University Oral History Collection
Scope and Content
The purpose of the University Oral History Project is to preserve the history of the University. Since its beginnings in 1906, the University and surrounding community have experienced many changes and challenges. Graduate assistants and undergraduate students associate with the History Department and the Center for Public History conducted interviews found in the collection. The project began in the Fall semester of 2000. It is an on-going project, meaning that other interviews and transcripts will be added to it over time. Emphasis during the first full year of the project was on interviewing alumni and faculty who were on campus during the years of the 4th District A & M School and early West Georgia College. The project works closely with the Alumni Association and is intended to support initiatives of the administration, such as the centennial celebration in 2006 and an effort to document campus traditions.
Folder and Box Listing:
At present, the collection is held in five Hollinger boxes. Each folder in the box contains information about a particular event or person.
Boxes #1 and #2 contain folders for each project interviewee. These folders are arranged in alphabetical order according to the last name of the interviewee. Interview tapes are housed in the card catalog files in the Center for Public History along with all other interview tapes. A few of interviews were conducted by Myron House, the Special Collections Librarian, in the early 1980s. The CPH has copies of some of House’s key interviews that are available for research purposes, which are denoted with an asterisk. Consult the inventory for these interviews in the Finding Aid folder.
- Barrow, Hugh (Bill) and Bonnie (Spruill) (Class of 1948 and 1947)
- Bonner, James C. (Class of 1921 and retired faculty)*
- Braswell, Madeline (Class of 1973)
- Cadenhead, Paul and Sara (Davenport) (Class of 1943)
- Commander, Lucille S. Townsend (Wife of the late President Townsent, 1975-1993; MBA at WGC 1987)
- Davidson, Mary White (Supervisor for 3rd Year teacher training at WGC)*
- DeGaris, Reba (Hollingsworth) (Class of 1942)
- Erickson, Mary (Nursing Professor 1975 – Present)
- Estes, Frances (Floyd) (Class of 1935)
- Ferling, Dr. John (Professor of History 1971 – Present)
- Fields, Sam R. (Class of 1933)
- Folger, Dagnal F. (Director of Rosenwald Program and teacher training 1940-1945)*
- Foster, Edith (worked at West Georgia Regional Library in the 1940s)*
- Fuller, M.T. (Class of 1949; participated in NYA in 1940 and 1941) [2 interviews]
- Glanton, Richard (Class of 1968; 2nd African-American student at WGC)
- Greene, Virginia (Ballew) (Class of 1947) [2 interviews]
- Haliburton, Richard (Classes of 1971 and 1973)
- Harper, Florine Elizabeth (Watson) (Class of 1937)
- House, Myron (Special Collections Librarian, 1980 – Present)
- Huey, Edna (Pace) (Class of 1944; 3rd Year student; Rosenwald Fund Scholarship Recipient; 1958 B.S. in Education; 1971 M.Ed.)
- Huddleston, James (Class of 1937)
- Hughes, Sadie M. (Class of 1934)
- Johnson, Collus O. (Director of College in the Country and Studycades)*
- Jones, Rev. Warren L. (Class of 1939; Traveled to Tuskegee Institute with VRA)
- Kelly, Frank (Class of 1937; Editor of yearbook dedicated to Margaret Mitchell)
- Knight, Judge Lamar (Class f 1947)
- Lewis, Dr. John T., III (Academic Vice-President at WGC 1977-1993)
- Lindsey, Saidee (Class of 1942)
- Long, Jeff (Principal of Carver High School; encouraged his students to apply to WGC)
- Martin, Frances (Moore) (Classes of 1933 and 1935)
- McGiboney, Ethel (College in the Country and Studycades)*
- McGinnis, Susan (Farmer) (Class of 1967)
- McNabb, Dorothy (Retired P.E. faculty)
- Mitchell, Dr. William (Class of 1940)
- Moore, Owen (Class of 1940 and retired faculty; taught French and English)
- Padgett, Rev. Edgar A. (Class of 1940; Traveled to Tuskegee Institute with VRA)
- Parkman, David (Class of 1958; Administrator 1964-2003)
- Parsons, Betty Jo (Class of 1952)
- Powers, Earline Johnson (Classes of 1949 and 1974)
- Presson, Frances (Donehoo) (Class of 1942)
- Reeves, Bob (P.E. faculty 1968-1996)
- Rowe, Jewell P. (J.P.) (Class of 1947)
- Sanders, Betty (Lipham) (Class of 1951)
- Shinall, Gloria (Class of 1969)
- Sims, Carl (African-American groundskeeper; Head of Maintenance 1940s-1980s)*
- Smith, W.H. (Class of 1963 and retired faculty)
- Stallings, Tracy (Class of 1952 and retired staff member)
- Stanley, Dr. Julian (Class of 1936; faculty member of Johns Hopkins University)
- Steely, Dr. Mel (History Professor 1964-Present)
- Steinen, Dr. Karl (Anthropology Professor 1976-Present)
- Turner, Larry (Class of 1976)
- Turner, Thelma (Harmond) (Class of 1926; daughter of “Mama Kate” Harmond)
- Upchurch, Wilma (a student at Sand Hill in the 1930s)
- Walker, Bob and Jane (Hixon) (Class of 1954 and 1955; Mrs. Walker was the 1955 May Queen)
- Waters, Dr. Johnny (Geosciences Professor 1976-Present)
- Weaver, Annie Belle (Librarian at WGC 1933-1969)*
- White, Archie (P.E. faculty and baseball coach 1968-1995)
- Word, Mary Florence (Arthur) (Classes of 1943 and 1960)
Box #3 contains folders that are arranged in alphabetical order according to event, building, or person relevant to the history of the university:
- 1933-1953, 50 Years of Excellence (at West Georgia College)
- Adamson Hall (press releases)
- Annual Trips to Tuskegee Institute (1930s and 1940s)
- Bonner, James C. Fiftieth Anniversary Speech (given on September 24, 1983)
- Campus Map Detail from 1935 and Paving Resolution
- “The Hope of American Education” by Harlan Logan from Look magazine (an article that mentions Sand Hill)
- Interviewee Reception (April 5, 2003)
- Jewish Refugee Students (1939-1941)
- Methodology Students
- Miscellaneous Information on former faculty and staff
- Photographs related to the University history
- Publications related to the University history
- “Pushing the Peanut” and Other Traditions: Building Community on the West Georgia Campus (A report prepared b the Introduction to Public History Class, Fall 2001)
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (A copy of his speech at the Bonner House, May 1929)
- Rosenwald Foundation
- Sanborn Maps of the Fourth District A & M School and West Georgia College
- The Unforgettable by Dr. Ward B. Pafford
- Video – “History of the State University of West Georgia”
- Williams, Lillian (The first African-American student at WGC, 1963)
Box #4 contains folders with Reunion Directories donated by Alumni Services. These directories include contact information of alumni attending these reunions along with remembrances.
- Classes of 1963, ’64, ’65 ( April 30, 1994)
- 50th Class Reunion (1995)
- Classes of 1950, 1951, 1952 (May 18, 1996)
- Class of 1957 (November 1, 1997)
- Class of 1948 (May 9, 1998)
- Classes of 1934, 1939, 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959 (April 19-24, 1999)
- “Coming Together” – Silver Braves Reunion, Classes 1967-71
- Classes of the Forties and Golden Braves (1950-1952) (October 2002) – 2 copies
- Homecoming 2003, Classes of the 1930s and 1940s, Golden Braves (1950-1953), Silver Braves (1968-1978), and Greek Braves
Box #5 contains folders with information about the Bonner House. These folders are arranged in alphabetical order:
- Bonner Exhibit
- Bonner Family – compiled by Caroline Rucks
- Bonner Goldmine
- Bonner House – Contacts
- Bonner House – History
- Bonner House – In Recent Times
- Bonner House – Photographs and Drawings
- Bonner House – Timeline
- “Bonner-Mandeville Connection”
Search terms/Key words
WWII; Ingram; campus life; campus traditions; Carroll County; A & M School; College in the Country; West Georgia College; integration; Civil Rights Movement
Separate Materials
Discs containing transcripts of interviews are stored alphabetically in small Hollinger boxes. See each folder for information on other separate materials.
* A tape recording of the West Georgia College Alma Maters is housed alphabetically with the interview tapes in the CPH catalog drawers.
Creator of Finding Aid: Erin Brasfield, Graduate Assistant, 12/03/03