk and bluegrass artists in Louisville.

Keywords: Gage, John; Kentucky Homefront; Louisville West End

Subjects: church architecture; fire; Live sound recordings; Music Collection; radio programs

Partial Transcript: "Bob Reid was the minister here from 68 to 85."

Segment Synopsis: Peter Webber shares his memories of ministers at the First Unitarian Church, including Robert Reid, Richard Beal, and Phil Smith. He also recalls social justice issues taken up by the church, including civil rights for African Americans and providing a sanctuary for El Salvadorian refugees.

Keywords: Phil Smith; Richard Beal; Robert Reid

Subjects: African Americans; Civil rights; El Salvador; Refugees; Social justice

Partial Transcript: "The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans Began"

Segment Synopsis: Peter Webber discusses his involvement with the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, the role he and his wife Linda played in the group, and how that group interwove itself with the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Louisville.

Subjects: Paganism.

Partial Transcript: "Do you have any other memories that you'd like to share...?"

Segment Synopsis: Webber reveals small connections that he has with former minister Richard Beal. He discusses his family in Maine, as well as his pride in the church's role in reminding people in Louisville to consider different viewpoints and perspectives.