Items

• Oral history interview with Edith Samuel Arnold [audio recording and transcript]
  Edith Margaret Samuel Arnold (5 Apr 1899-8 Apr 1989), Chattanooga resident, recalls various social activities, historical events, people, and places of early twentieth century Chattanooga; gives accounts of family history, the 1910 Hamilton County Courthouse fire, and the 1886 and 1917 floods.
• Oral history interview with John A. Chambliss [audio recording and transcript]
  John Alexander Chambliss (14 Oct 1887-16 Nov 1976), Chattanooga lawyer and businessman, recalls events of childhood and youth, school days, law career and business ventures; discusses reading interests, events in his family life, various acquaintances and family members, especially his father, Alexander Wilds Chambliss (1864-1947), Chattanooga lawyer, politician, and businessman.
• Oral history interview with Gordon Patterson [audio recording and transcript]
  Gordon Davis Patterson (6 or 9 Feb 1896-14 Mar 1986), long-time Soddy, Tennessee resident and miner, relates historical bits and pieces pertaining to the coal mines, coke ovens, clay pits, potteries, families, landmarks, etc. in that area.
• Oral history interview with Dr. Manly Frost Langston [audio recording and transcript]
  Manly Frost Langston, M.D. (12 Jan 1898-28 Nov 1985), physician and pioneer in public health, relates experiences in his professional career connected with the Milledgeville, Georgia State Hospital, Kilby Prison at Montgomery, Alabama, and with the newly created Tennessee Valley Authority where he headed the Health and Safety Department in 1933. Discusses treatment and conditions for people who are incarcerated and institutionalized, and medical research programs and facilities developed by the TVA, such as malaria control and the creation of the first mobile X-ray unit. Gives philosophy and views on current medical problems and changes and developments in the field of medicine over the years.
• Oral history interview with J. Oscar Miller [audio recording and transcript]
  James Oscar Miller, (26 May 1889-12 Dec 1971), former head of Cadek Conservatory's voice department, recounts his musical education and career, especially his work in the establishment and growth of the Chattanooga Civic Chorus; discusses students he has taught and programs given.
• Oral history interview with Reverend John Bonner, Jr. [transcript]
  Reverend John Hare Bonner, Jr. (22 Dec 1919-20 Mar 1993), community activist and rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church since 1956, notes changes seen in his parish over the years; recounts church's efforts to meet community needs through outreach programs such as those which led to the establishment and development of the St. Barnabas nursing home complex; briefly relates history of St. Paul's; discusses his association with and activities of both the informal biracial committee and the mayor's human relations committee that helped implement the desegregation process in Chattanooga in the 1960s. Note that this recording could not be digitized due to condition; only the transcript is available digitally.
• Oral history interview with Mark Womack [audio recording and transcript]
  Mark Sanders Womack, Jr. (31 Dec 1923-25 Dec 2020), railroad buff and retired employee of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, draws on over forty years of personal experience and cites supplemental historical facts to give a picture of railroading life over the years. Topics touched on include: Chattanooga as a rail center; train orders, messages, rules, and other operational procedures; decline of passenger service; company mergers; transmission instruments; dining and cafe cars; employee positions, duties, food and lodging, etc. Also discusses the historic engine, "The General," and Chattanooga's efforts to keep it.
• Oral history interview with Dorothy Hackett Ward [audio recording and transcript]
  Dorothy Hackett Ward (29 Nov 1905-18 Nov 2001), Chattanooga's "first lady of the stage" recalls childhood, family, education, early theatrical interests; discusses subsequent career in the theater where she was active as University of Chattanooga drama professor, 1938-­1975, playwright, director, actress, and founder of a children's theater company and a professional repertory company, the Festival Players; recounts activities of and experiences with the Festival Players, Harlequin Players, and various community productions; gives views on the state of theater in Chattanooga, problems faced in maintaining theater companies, and acting and teaching, especially as it relates to children.
• Oral history interview with A. J. Koblentz [audio recording and transcript]
  Abe Jack Koblentz (30 Aug 1899-17 Oct 1988), businessman, civic leader, and active member of Chattanooga's Jewish community, recalls the establishment and development of his father's, and later his, business interests, particularly their retail stores, first located in East Chattanooga; discusses business conditions during the Depression and his later clothing store in the downtown area; recounts his association with various civic, religious, and charitable organizations, especially SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives); describes early days in the community of East Chattanooga and their struggles for expansion; gives brief picture of Chattanooga's downtown business area in the 1920s and 1930s, touching on transportation, stores, theaters, etc.
• Oral history interview with Louis John Williams [audio recording and transcript]
  Louis John Williams (24 Jun 1892-10 Jul 1984), Chattanooga civic leader, briefly recounts years as typewriter salesman and mechanic, and as cement company executive. Discusses his association with and activities of several civic and conservation-oriented organizations; highlights include the establishment of the Tennessee Conservation League and its fight to create an independent game and fish administration; the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce to make Moccasin Bend into a park area; and the formation of the Chattanooga Audubon Society and the subsequent growth and development of its programs and properties. Describes his hobby of repairing and making fishing rods and includes some of his experiences in their presentation to national figures; relates interest in genealogy.
• Oral history interview with Margaret White Bright [transcript]
  Margaret Lea White Bright (4 Jun 1893-2 Jan 1991), lifelong Chattanoogan born in Fort Wood, recalls particular events, interests, and activities of her childhood and youth, touching on transportation, games and other entertainments, clothing, early Chattanooga businesses, neighborhoods, and historical events that create a picture of life as it was in pre-World War I Chattanooga. Note that this recording could not be digitized due to condition; only the transcript is available digitally.
• Oral history interview with John N. Popham [audio recording and transcript]
  John Nicholas Popham, III (30 Jul 1910-12 Dec 1999), newspaper executive and reporter, relates career and methods of operation as Southern regional correspondent for the New York Times (1947-1958) and managing editor of the Chattanooga Times (1958-1977); discusses methods and importance of obtaining complete and unbiased news coverage and other facets and issues pertinent to current print and television journalism; describes role of Chattanooga Times in Chattanooga's desegregation process; comments on desegregation, business and industry, education, government structure, etc. in the local community.
• Oral history interview with Irene Patton [transcript]
  Irene Hickman Patton (7 Jan 1894-20 Sep 1987), briefly discusses her life in Chattanooga after moving here from South Bend, Indiana, following high school. She describes her career as teacher; touches on civic interests, especially as Chattanooga Public Library Board member (Patton was the first Black member of the Library Board); gives names of several early Black physicians, morticians, and lawyers. Note that this recording could not be digitized due to condition; only the transcript is available digitally.
• Oral history interview with J. O. Carter, Jr. [audio recording and transcript]
  John Otey Carter, Jr. (5 Jan 1890-10 Jul 1988), businessman, primarily discusses his career with Provident Life and Accident Insurance Co., which spanned 1916-1955; including discussion of the company's history and development, early working conditions and policies; touches briefly on aspects of life in Chattanooga from 1910 and changes seen over the years.
• Oral history interview with Stanton Smith [transcript]
  Stanton Everett Smith (29 Aug 1905-16 Nov 1998), discusses his career as union organizer and leader, including the organization of the American Federation of Teachers' locals in Chattanooga; the activities, changes, developments, and political role of the labor movement from the 1930s to date on both the local and national levels; relates cases, purposes, etc., of the American Civil Liberties Union of which he was an active member, as well as his interests in various community organizations; touches on early Chattanooga political practices. Note that this recording could not be digitized due to condition; only the transcript is available digitally.
• Oral history interview with Clarence B. Robinson [audio recording and transcript]
  Clarence Bernard Robinson (4 Feb 1911-17 Jan 2002), Chattanooga teacher, principal, and civil rights leader, touches on childhood, youth, education, family and school career; discusses his role in furthering desegregation and in improving conditions for teachers and the school system as a whole through his work with the American Federation of Teachers, NAACP, and various multi-racial community committees; discusses numerous Black businesses and residential communities.
• Oral history interview with Rosalind Ewing Martin [audio recording and transcript]
  Rosalind Ewing Martin (28 Jul 1894-12 Jan 1983), Chattanoogan, briefly touches on childhood, education, family life with husband Cyrus Griffin Martin, interest in volunteer work with the Red Cross (beginning in World War I) and other civic and patriotic organizations.
• Oral history interview with Joseph C. Hurt [audio recording and transcript]
  Joseph Charles Hurt (13 Jul 1913-08 Sep 2003), offers reminiscences of his days as Sixth Cavalry trooper at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and information gleaned during his time as historian for the Sixth Cavalry Museum. Hurt describes life at the fort from its establishment in 1902 to its close in 1946, and touches on soldiers' duties, post privileges, next card housing, uniforms, weapons, field maneuvers, the introduction of mechanized vehicles to the cavalry, polo games, and more. Hurt's interest in the cavalry began when he was enlisted as a trooper in 1931, and has continued through his five terms as National Commander of the Veterans Association. He describes the last days of the fort when mechanization approached, and also identifies significant stages of the fort's early history.
• Oral history interview with James W. Henry [audio recording and transcript]
  James Wallace Henry (26 Feb 1922-23 Sep 2012), Chattanooga educator recalls childhood and family; education; his career as coach, teacher, principal and superintendent; discusses problems, plans, and results for school desegregation and integration; gives views on school annexation, consolidation, teachers and teaching, student attitudes, etc.; remembers his long years of association with Creed Bates, principal of Chattanooga High School.
• Oral history interview with O. B. Gladish [audio recording and transcript]
  Omar Brainerd Gladish (6 Feb 1884-16 Feb 1984), a self-proclaimed "river rat"; recounts life as machinist, hoist inventor, motorboat and excursion boat operator; recalls colorful incidents and experiences of river life from dealings with bootleggers to hazards of ice and flood.
• Oral history interview with Penelope Allen Johnson (#2) [audio recording and transcript]
  Penelope Allen Johnson (27 Oct 1886-9 Jan 1985), historian and genealogist, gives location and description of Ross and McDonald family holdings in north Georgia and Hamilton County, Tennessee; describes settlement at Ross' Landing in 1830s; discusses the forced Cherokee removal; briefly comments on naming of Chattanooga.
• Oral history interview with Penelope Allen Johnson (#1) [audio recording and transcript]
  Penelope Johnson Allen (27 Oct 1886-9 Jan 1985), historian and genealogist, describes the organization of the Historical Records Survey under the Works Progress Administration, 1935-1945, of which she was the Tennessee state supervisor; relates education, family background, and varied career; touches on the woman's suffrage movement and meetings with Dr. Emmet Starr, Cherokee historian and genealogist.
• Oral history interview with Abby Crawford Milton [audio recording and transcript]
  Abby Crawford Milton (6 Feb 1881-02 May 1991), women's suffrage movement leader, recalls her efforts to get women on Tennessee's democratic executive committee and state primary board, her fight to stop the abolishment of the primary in state elections, her 1933 state senatorial race, and how the Smoky Mountain National Park bill was passed (1923). NOTE: Due to some technical fault, a second interview with Milton conducted July 15, 1983 by Ruzha Cleaveland becomes inaudible about one third of the way through the first side. However, an unedited transcript of this portion has been included following the transcript of the original July 15, 1982 interview. It contains brief, additional information on Milton's activities in the early women's movement in local and state politics.
• Oral history interview with James R. Mapp [audio recording and transcript]
  James Rogers Mapp (16 Aug 1927-19 Jun 2015), Black civil rights activist, recalls family, childhood, education; discusses his 1961 lawsuit for the desegregation of Chattanooga public schools and civil rights efforts through work with the NAACP, Model Cities Program, affirmative action programs and in politics; relates changes and effects of integration on the Black community; also discusses the role of his wife, Viola Martin Mapp, in community, church, and civic organizations, and the accomplishments of his children.
• Oral history interview with Leah James [audio recording and transcript]
  Leah Harriet James (29 Jul 1904-5 Feb 2011), Executive Director of Chattanooga's Family Service Agency, 1944-1966, recalls education, jobs, background in social work; relates beginnings, changes and growth in programs and services offered by FSA, including those pertaining to adoption, mental health, and literacy development; discusses her work in the fight for a state adoption law and for better racial justice through the establishment of the Community Relations Conference during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.