During the 1930s, the federal government commissioned interviewing former slaves. It
was a project of the Works Progress Administration. The Collection acquired sixteen recordings which are
in poor condition. All are open, and the following are transcribed:
Black, Celia
Born in 1859, she recounts life in Tyler, Texas. 11 pages.
Hughes, Fountain
Born in 1848 and lived in Charlottesville, Virginia. 18 pages.
Ledbetter, Bob
Born in 1861 and lived in Oil City, Louisiana. 9 pages.
McDonald, Joe
Birth date unknown, briefly discusses picking cotton in Livingston, Alabama. 4 pages.
McCrea, Billy
Birth date unknown, discusses end of slavery in Jasper, Texas. 6 pages.
Moseley, Isom
Born in 1856 and discusses life in Gee's Bend, Alabama. 6 pages.
Quarterman, Wallace
Born in 1844 and briefly discusses when the Yankees came to Frederica, Georgia. 7 pages.
Smalley, Laura
Birth date unknown, discusses life in Hempstead, Texas. 28 pages.
Smith, Charlie
Born in 1844, discusses passage from Africa, becoming a slave cowboy, and life in
Houston, Texas. 20 pages.
Smith, Harriet
Born 1851 discusses growing up and living in Hempstead, Texas. 30 pages.
