A selection of letters written to the Cincinnati Commercial newspaper from 1870-1871 about steamboat travel on the Red River in 1838-1841. W. W. Withenbury was a famous river boat captain during the mid-1800s. In retirement, he wrote a series of letters for the Cincinnati Commercial, under the title "Red River Reminiscences." Jacques Bagur has selected and annotated 39 letters describing three steamboat voyages on the upper Red River from 1838 to 1842. Withenbury was a master of character and incident, and his profiles of persons, including three signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, reflect years of acquaintance. The beauty of his writing ranks this among the best of the reminiscences that were written as the steamboat era was declining. “Bagur is an expert on the Red River in the nineteenth century, and it shows in this work. Informative and entertaining.” —Randolph B. "Mike" Campbell, author of Gone to Texas: A History of the Lone Star State “This will rank as a great assistance to researchers if anyone wants to attack history of the Red River again. Some of his in-depth research was fabulous.”—Skipper Steely, author of Red River Pioneers

Interview with Eva McMillan, a civil rights activist from Tennessee. McMillan discusses growing up in the segregated South, her family, early involvement in civil rights, experiences of racism and discrimination, her son Ernie's establishing a chapter of the SNCC at UT Arlington, Ernie's arrests and imprisonment, founding various advocacy and activism groups in Dallas, milestones and tragedies of the Civil Rights Movement, conflict with the police and the decline of the SNCC, and reflections on her work. In appendix are photos of McMillan and Dallas-area civil rights activists, a flier, and newspaper clippings.

Interview with Brenda Fields, former president of the Dallas chapter of the NAACP from Dallas, Texas. Fields discusses her childhood, school and church, becoming aware of race, segregation and discrimination, joining the NAACP youth organization, NAACP National Conventions, picketing the State Fair and other notable places in north Texas, the movement's impact, the role of black churches, voting, the Civil Rights Acts and changes after its passing, the influence of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X, the Black Panthers, King's assassination, work in Dallas ISD, and continued work with the NAACP, including tenure as president of the Dallas chapter. In appendix is Fields' "colored" ticket to the Texas State Fair from 1954.

Interview with L. Clifford Davis, an attorney known for his work for civil rights from Wilton, Arkansas. Davis discusses growing up in a segregated rural community, his education, time at Philander Smith College, integration in Arkansas, his efforts to gain admission to University of Arkansas Law School, becoming an attorney, reflections on civil rights legislation and its impact, practice in Fort Worth, his decision not to take part in direct action, cases fought, MLK's visit to DFW, supporting housing rights for blacks in Fort Worth, and reflections on inequality, current challenges, and civil responsibility. In appendix is a piece from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about Davis, and two photographs of him.

Interview with Raúl Durán, an employee of Catholic Charities from Fort Worth, Texas. Durán discusses his upbringing and education, neighborhoods, relations between Hispanic, Anglo, and Black people in Fort Worth, segregation, discrimination, work with the League of United Latin American Citizens, work and discriminatory practice at Fort Worth ISD, John Howard Griffin, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and continued struggles for Fort Worth Mexicanos.

Interview with Diane Ragsdale, a civil rights activist and city councilwoman from Dallas, Texas. Ragsdale discusses her work with the NAACP Youth Council and Southern Christian Leadership Conference as a young person, school integration, various civil rights campaigns in Dallas, the South Dallas Information Center, neighborhood planning issues, marches and demonstrations, and her work on city council.

Transcript of an interview with Lina Mae Maddox, telephone operator and EEOC member and activist, concerning her childhood as a white Mississippi sharecropper; experiences of discrimination against poor and women; move to Dallas for war work; experiences of segregation; sympathizing with African Americans' experiences with discrimination; public reaction to the Civil Rights Act; EEOC and union activism; civil rights improvements. Appendix includes excerpts from Maddox's autobiography and various photos.

Interview with Reby Cary, a professor, Texas State legislator, and civil rights activist from Fort Worth, Texas. Cary discusses attending Prairie View A&M, WWII service in the Coast Guard, segregation, his authorship, teaching at Dunbar HS, being the first black member of a schoolboard and the first black professor at UT Arlington, his tenure as a Texas State Congressman, experiences of discrimination, his experiences in the Civil Rights Movement, and his thoughts on Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, and other black leaders. In appendix are photographs of Cary's various awards and the program for a Baptist service celebrated in his honor.