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Oral History Interview with David T. Vo, March 5, 2023
Interview with David Vo, a resident of Calera, Oklahoma. Vo discusses his upbringing in Vietnam, his father's work as an officer in the South Vietnamese military, the Vietnam War, escaping on a boat and coming to the United States, getting his degree in automotive industrial technology at Cal State University, starting a family, and his perspective regarding his homeland.
Oral History Interview with Horace N. Robinson, February 11, 2023
Interview with Horace N. Robinson, a resident of Durant, Oklahoma. Robinson discusses his upbringing, life in a small town, the appearance of polio, World War II, PTSD he had seen in veterans, Christianity, the development of pacifism, the Vietnam War, and reminders left behind.
Oral History Interview with Keith Shelton, April 27, 2017
Transcript of an interview with Keith Shelton, journalist, concerning his childhood in Oklahoma; family history; journalism training and career; Cold War military service in Germany; work for Dallas Times Herald; coverage of John F. Kennedy's 1963 Texas visit and assassination; coverage of Jack Ruby's trial; UNT journalism department; teaching journalism. Appendix includes various photos of Shelton, a letter from President Lyndon B. Johnson, a copy of a press release from The White House, and copies of Shelton's press passes.
Oral History Interview with James F. Brede, 2011
Interview with James F. Brede, dentist and U.S. Army Air Forces veteran. The interview includes his personal experiences in World War II as a B-17 co-pilot with the 8th Air Force in the European Theater, his childhood in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943, preliminary training in Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, his active service with the 379th Bomb Group in Kimbolton, England, combat experience in 35 missions, return to the U.S. and continued military service as a flight instructor in Lakeland, Florida and Wichita Falls, Texas, as well as the return to civilian life, marriage, dental school under the G.I. Bill, reenlistment in the Air Force as a dentist, his deployment to Korea, his discharge from the Air Force, and the establishment of his dental practice and experiences since retirement. The interview includes an appendix with a copy of his book.
Oral History Interview with Louise Young and Vivienne Armstrong, February 24, 2010
Interview with Louise Young and Vivienne Armstrong, longtime activists in the Dallas lesbian community. The interview includes Armstrong's personal experiences of childhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, New Jersey, and California, as well as her decision to study nursing and settle in Denver, Colorado, and her coming out narrative. The interview also includes Young's personal experiences of childhood in Ada, Oklahoma, her education at East Central State University and the University of Colorado, and her coming out narrative. They talk about their meeting and early relationship, give descriptions of Denver's gay and lesbian communities, their involvement with various groups such as the Daughters of Bilitis and Gay Liberation Front, their decision to move to Dallas, their involvement with groups such as the National Organization for Women and Dallas Gay Political Caucus/Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance in various political campaigns, and Young's career at Texas Instruments and Raytheon and efforts to create more equitable human resources policies from within the corporations. Additionally, Armstrong and Young talk about the effects of the HIV-AIDS crisis on Dallas's gay and lesbian communities, their 2008 marriage, relationships with family members, and secrets to a long relationship.
Oral History Interview with Cece Cox, November 6, 2009
Interview with executive director of resource Center Dallas Cece Cox. The interview includes Cox's personal experiences about childhood in Ohio and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, education at Northwestern University, moving to Dallas, and having a career as a photojournalist and studio photographer. Additionally, Cox discusses her coming out narrative, involvement with groups such as Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and Dallas Gay Alliance/Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, as well as her decision to enter SMU Law School, and her relationship with her partner, adopted son, and family members. The interview includes an appendix with newspaper articles from the Dallas Morning News and flyers.
Oral History Interview with John Aaron, November 4, 2006
Interview with Alan Lee Briscoe, NASA engineer and manager, as part of the Skylab Oral History Project. The interview includes Aaron's personal experiences about childhood and education, having a career with NASA in mission control, space shuttle and software development, and International Space Station programs. Aaron speaks about his duties on various missions, Skylab's importance to NASA and space exploration, and his perceptions of NASA's working and management culture. The interview includes an appendix with photographs.
Oral History Interview with James Koger, July 14, 2006
Interview with James Koger, Army veteran, concerning his memories of childhood in Des Moines, Iowa, Peoria, Illinois, San Antonio, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; decision to enroll at University of Oklahoma; being drafted in 1945; training in Army Corps of Engineers; service in postwar occupation of Japan; decision to return to University of Oklahoma; career as aviation engineer with General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas. Appendix includes photo of interviewee.
Oral History Interview with George E. Fortenberry, September 24, 2003
Interview with George E. Fortenberry, who is an Army veteran and college professor from Arlington, Texas. In the interview, Fortenberry discusses his experiences in the Southwest Pacific Theatre during his time as a member of the 112th Cavalry of the Texas National Guard during World War II. He also describes what it was like growing up during the Great Depression and attending various different schools in both Texas and Oklahoma. Fortenberry discusses why he decided to join the National Guard, and also his experiences in early basic cavalry training. During much of the interview, Fortenberry reminisces about many of his various assignments and duties while serving in the war. Among these discussed include his assignment as a clerk to the veterinary section, time in Fort Bliss and Fort Clark, his shipment overseas to Noumea in New Caledonia, his transfer to the Medical Detachment as a clerk, and his time in New Britain, New Guinea and the Philippines. Fortenberry also recollects about everyday life in the Southwest Pacific, and includes details on tropical diseases and combat-related psychological problems that many of his comrades suffered through.
Oral History Interview with Johnny Case, March 5, 2003
Interview with jazz pianist Johnny Case. In the interview, Case talks about his family's acquaintance with Ernest Tubb, his early interest in rhythm and blues, how his parents, Elvis Presley, and local radio stations influenced his musical career, learning to play the piano and his interest in jazz, early gigs in Oklahoma and northeast Texas, his family's move from Paris, Texas to Dallas and his playing gigs at several clubs there, moving to Fort Worth, his collaboration with Tom Morrell in producing the 'How the West Was Swung' albums, his comments about the demise of western swings, gigs and clubs in Fort Worth, his transition from playing western swing to jazz, various jazz artists, okaying for African-American audiences, avant-garde jazz and its promoters, difficulties in making a full-time living as a jazz artist in Fort Worth, his employment at Sardine's Italian Restaurant in Fort Worth, the Caravan of Dreams and the resurgence of jazz in Fort Worth, his relationship with the local musicians union, Texas jazz, and the evolution of jazz in Fort Worth. The interview includes an appendix with an article, Case's discography, and Case's notes on various jazz musicians and venues.
Oral History Interview with Allen Stafford, March 12, 1999
Interview with Allen Stafford, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Kiowa County, Oklahoma, who served with the 124th Cavalry Regiment. Stafford discusses his early life, working in Texas oil fields, enlisting and training, deployment to the China-Burma-India Theater and reorganization as an infantry unit, combat operations with the Japanese around the Burma Road, and returning to the United States.
Oral History Interview with John Hargrove, August 12, 1998
Interview with John Hargrove, a Army Air Corps WWII veteran from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Hargrove discusses growing up and his family background, being drafted into the Air Corps, training, assignment to the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 22nd Bomb Group at Langley Field as a radio operator, life and work at Langley, transition to the B-26, the start of the war, submarine patrol, deployment to Townsville, Australia via Hawaii, flying his first mission, liberty and recreation, bombing and close air support missions, the crew being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, losses, returning to the US, work as a radio instructor, meeting his wife, postwar service, and reflections on the atomic bomb. In appendix is a manuscript for an autobiography written by Hargrove, an addendum to the interview, and a letter to Ron Marcello making corrections to the interview.
Oral History Interview with William E. Moore, Jr., March 4, 1998
Interview with William E. Moore Jr., a Army WWII veteran from Temple, Texas, who was present at the attack on Pearl Harbor. Moore discusses his time in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, assignment to 24th Division Artillery at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, training and alerts, the attack at Wheeler Field and taking defensive positions around Oahu, and service afterwards.
Oral History Interview with Jack Browder, January 15, 1998
Interview with Jack Browder, a Army WWII veteran from Duncan, Oklahoma. Browder was a staff officer with the 741st Tank Battalion in Europe; he recounts his education and entry to active duty in 1941, transfer to the new 741st, armor training and exercises, duties as a supply officer, preparations for the Normandy invasion, DD tanks, D-Day, attachment to the 2nd Infantry Division and advances through northern France, the M4 Sherman, his thoughts on General George S. Patton, the Battle of Saint Lô, souvenirs and trading, the Battle of the Bulge, crossing Germany into Czechoslovakia, returning to the States, and postwar service.
Oral History Interview with Joe Frank Ferguson, November 9, 1996
Interview with Joe Frank Ferguson, musician and vocalist, concerning his experiences as a musician/vocalist with Bob Will's "Texas playboys" and the "Light Crust Doughboys" western swing bands, 1936-42; comments about Bob Willis and band members Marvin Montgomery, Kenneth Pitts, Al Stricklin, "Smokey" Dacus, "Knocky" Parker, Leon McAuliffe, Eldon Shamblin; forming his own groups and playing the Fort Worth, Texas, night club circuit, 1950-70; comments about western swing, big band, and pop music.
Oral History Interview with Kenneth Carl Williams, September 27, 1996
Interview with Kenneth C. Williams about his experiences while employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. He discusses his childhood in Oklahoma; joining the CCC; assignment to a camp in Clinton, Oklahoma (Company 2836); description of camp; life in camp.
Oral History Interview with "Zeke" Campbell, September 14, 1996
Interview with William M. "Zeke" Campbell, musician, concerning his experiences as a member of the "Light Crust Doughboys" western swing band, 1935-42. Campbell also discusses his early radio career, appearances in the movies of Gene Autry, and his musical influences. Includes a photocopy of a newspaper article from the Fort Worth Star Telegram dated June 17-18, 1981 written by Mike H. Price. Article is titled, "He may not be crusty but he's still in the swing" [1] page.
Oral History Interview with Forrest B. Earnest, November 4, 1993
Interview with Forrest B. Earnest, a former member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Cotton County, Oklahoma. Earnest discusses his family origins, education and jobs as a young man, joining the CCC, working on the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, organization and geography of the camp, working as a clerk, routine, leisure, pay, educational programs, religion and literature in camp, fights, and benefits of being in CCC.
Oral History Interview with Garfield Thompson, October 11, 1993
Interview with Garfield Thompson, a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Fort Worth, Texas. Thompson discusses his family background and education, the effects of the Great Depression, Republicans, the New Deal, joining the CCC and assignment to Company 812 in Cache, Oklahoma, the layout of the camp, projects worked, routine, recreation and leave, discharge, and reflections on the program.
Oral History Interview with Olen Bates, October 9, 1993
Interview with Olen Bates about his experiences while employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Bates discusses his childhood in Oklahoma, joining the CCC, assignment to a camp in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and describes his life in the camp.
Oral History Interview with Melvin Land, February 27-March 16, 1993
Interview with Melvin Land, dentist, concerning his experiences while employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. He discusses his childhood in Oklahoma; joining the CCC; assignment to Company 2823 at Camp Stockman (SCS-14-O) near Morris, Oklahoma; description of camp; life in camp; post-CCC life.
Oral History Interview with Lloyd Wood, February 24, 1993
Interview with Lloyd Wood, a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Valera, Texas. Wood discusses his family background, joining the CCC and assignment to Cache, Oklahoma, the layout of the camp, daily routine, projects, fights, recreation and entertainment, his fellow men and superiors, transfer to a camp at Roswell, New Mexico, sports and athletics, pay, ethnic relations in camp, and the National Association of CCC Alumni.
Oral History Interview with Harold L. Trammell, February 14, 1991
Interview with Harold L. Trammell, a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Mason, Oklahoma. Trammell discusses his early life, train hopping to Utah and back, enrollment in the CCC at Fort Sill, his assignment to Cache, Oklahoma, building trails in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, work at Arapaho National Forest in Colorado, pranks in camp, daily routine, entertainment and recreation, drinking, discipline, and life after the CCC. In appendix is a copy of Trammell's account of his time in the CCC, and the May 30th, 1935 edition of the CCC magazine "Panther Tracks."
Oral History Interview with Pat Gulley, May 11, 1988
Interview with Pat Gulley, a community activist and a member of the Denton Christian Women's Interracial Fellowship. Gulley explains her involvement with the group, the history of race relations in Denton, the desegregation of public facilities and schools, early group meetings, opposition to the Fellowship, and its contributions.
Oral History Interview with John Kirk, April 23, 1988
Interview with John Kirk, a United States Navy veteran from Oklahoma, regarding his experiences and memories of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor of December 7, 1941 while aboard the destroyer USS Dewey.
Oral History Interview with Lester Robinson, April 23, 1988
Interview with Lester Robinson, a United States Navy veteran from Tulsa, Oklahoma, regarding his experiences and memories of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor of December 7, 1941 while stationed at Fort Island Naval Air Station as a member of VP-23.
Oral History Interview with C. L. Pryor, December 5, 1987
Interview with Charley Pryor, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Elmore City, Oklahoma. Pryor discusses joining the Marine Corps, operations with the North China Marines in Tsingtao, interactions with Japanese troops before the war, surviving the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30), being captured and participating in a Japanese landing on Java, thoughts on Japanese soldiers and military life, experiences working on the Burma Railway in Thailand, experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia and a camp at Kachanaburi in Thailand, liberation, and postwar service.
Oral History Interview with Urban J. Endres, April 4, 1984
Interview with Urban J. Endres, a businessman from Muenster, Texas, about the period of prohibition of alcohol and bootlegging in the United States, his memories of the local option election of 1959, and his experience establishing his own beer distributorship.
Oral History Interview with Ernest Griffith, November 4, 1982
Interview with Ernest Griffith, owner and operator of Griffith's Independent Ginner. The interview includes Griffith's personal experiences about education in Texola, Oklahoma, part-time employment as cotton picker, and being involved in building cotton gins and operating drug stores. Griffith also talks about his family background, the operation of Griffith and Stith cotton gin, buying cotton and retaining cotton seed, variations in cotton prices, sale of coal to farmers, buying grain for Kimball Milling Company, Weinert cotton gin personnel, significant changes in the cotton ginning business during thirty years, the ginning procedure, and civic and trade association activities.
Oral History Interviews with Harrell Edmund Chiles, 1980
Interview with Harrell Edmund Chiles, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Western Company. He discusses his family, formation of the Western Company, oil exploration, history of the oil industry in Texas, his political views, and his "I'm Mad" campaign.
Oral History Interview with W. Erle White, December 14, 1978 and February 1, 1979
Transcript of an interview with W. Erle White, founder of White's Auto Stores from Wichita Falls, Texas. White discusses his family background, early work experiences and education, as well as his work in auto supply stores and garages, and starting his own business.
Oral History Interview with Archie Wilkerson, January 28, 1977
Interview with Archie Wilkerson, a realtor and a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences at Ford Island Naval Air Station with VP-23 during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Oral History Interview with George Wood, November 7, 1973
Interview with George Wood, a former officer of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Bryan, Texas. Wood discusses his time in the CCC in the 1930s, including: his origins and education; the effects of the Depression; his entry into the CCC; the varying projects he worked; relations with other government agencies; the character of CCC workers; organization of camps; crime in the CCC; racial segregation; and relations with the Army.
Oral History Interview with Harry A. Thompson, April 18, 1973
Interview with Harry Thompson, an Army WWII veteran and POW from Dallas, Texas. Thompson discusses being drafted before the war and training for field artillery at Fort Sill, his assignment to the 99th Infantry Division, training in England, the Siegfried Line, the Battle of the Bulge and his capture at Büllingen, Belgium, being interrogated and transported into Germany, and his experiences in internment at Limburg.
Oral History Interview with Jake Guiles, June 20, 1972
Interview with Jake Guiles, a Army Air Corps WWII veteran and POW from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Guiles discusses joining the service, training, being stationed at Nichols Field in the Philippines, the Japanese invasion and American retreat to Bataan, fighting as infantry, surrender at Marivales, the Bataan Death March, experiences in internment at Camp O'Donnell and Cabantuan, transit to Japan, internment at Hitachi mining camp, liberation, and reflections. In appendix is a notebook kept by Guiles, containing names of fellow prisoners, a self-made Japanese dictionary, a diary, and other recordings.
Oral History Interview with Joel K. Walker, November 11, 1971
Interview with Joel Walker, an employee of the Home Owners' Loan Association from Marietta, Oklahoma. Walker worked for the HOLA in Dallas during the Great Depression; he discusses working at a bank in Roswell, New Mexico, unemployment, hiring with HOLA in Dallas, how the Association operated, loan terms, mortgages, and foreclosures.
Oral History Interview with Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Sykes, September 27, 1971
Interview with Mr. C. S. Sykes, a US Army WWII veteran from Ardmore, Oklahoma, and his wife, from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Both were on Oahu on December 7th, 1941, and witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. They discuss the peacetime army, being stationed at Schofield Barracks, living on Kawailoa Beach, events prior to the attack, and events during the attack on Oahu.
Personal Diary of Frank Fujita, Jr.
A copy of Frank Fujita Jr.'s war diary, obtained by Dr. Ron Marcello to accompany Fujita's oral history interview. Fujita was an Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment captured on Java in March 1942. Included is Fujita's original bound diary, and a rewritten version he made in a Japanese logbook in internment and continued. They contain daily activities, doodles, lists of dozens of servicemen and captives encountered, and the key to an encoded script Fujita developed for sensitive information. Also included is a postwar newspaper clipping about Fujita's unit.
Oral History Interview with Frank Fujita, November 9, 1970
Interview with Frank Fujita, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Abilene, Texas. Fujita recounts his experiences as a captured member of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "the Lost Battalion"), including: joining the Guard and deploying to East Asia; diversion to Brisbane and assignment to Malang, Java; repelling a Japanese infantry assault; attempted evasion of Japanese forces before being captured; and internment and labor at Surabaja, Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, Nagasaki, and Omori Camp in Tokyo. Fujita recorded his POW experiences in an encrypted diary.
Oral History Interview with John Breckenridge Garrison, September 18, 1970
Interview with Brack Garrison, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Amarillo, Texas, accompanied by Nita Boynton. Garrison details his experiences defending Guam in the Japanese invasion of December 1941, and his subsequent surrender and internment in Japanese POW camps at Zentsuji and Osaka.
Oral History Interview with Dick J. Reavis 2019
Interview with Dick J. Reavis, political activist, journalist and author. Reavis is a former staff writer for Texas Monthly, professor in English department at North Carolina State University, contributing publications for Soldier of Fortune and The Wall Street Journal, and author of The Ashes of Waco: an Investigation. He discusses childhood memories and early experiences of his father's newspaper publishing career in Oklahoma, Texas, and South Carolina; Experiences in Texas public schools during segregation era; Father's political views and development of his own political views; Experiences as college student at Texas Tech, Panhandle A&M, and University of Texas; Involvement in the civil rights and antiwar movements with Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and Students for a Democratic Society, and in various other left causes and organizations; Career in journalism; Personal life, political views and travels.
Oral History Interviews with Charles W. Burris, 1984-1985
Interview with Charles Burris, Army Air Corps veteran from Tulsa, Oklahoma, concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II and as a survivor of the Bataan Death March. Burris discusses his training, the fall of Bataan, Camp O'Donnell, Fukuoka, Kyushu, and being set free.
Oral History Interviews with Melvin Land, 1993
Oral history interviews with Melvin Land, a veteran of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from Coalton, Oklahoma. The interview contains details of Land's childhood and the death of his mother, his experiences in the Great Depression, his experience being a recruit and an educational advisor in the CCC, his experiences as an active duty officer for the Naval Air Station, and his experiences working at the Rusk State Hospital.
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