In August 2008 the library kicked off an oral history project focused on people’s memories of Marshall and Carver Schools and the events of the 1950s and ’60s that led to desegregation of Georgetown’s schools. At the kickoff, a panel of five long-time Georgetown residents–Harvey Miller, Birdie Shanklin, Paulette Taylor, Doug Benold, and Norman Spellmann–shared their memories of life in segregated Georgetown and how desegregation came about. After the panel discussion, a number of people in the audience also contributed their recollections and comments. At the kickoff and later in the newspaper we issued a call for volunteers who were willing to share their personal recollections in individual recorded interviews. We also called for volunteers to conduct the interviews.
Our good fortune brought us thirteen generous people who were willing to share their memories with posterity and eight willing workers who would conduct the interviews. Those who agreed to be interviewed included the five panel members (with Harvey Miller giving us two long interviews), plus Nell Benold, Lee L. City, Carl Doering, Milton Jordan, Laurie Locke, Nora Rose, Betty Spellmann, and J.D. Thomas. The interviewers were Callie Enlow, Chris Dyer, Joyce Hinds, Carol Parsonage, Mandy Shelton, Suzanne Stallings, Chad Thomas, and Ben Trollinger. Several people did two or more interviews, for which we are extremely grateful.
Now the recorded interviews are available on the library website. Under the “General Info” tab is “Photo Collections & Other Media”, scroll about half-way down the page that opens and you’ll find “Oral Histories.” Scroll down some more and you’ll see the names of the people who were interviewed. When you click on any name the audio toolbar pops up and the interview begins playing. You can’t adjust the volume with the toolbar. If you need to make adjustments, use the volume control for your speakers. In the future, transcripts will become available for each of the interviews. They will be posted as they are completed. Due to technical difficulties, Laurie Locke’s interview is very difficult to hear, so the transcript for her interview is already posted.
If you are interested in adding your memories, either of attending Marshall or Carver schools or of the process of desegregation in Georgetown, please contact Judy Fabry at 930-3552 or jkf@georgetowntx.org. We are hoping we’ll be able to expand this collection.
