A History of Fort Worth in Black & White fills a long-empty niche on the Fort Worth bookshelf: a scholarly history of the city's black community that starts at the beginning with Ripley Arnold and the early settlers, and comes down to today with our current battles over education, housing, and representation in city affairs. The book's sidebars on some noted and some not-so-noted African Americans make it appealing as a school text as well as a book for the general reader. Using a wealth of primary sources, Richard Selcer dispels several enduring myths, for instance the mistaken belief that Camp Bowie trained only white soldiers, and the spurious claim that Fort Worth managed to avoid the racial violence that plagued other American cities in the twentieth century. Selcer arrives at some surprisingly frank conclusions that will challenge current politically correct notions. "Selcer does a great job of exploring little-known history about the military, education, sports and even some social life and organizations."--Bob Ray Sanders, author of Calvin Littlejohn: Portrait of a Community in Black and White.

Interview with U.S. Marine Corps Pilot Richard Dale as part of the Tarrant County War Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes Dale's personal experiences of childhood, education at Baylor University and Texas A&M, attending training at Camp Pendleton, California, Quantico, Virginia, and officer candidate school. Additionally, Dale talks about his decision to enter the Marines aviation program, his assignments to various naval air stations, the particulars of "tailhook" aviation, and his civilian career with Northwest Airlines. The interview also includes an appendix with a photograph and an active duty summary.

Interview with Steven Atikinson, a LGBT rights activist from Keller, Texas. Atkinson discusses his childhood in Keller, growing up in a small conservative town, coming to terms with his sexuality, education at Baylor, his brief marriage, coming out, the HIV-AIDS epidemic, the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, the queer social scene in Dallas in the 1990s, discrimination, grassroots activism, direct action, lobbying, the growth of the Dallas LGBT community and resources, gay rights legislation, and thoughts on his life overall.

Interview with Anna Robinson, a Women's Army Corps veteran from Fort Worth, Texas. Robinson discusses her family and childhood, joining the WAC, transfer to Germany as a supply clerk in 1946, life and work in that assignment, being in a car wreck, her sexuality and gays in the service, the Iraq War and George W. Bush, leaving the Army and work for the city of Forth Worth as an artist, her church involvement, and returning to Germany,

Transcript of an interview with Dionne Phillips Bagsby, former member of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. Bagsby shares memories of childhood and education in Markham, Illinois; marriage to Jim Bagsby; participation in the Arkansas civil rights movement; move to Fort Worth, Texas; career as an educator in the Fort Worth public schools; Jim Bagsby's political career; her own decision to enter politics and winning campaign strategies; issues she had to face as a county commissioner; her travels; her family history. Appendix includes photo of Dionne Phillips Bagsby circa 2018.

Interview with Thomas McKee concerning his experiences during his employment in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. McKee worked at a camp in Waxahachie, Texas (Company 878). Includes an appendix.

Audio log for a recording of an interview with William Ripp, former dispatch shift manager for Braniff International Airways, conducted for the Flying Voices oral history project. In the interview Ripp shares experiences and anecdotes of his time as a flight dispatcher, remembering the bankruptcy of Braniff in 1982, life adjustments after Braniff, and overall impact of his career with Braniff.

Interview with Johnny Masch, a longtime resident of the Denton area from Blue Mound, Texas. Masch discusses his family history, his upbringing and education, farming, where he was for major historical events, his politics, his hobbies, and his family. In appendix are a photo of his grandparents and pictures of their passport.

Transcript of an interview with Anna Harriet Heyer, the first full-time music librarian of North Texas, concerning her experiences during the development of the Music Library at North Texas State College from 1940 to 1965.

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.