Search Results

Displaying results 1 - 10 of 10
Image
Ralph Houston oral history interview

Description
Dr. Houston talks about growing up in Denton County, attending college at UNT and teaching in Big Spring, Texas. He discusses studying for his PhD at UT-Austin and being recruited by Deacon Wright to teach at SWTSTC in the 1930s. He describes campus, the English department and its staff, and his experiences as a professor, head of the English department, and Dean of Liberal and Fine Arts during his time at the university (1937-1970). He also relates stories about Dr. McCrocklin and the university's participation in the AAUP and other academic organizations.

Image
Bob Jr. Barton oral history interview

Description
Robert Barton describes his early life and education in the Buda and Kyle areas, specifically recalling how his cattle-driving family came to settle in Texas, attending Buda High School, and graduating from Southwest Texas State Teachers College after serving in the military during the Korean War. He discusses buying, running, and selling the Kyle News newspaper, as well as operating the Colloquium Bookstore. He speaks about the changes San Marcos and Texas politics have gone through over time, including his work with the Hays County Democratic Party. He shares his thoughts about LBJ and discusses his own run for the Texas Legislature.

Image
Margaret Fields oral history interview

Description
Margaret Fields talks about her early life in New Braunfels and life during the Great Depression. She describes the university campus and the schooling she received at Texas State in the 1930s and 1940s. She mentions places like Old Main; people such as C.E. Evans, Mary Brogdon, Leland Derrick, and John Flowers; and her experiences living off-campus. She discusses the various teaching jobs she took in Comal County and Medina County as well as her work with the state vocational rehabilitation department in Austin and other companies in Houston. She outlines how it all led her to her current job at the Sophienburg Museum in New Braunfels.

Image
Gus and Betty Dressen oral history interview

Description
Gus and Betty Dressen discuss their German family heritage and growing up near Uhland, Texas. Along with describing what it was like to grow up on a farm, the couple share the responsibilities that come with that kind of lifestyle, such as taking care of animals, growing corn and sugar cane, and other aspects including having a blacksmith shop. They also talk about how life back then is different from now, such as paved roads, cars, electricity, and going into town.

Image
Margaret Carney oral history interview

Description
Margaret Carney reminisces about her life in Chilton and Waco during WWI and WWII. She reflects on her work in the USO as a hostess and director of the service club at North Camp Hood and South Camp Hood where she was paid to sing, dance, and play piano for the soldiers. Along with recalling certain popular songs, dances, and momentous events like V-E Day and V-J Day, she discusses the camps' soldiers and German POWs.

Image
Lola Cheatham oral history interview

Description
Lola Cheatham, a long-time San Marcos resident talks about the growth of San Marcos and what Texas State used to be like. She recalls growing up and attending school in Caldwell County, going to college at Texas College in Tyler, and working for SWTSU for sixteen years. She shares her experiences and duties during her employment at the University Staff Lounge in Flowers Hall. Ms. Cheatham discusses university figures such as Emmie Craddock, John Flowers, LBJ, and Dana Smith, the university's first enrolled African-American student.

Image
Betty Dressen oral history interview

Description
Betty Dressen discusses growing up on a farm. She shares her memories of "going into town" to Lockhart with her dad once a month. She shares the responsibilities that come with that kind of lifestyle, such as curing meat, making cheese, canning, and other aspects including wells and growing her garden.

Image
James Harrell oral history interview

Description
James Harrell talks about growing up in Waco, studying in Dallas, and working in the movie business. He relays information about how Texas has grown to better support actors and the film industry, and outlines present trends in professional acting. Along with recalling changes he has seen in the university, he also discusses the evolution of the drama department and the new Speech and Drama Building.

Image
Ruth Bain oral history interview

Description
Dr. Bain describes how the medical field and opportunities for female doctors have changed over the span of her career, especially in Austin, TX. Dr. Bain briefly discusses growing up in Centerville, attending college at the Texas State College for Women, and going to medical school at the University Medical Branch in Galveston. Beyond talking about being a woman in medical school, Dr. Bain shares her experiences working at Brackenridge Hospital and starting her private practice in Austin. She later recalls her participation in a number of medical societies, including the Travis County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association, as well as the state of healthcare and insurance in the United States.

Max Winkler oral history interview

Description
Max Winkler talks about how he got started in the CIA, primarily through working on a program dedicated to eradicating the spread of foot and mouth disease in Mexico in the 1940s and 1950s. Mr. Winkler describes his adventures and exploits, spending much of the interview discussing his role in training Cuban nationals to overthrow Castro during the disastrous Bay of Pigs in Cuba in the early 1960s. He details how Fidel Castro took control of Cuba and instituted communism, due in large part to Hugo Chavez, whom Mr. Winkler interviewed. Along with describing the trainees, Winkler recalls how the CIA treated number of imprisoned defectors. Mr. Winkler also shares how the U.S. worked with President Ydigoras of Guatemala during this period. Eventually, Mr. Winkler and his wife (also a CIA agent) left the Foreign Service and moved to New Braunfels. Mr. Winkler administered LBJ's Head Start Program in Central Texas, the first in the U.S., before becoming principal of Seele Elementary.