Technology, Invention, and Innovation collections

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT RECORDS, 1986-1991
#773

(17 cubic feet, 26 DB, 32 ShB, 13 (.5) Flt B, 1 OS)
by: Franklin A. Robinson, Jr., June 2004

History

The history of the American South is intricately entwined with the history of agriculture in North America. Until very recently, post 1950, the South was predominately rural and agricultural in both its production and culture. By the 1980s American agriculture, and particularly agriculture in the south, was under attack on various fronts especially cultural, financial, and technological. This assault threatened the very existence of the small and family farm. Many small farming operations went bankrupt and the face of American agriculture was becoming more corporate. It was amidst these troubling times that the Agricultural Division of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History undertook a massive project to document southern agriculture through oral history.

Through the efforts of NMAH staff , Pete Daniel, curator and project director, and LuAnn Jones, researcher, along with countless support from staff photographers and personnel, Jones conducted approximately 159 interviews of individual persons, couples and sometimes small groups, in eight southern states over a five year period, 1986-1991. The project was funded by a series of grants from various sources. Not only were oral histories taken but also substantial documentary photographs and slides of the many interviewees. The interviews ranged from individual farmers to individuals at companies and corporations involved with agriculture. The range of crops discussed included tobacco, cotton and rice. The project interviewed a wide range of subjects: male, female, black, white, and Mexican. The project has contributed to at least two books, Mama Learned Us to Work: Farm Women in the New South by LuAnn Jones and Like a Family: The Making of a Southern Cotton Mill World by Jacquelyn Dowd Hall and others of which Jones was a contributing author.

Scope and Content

The collection is divided into four series. Series 1: Oral History Transcripts, 1982-1991 are transcribed versions of the oral interviews. Correspondence and/or notes pertaining to the interviewed individual collected or written by the interviewer are filed in this series following the transcription. The majority of the oral histories were done by Lu Ann Jones between1985-1991. There are a few interviews done by Pete Daniel in the early 1980s and some reference copies of oral histories done elsewhere. This series is divided into eight sub-series: Sub-series 1a: Arkansas, Sub-series 1b: Georgia, Sub-series 1c: Louisiana, Sub-series 1d: Mississippi, Sub-series 1e: North Carolina (including transcripts of the Mexican Workers Project in English and Spanish), Sub-series 1f: South Carolina, Sub-series 1g: Tennessee, and Sub-series 1h: Virginia. Files are arranged alphabetically by state and thereunder by name; within the file materials are arranged chronologically. Interview files may contain transcribed copies of the oral history interviews and subsequent draft copies with corrections by the interviewer or subject. The file also may contain distillations or edited versions of the interview done by the researcher for possible publication. Correspondence and notes files may include Life History Forms, correspondence, newspaper articles, interviewer’s notes, business cards, and paper copies of photographs. Signed releases are on file in the registrar’s office, NMAH, with copies in the control file of the Archives Center. Series 2: Project Files and Reference Materials, 1928-2004 contain notes and correspondence kept by Jones in support of the oral history project. This series is divided into four sub-series: Sub-series 2a: State Files, Sub-series 2b: Project and Reference Files, 1985-1991, Sub-series 2c: Reference Publications, Pamphlets & Articles, 1928-2004 and Sub-series 2d: Computer Floppy Disks, 1985 & n.d. This series include bills, receipts, photo orders, travel brochures, reference materials, articles, correspondence, fundraising proposals and materials, USDA Extension Service bulletins, product cookbooks, and ephemera. These materials are valuable in documenting the methodology of the oral history project. They are also valuable in detailing the funding and maintenance of the project over its five year lifespan. There is also a great deal of information on black farmers. This series is arranged alphabetically by state and county or by article/publication title and within the file chronologically. Series 3: Photographic Prints and Slides, 1987-1991 documenting the individuals interviewed, their homes and businesses, and geographic locations that were studied as part of the oral history project. The series is arranged numerically then chronologically by year. This series is followed by detailed photographic descriptions arranged alphabetically by state then subject. Photograph files contain photographs taken by a Smithsonian photographer or Jones and any copies of photographs supplied by the subject. Most of the photographs are black and white. Series 4: Original Interview Tapes, 1986-1991 are the original tapes of the individual interviews conducted by Jones. This series is divided into eight sub-series: Sub-series 4a: Arkansas, Sub-series 4b: Georgia, Sub-series 4c: Louisiana, Sub-series 4d: Mississippi, Sub-series 4e: North Carolina (within this sub-series are the transcripts of the Mexican Workers Project there may be an English language transcription as well as one in Spanish), Sub-series 4f: South Carolina, Sub-series 4g: Tennessee and Sub-series 4h: Virginia and Sub-series 4i: Miscellaneous & Duplicates, within the sub-series tapes are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Provenance

A transfer from the Division of History of Technology (Agriculture), NMAH, July 2001

Related Collections

#60 Warshaw Collection
#149 Kulp Collection of Account Books, 1755-1904
#475 Robinson-Via Family Papers
#481 William C. Kost Farm Records
#767 Timothy B. Bladen, Southern Maryland Photoprints

Related Collections

The Division of Cultural History

Container List

Box	Folder
		Series 1: ORAL HISTORY TRANSCRIPTS, 1982-1991

		Sub-series 1a: Arkansas
1	1	Brantley, L.D. (Coy, AR 9/30/1987)
	2	Brantley, L.D., Correspondence & Notes
	3	Brown, Gordon (Scott, AR 9/22/1987)
	4	Brown, Gordon, Correspondence & Notes
	5	Burkett, Bennie F. (Stuttgart, AR 8/31/1982)
	6	Cazer, Garland (Carlisle, AR 9/30/1988)
	7	Cazer, Garland, Correspondence & Notes
	8	Clayton, William P. (DeValls Bluff, AR 10/2/1987)
	9	Clayton, William P., Correspondence & Notes
	10	Feilke, Mabel, Correspondence & Notes
	11	Fletcher, Mrs. Merle Ford (England, AR 9/26/1987)
	12	Fletcher, Mrs. Merle Ford, Notes & Correspondence
	13	Garrich, Carl (Carlisle, AR 9/21/1987)
	14	Garrich, Carl, Correspondence & Notes
	15	Gosney, Jessie & Kenneth (Carlisle, AR 10/1/1987)
	16	Gosney, Jessie & Kenneth, Correspondence & Notes
	17	Gosney, Rice Cook Books
	18	Hahn, E.L. (Hazen, AR 9/28/1987)
	19	Hahn, E.L., Correspondence & Notes
	20	Jensen, Olga B. (Stuttgart, AR 9/24/1987)
	21	Lenius, Jane (Stuttgart, AR 9/24/1987)
	22	Lenius, Jane, Correspondence & Notes
	23	Morris, Edward (Carlisle, AR 9/21/1987)
	24	Morris, Edward, Correspondence & Notes
2	1	Scroggins, Alma M. (Stuttgart, AR 9/28/1987)
	2	Scroggins, Alma M., Correspondence & Notes
	3	Seidenschwarz, Rosie (Stuttgart, AR 9/23/1987)
	4	Seidenschwarz, Rosie, Correspondence & Notes
	5	Seidenstricker, Laverne (DeValls Bluff, AR 10/2/1987)
	6	Seidenstricker, L.F. (DeValls Bluff, AR 9/25/1988)
	7	Seidenstricker, Laverne & L.F. Correspondence & Notes
	8	Smith, George & Ethel (Lonoke, AR 9/25/1987)
	9	Smith, George & Ethel, Correspondence & Notes
	10	Spicer, J.M. (Stuttgart, AR 8/31/1982)
	11	Strohl, Mary & Carl, Correspondence & Notes
	12	VanHouten, Rudy & Rosetta, Correspondence & Notes
	13	Yohe, Alma, M. (Stuttgart, AR n.d.)
	14	Yohe, Alma, M., Correspondence & Notes
	15	Yohe, Perry, Correspondence & Notes

		Sub-series 1b: Georgia
	16	Bennett, W.J. & Novella (Lenox, GA 1/25/1987)
	17	Bennett, W.J. & Novella, Correspondence & Notes
35	1	Bennett, W.J. & Novella, Photographs
2	18	Benson, Dick (Brookfield, GA 1/28/1987)
	19	Benson, Dick, Correspondence & Notes
	20	Benton, Aubrey & Ina Belle (Commerce, GA 4/28/1987)
	21	Benton, Aubrey & Ina Belle, Correspondence & Notes
	22	Blackstock, Tom & Velva ( Talmo, GA 4/22/1987)
	23	Blackstock, Tom & Velva, Correspondence & Notes
	24	Brinkley, Johnnie & Lucile (Tifton, GA 1/30/1987)
	25	Brinkley, Johnnie & Lucile, Correspondence & Notes
3	1	Byers, Ruby (Gainesville, GA 4/23/1987)
	2	Byers, Sanford (Gainesville, GA 4/20/1987)
	3	Byers, Ruby & Sanford, Correspondence & Notes
	4	Castleberry, Guy W. (Gainesville, GA 4/24/1987)
	5	Castleberry, Guy W. Correspondence & Notes
	6	Cole, Buster, Correspondence & Notes
	7	Connell, Alton (Tifton, GA 1/29/1987)
	8	Connell, Alton, Correspondence & Notes
35	2	Connell, Alton, Photograph
3	9	Cromertie, John, L. Correspondence & Notes
	10-11	Dillard, John T. & Nioma (Tifton, GA 1/22/1987)
	12	Dillard, John T. & Nioma, Correspondence & Notes
	13	Dorminy, Henry Clayton (Tifton, GA 1/29/1987)
	14	Dorminy, Henry Clayton, Correspondence & Notes
	15	Dove, Dorothy (Tifton, GA 1/26/1987)
	16	Dove, Dorothy, Correspondence & Notes
	17	Fleming, Arthur B. (Gainesville, GA 4/21&27/1987)
	18	Fleming, Arthur B., Correspondence & Notes
	19	Harper, Sr., Woodrow (Hartwell, GA 4/17/1987)
	20	Harper, Sr., Woodrow, Correspondence & Notes
	21	Hawkins, Charlie, Correspondence & Notes
4	1	Johnson, Herbert (Tifton, GA 1/29/1987)
	2	Johnson, Herbert, Correspondence & Notes
	3	Long, Welchel (Madison County, GA 4/16/1987)
	4	Long, Welchel, Correspondence & Notes
	5	Mangum, O.L., Correspondence & Notes
	6	McBrayer, Loomis, Correspondence & Notes
	7	Minchew, Edna (Wray, GA 1/21/1987)
	8	Minchew, Edna, Correspondence & Notes
	9	Minchew, Edna, craft Cross
	10	Nix, Joe & Agnes, Correspondence & Notes
	11	Purvis, Clyde (Tifton, GA 1/26/1987)
	12	Purvis, Clyde Correspondence & Notes
	13	Reed, Howard & Bunice (Gainesville, GA 4/23/1987)
	14	Reed, Howard & Bunice, Correspondence & Notes
	15	Rucker, William, Correspondence & Notes
	16	Scoggins, Lillie (Ashburn, GA 1/31/1987)
	17	Scoggins, Lillie, Correspondence & Notes
	18	Sizemore, Martiel (Tifton, GA 1/22/1987)
	19	Sizemore, Martiel, Correspondence & Notes
	20	Sumner, Ruby C., Correspondence & Notes
	21	Thompson, Mioma (Tifton, GA 1/24/1987)
	22	Thompson, Mioma, Correspondence & Notes
	23	Vickers, Lloyd, Correspondence & Notes
5	1	Welborn, S.L. (Jefferson County, GA 4/27/1987)
	2	Welborn, S.L., Correspondence & Notes
	3	Wells, Dr. Homer, Correspondence & Notes
	4	Wells, Dr. Homer, “Nineteenth Century Sampler”, (quilt patterns) by Shirley Arrington Wells
	5	Winskie, Dent & Arnalee (Omega, GA 1/23/1987)
	6	Winskie, Dent & Arnalee (Omega, GA 1/23/1987)
	7	Winskie, Dent & Arnaless Correspondence & Notes

		Sub-series 1c: Louisiana
	8	Accardo, Paul (Patterson, LA 6/3/1988)
	9	Accardo, Paul, Correspondence & Notes
	10	Ardoin, Leslie (Mamou, LA 5/19/1988)
	11	Ardoin, Leslie, Correspondence & Notes
	12	Baronet, Joe (Crowley, LA 5/10/1988)
	13	Baronet, Joe, Correspondence & Notes
	14	Blanchard, J.F. (Franklin, LA 1988)
	15	Blanchard, J.F. Correspondence & Notes
	16	Bowman, Wilbert A., Correspondence & Notes
	17	Breaux, Jessie A., Sr. (Franklin, LA 5/30/1988)
6	1	Broussard, Sam (New Iberia, LA 5/17/1988)
	2	Broussard, Sam, Correspondence & Notes
	3	Caffery, Clegg, Sr. (Franklin, LA 1988)
	4	Caffery, Clegg, Sr. Correspondence & Notes
	5	Carline, Herman C. (Baldwin, LA 1988)
	6	Carline, Herman C. Correspondence & Notes
	7	Caesar, Clarence (Franklin, LA 5/24/1988)
	8	Caesar, Clarence, Correspondence & Notes
	9	Comeaux, Lewis, Correspondence & Notes
	10	Daniel, Florentine (Franklin, LA 5/27/1988)
	11	Daniel, Florentine, Correspondence & Notes
	12	Delasbour, Anna (Franklin, LA 6/2/1988)
	13	Derbigney, Durrell (Baldwin, LA 6/1/1988)
	14	Derbigney, Durrell, Correspondence & Notes
	15	Friesen, Viola Liechty (Lake Charles, LA 5/6/1988)
	16	Friesen, Viola Liechty, Correspondence & Notes
	17	Gay, Andrew (Plaquemine, LA 5/19/1988)
	18	Gay, Andrew, Correspondence & Notes
	19	Gay, Andrew, “Regaining Ground: Edward J. Gay’s Experiences as a Louisiana Sugar Planter from 1865 to 1875”, by Sarah Labouisse, 1988
	20	Green, Clarence & Alone (Youngsville, LA 5/25/1988)
	21	Green, Clarence & Alone, Correspondence & Notes
	22	Harris, John Rev., (Franklin, LA 5/28/1988)
	23	Harris, John, Rev., Correspondence & Notes
7	1	Landry, Steve, Correspondence & Notes
	2	Landry, Steve, “Golden Steve” Rice Bag, 1988
	3	Lamson, Alfred Ellis (Lafayette, LA 5/12/1988)
	4	Lamson, Alfred Ellis, Correspondence & Notes
	5	Latoilais, Donald (St. Martinsville, LA 5/17/1988)
	6	Latoilais, Donald, Correspondence & Notes
	7	Legnon, Hilton (Jeanerette, LA 5/23/1988)
	8	Legnon, Lena Porrier (Jeanerette, LA 5/30/1988)
	9	Legnon, Hilton & Lena, Correspondence & Notes
35	3	Legnon, Hilton & Lena, Photographs
7	10	Loewer, Arthur, Correspondence & Notes
	11	Mcgee, Dean (Eunice, LA 5/12/1988)
	12	Mcgee, Dean, Correspondence & Notes
	13	Mire, John (Ville Platte, LA 5/11/1988)
	14	Mire, John, Correspondence & Notes
	15	Naquin, Leo (Ville Platte, LA 5/11/1988)
	16	Naquin, Leo, Correspondence & Notes
	17	Patout, William A., Jr. (New Iberia, LA 5/26/1988)