This study concentrates on the social status of women in one southern town during the late nineteenth century and the Progressive Era.

World War II was a watershed in American history, altering Americans' perceptions of their place in society. This study focused on Bowie County, Texas, during the twenty-five-year period that began with America's entry into the war. The construction of two defense plants there, Red River Army Depot and Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant, brought immediate changes to surrounding communities, and local residents faced many challenges as they struggled to adjust. This study used extensive primary sources, including archival materials from Red River and Lone Star, oral histories from former employees, census information, minutes from the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, and local newspapers, to document the social and economic impact of these plants on Bowie County. The body of this dissertation contains nine chapters. Chapters two and three describe how Bowie County obtained and constructed its defense plants, and chapters four through six focus on changes precipitated by the plants during the war years. Chapters seven through nine explore the social and economic impact of the defense presence on Bowie County through 1965. The impact of the defense industries on Bowie County was significant. Plant construction brought thousands of workers into the county, and local residents faced housing, transportation, and sanitation …

Volume of twenty-one essays about folklore in Texas, including essays about police burials, railroads, graffiti, folk music, dance halls, and other folklore. The index begins on page 279.

Interview with Geralene Young about her experiences as an employee of the Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Arkansas during World War II and the postwar years. Young discusses hiring and promotion practices, relations between male and female workers, social activities, and the social and economic effects of the depot on Texarkana.

Interview with Charles Goff about his experiences as an employee of the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant in Texarkana, Texas during World War II and the postwar years. Goff discusses his move from Akron, Ohio, the construction of the plant, safety procedures, bond drives, housing and transportation adjustments, and the social and economic effects on Texarkana. Appendix includes a photocopy of a drawing of a "rim to be shellacked" and a "rim" [1 leaf].