Interview with Navy veteran Frank H. Bigelow, survivor of the siege of Corregidor. The interview includes Bigelow's personal experiences about being a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II, boyhood in North Dakota, various jobs during the Great Depression, and enlisting in the Navy. Additionally, Bigelow speaks about volunteering for duty in the Philippines and his assignment to the submarine tender USS Canopus, pre-war military life in the Philippines, the Japanese bombing of Cavite Navy Yard and the destruction of the Canopus, retreating to Bataan and to Corregidor, the fall of Corregidor, his confinement in the 92nd Garage area, the forced march down Dewey Boulevard in Manila and confinement at Cabanatuan, hell ship to Japan, coal mining for Mitsui Heavy Industries, the amputation of his leg by fellow prisoners after a mining accident, liberation, and the destruction in Nagasaki due to the atomic bomb. The interview includes an appendix with an article titled "A Soldier's Story."

Interview with dairyman and Marine Corps veteran Billy Drawe. The interview includes Drawe's personal experiences about the Pacific Theater during World War II, enlistment and boot camp, tank training, invading Guam, coming under Japanese mortar fire on Guam, invading Iwo Jima, hauling supplies ashore to the infantry on Iwo Jima, and returning to the states for training in the V-12 Program.

Interview with Rufus Smith, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Hughes Springs, Texas, who survived the Palawan Massacre. Smith discusses joining the Marines, the bombing of Cavite Naval Yard, his capture at Corregidor and internment at Cabanatuan, transfer to Palawan and experiences in captivity there, the massacre and escaping, rescue by Filipinos and traveling with them, evacuation, returning to the United States, and life after the war.

Interview with Dr. Victor Rodriguez, educator and author of the memoir "The Bell Ringer," about his life and career. Dr. Rodriguez is a North Texas alumni, member of the UNT Athletic Hall of fame, member of the Geezles Fraternity, and pioneer Mexican American educator. Dr. Victor Rodriguez spotlights significant insights into his storied career through five eras: his early all-Hispanic elementary school training; his continued study and budding athletic prowess in the Edna, TX, school district; his Victoria Junior College athletic achievements and learning; his higher education, Geezle membership, and track accomplishments at North Texas State College; and his 37-year career as a teacher, coach, and superintendent in the San Antonio school district. Inspired by his Anglo third-grade teacher in an all-Hispanic school in Edna, TX, Rodriguez responded to his teacher's challenge to be a civic contributor by becoming a daily bell ringer at the local Catholic church (described in detail in his book, The Bell Ringer), a job requiring him to arise at 4:30 each morning and to run two miles one way amid nipping dogs to ring the bell. This discipline and activity would tap his athletic ability later as he surfaced as a distance district winner despite …

Interview with Olive Stephens of Clayton, Texas, mayor of Shady Shores, Texas, accompanied by her daughter Jean McBride. Stephens discusses growing up in Clayton, her family and moving to Shady Shores, making and selling ceramics, being elected to town council and mayor, and her subsequent work in city and county politics. In appendix is a summary of Stephens' career, and a quote of hers provided by her daughter.

Narrative of Dr. Leonard A. Charpentier. The narrative includes a monologue of Charpentier's experiences as a P-47 fighter pilot in the European Theater during World War II. Charpentier talks about basic training, flight training, fighter pilot training, his assignment to the 86th Fighter Squadron on Corsica, the P-47 Thunderbolt, various missions, his being shot down on a mission over southern France and being captured, the treatment of his wounds at a German field hospital, and his postwar medical career.

Interview with Elizabeth Teasley, a librarian, concerning her experiences as a student in the Library School at North Texas State College and as a public school librarian. Interview includes biographical information of Teasley and her parents.

Interview with Mary D. Lankford, a librarian and former student of the University of North Texas, then known as North Texas State College. Lankford discusses studying Library Science at UNT, her career as a school librarian, new technological developments in her field, her career as an author, and professional activities.

Interview with Dr. Bobby Jones, a veterinarian and epidemiologist from Southlake, Texas, whose family was prominent in the development of the community. Jones discusses his family history, growing up in a rural, segregated community, education at T. M. Terrell, race relations in Southlake, the Jones Annual Picnic, the Jones Gate cafe, the Civil Rights Act and desegregation, and the development of Southlake.

Interview with Frances "Sissy" Tarlton Farenthold, attorney, activist, former Texas state representative, and candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Texas (1972, 1974). She discusses her childhood in a liberal, politically active family in Corpus Christi, Texas; experiences with racial segregation and discrimination; experiences in Corpus Christi public schools, the Hockaday School for Girls, Vassar College, and University of Texas Law School. Her father (Benjamin Tarlton Jr.)’s law practice and her decision to join it for a short period; work as director of Nueces County Legal Aid; decision to run for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives in 1968; experiences in the Texas Legislature, including the Sharpstown scandal and “the Dirty Thirty”; decision to run for governor in 1972 and 1974 and experiences on the campaign trail; career as a law professor, president of Wells College; experiences in various feminist, international women’s, and human rights organizations.

Interview with World War II veteran Dolphus E. Compere III as part of the Tarrant County War Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes Compere's personal experiences of childhood in Dallas, Texas, medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Dallas, and interning at the University of Michigan prior to his enlistment in the Army Air Corp as a surgeon with the Third Air Commando Group. Additionally, Compere discusses his experiences in the Philippines providing medical care to military personnel and local civilians, his post-war medical career in Fort Worth, Texas, and his experience of returning a war souvenir, a Japanese ceremonial sword, to its ancestral family. Photographs are included throughout the interview.

Interview with U.S. Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force veteran P. K. Carlton. Carlton speaks about his association with General Curtis LeMay, bomber operations against Japan and Japanese occupied territory, his assignment with the Strategic Air Command Operations staff under LeMay, and the role of the SAC and the B-52 in relations with the Soviets. Additionally, Carlton speaks about LeMay's role in creating a safety program for the SAC and in building SAC's communications system, in the development of radar formation flying as well as in the development of Arctic bombing routes and in the USAF's acceptance of the B-52, LeMay's relationship with the press, his efforts to establish survival schools, his influence on USAF equipment decisions, operational contributions and emphasis on readiness, and his views on the use of airpower in Vietnam.

Transcript of an interview with Anne Pearsall Karr from Elgin, Illinois, concerning her experiences on the home front during World War II. Karr discusses her youth in Elgin, Illinois; effects of Depression on Pearsall family; college at Iowa State; courtship with Kenneth Karr, her future husband; reaction to Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor; changes on Iowa State campus after American entry into World War II; wartime rationing and Victory Gardens; effects on Pearsall family having a son and daughter in military service; her marriage to Kenneth Karr, early 1944; housing shortage in Corpus Christi, Texas, during World War II; birth of their daughter; wartime entertainment; experiences as a military wife; attitudes toward the Japanese; husband's training as a naval air cadet at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. Appendix includes various photographs [5] pages.

Interview with Ernest L. Ellis, owner and operator of Frank Ellis Dealer in Everything. The interview includes Ellis' personal experiences of employment with his father, Frank Ellis, in the general store. Ellis talks about his family background, effects of the Great Depression in New Hope, Texas businesses, food market opening, business operations during World War II, his employment as a feed salesman, general store advertising, his father's use of peddling wagon, Dallas fair and Mesquite trade day, and retirement.

Transcript of an interview with Clarence S. ("Turby") Turbeville, one of the founders of Bomber Bait Company in Gainesville, Texas. Turbeville discusses his family background, his employment by his father selling appliances, butane gas systems, and sporting goods in Gainesville in 1934, the sale of the butane business in 1944, experimentation with fish baits, and his partnership with Ike Walker in founding Bomber Bait Company. At the end of the interview, a one-page leaflet is inserted that describes the influence of Turbeville, as well as the history of the Bomber Bait Company and of Bomber baits.

Interview with Paul Voertman concerning his expriences as President of Voertman's Book Store in Denton, Texas. He discusses the founding of Voertman's by his father in 1925, the early years of the store, the Depression, the opening of a store near Texas Women's University, and the effects upon his business from North Texas State University opening its own book store. He also shares his thoughts on education, his early work experience, the growth in merchandise lines, and the problems of the book business.

Interview with Judge Ed Gossett, judge of the Criminal District Court in Dallas, Texas. In the first interview, Gossett discusses his childhood in Louisana and Texas, his undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin, his time as a lawyer and as district attorney for the 46th judicial district, and his election to Congress in 1938. The second interview includes Gossett's discussion of his tenure as a Congressman.

Interview with former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Fred H. Minor, an attorney from Lewisville, Texas. The interview includes Minor's personal experiences as a member of the Texas House of Representatives and Speaker of the House, 1931-33, as well as funding for highway construction and his philosophy concerning functions of Speaker of the House.

Interview with postmaster and Army veteran J.D. Bradley. The interview includes Bradley's personal experiences about being a guard during the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo after World War II, enlisting in the army, basic training, various assignments, guard duty in the court docks during the tribunal, and guarding Hideki Tojo. Bradley talks about rules and regulations for Military Police guards, steps taken to prevent suicides among the prisoners, the physical description of the interior of the courtroom of the War Ministry Building, checks for hidden weapons in the courtroom, courtroom procedures, various security procedures, steps taken to impress the Japanese people, living quarters and conditions at the War Ministry Building, relations with Japanese civilians, black market activities, his relationship with a Japanese correspondent and trading cigarettes for photographs of the proceedings, Sugamo Prison, and his commanding officer, Lt. Col. Aubrey S. Kenworthy. The interview includes an appendix with photographs.

Interview with banker and Navy veteran Bennie G. Snider. The interview includes Snider's personal experiences about the Pacific Theater during World War II, youth and education in Denton, Texas, joining the Navy, and boot training and electrical engineering school. Snider talks about duties aboard the USS Hancock, his assignment to Task Group 58 and the invasion of the Philippines, as well as the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, kamikaze attacks and the Hancock being hit by a kamikaze, burials at sea, and his postwar duties aboard the Hancock as part of Operation MAGIC CARPET.

Interview with Opal Bowden, a resident of Weathorford, Texas. Bowden, born in 1908, discusses her family history, various experiences growing up, the 1918 Influenza pandemic, school, working in a beauty shop, her first husband, having a family, the Depression, dogs, World War Two, and her neighbors.

Interview with educator Joe L. Atkins from Jefferson, Texas. In the interview, Atkins discusses his experiences and role in the desegregation of North Texas State College in the 1950's. He also recollects memories such as his rejection for admission, the Atkins v. Matthews case, early civil rights activities with the NAACP Youth Council in Dallas, and his decision to attend the Texas Western College. Atkins comments on several civil rights leaders such as Juanita Craft, Thurgood Marshall, and W. H. Durham, and also on several school administrators at the North Texas State College.

Interview with Forrest Biard, a United States Navy veteran from Bonham, Texas, regarding his experiences and memories of World War II while serving as a cryptanalyst. Biard discusses his education, learning Japanese in Japan right before the war hit, codes, Pearl Harbor, and Midway.

Interview with homemaker Janet Blair. The interview includes Blair's personal experiences about being a Red Cross volunteer in the European Theater during World War II, education in Europe, working with "Bundles for Britain," various assignments, rationing and air raids in England, D-Day, and serving troops during the Battle of the Bulge. Additionally, Blair talks about her patriotic motivation, her decision to join the Red Cross, her selection as a clubmobiler, the formation of a lifelong friendship with Diana Marvin and Peggy Bell, the use of Greenliners, relationships between Red Cross women and U.S. military personnel, leave time in Paris, living conditions of France, looting, and the end of the war and her return to the States.