Middle Tennessee Oral History Project
The Middle Tennessee Oral History Project seeks to record the memories of people who live in or have roots in the region. Topics of particular interests include Middle Tennessee State University, African-American community leadership in Murfreesboro, veterans, state and local politics, women's organizations, farming and farm organizations, planning and economic development, and medical history.
Below you will find the names of participants and can click on the name to see a picture of the interviewee, hear an excerpt from the interview, and read a brief description of the interview content. Interviews are ongoing and additions will be made to this page frequently.
To listen to the Audio files, you must have Real Audio installed.
| MT2000.001 | Clarence Puckett, graduated from MTSTC in 1941 and recalls what the campus was like during pre-war years. He also shares memories of the Puckett General Store located in Rockvale. |
| MT2000.002 | Vera Covington taught school in Rutherford County for forty-four years. She recalls her early teaching experiences and her time at MTSTC. |
| MT2000.003 | Harry Patillo, a WWII veteran, recalls receiving Adeline King's letters during the war, living at Jefferson Springs, and attending Middle TN Normal Training School. |
| MT2000.004 | Stan Murphy shares memories from his undergraduate years at MTSU. He remembers the Upward Bound program, playing football, and the racial climate of the campus during the seventies. |
| MT2000.005 | Ruth Bowdoin shares her memories of founding and operating the Classroom on Wheels for underprivileged students in Murfreesboro City Schools from 1969 to 1999. |
| MT2000.006 | Cliff Ricketts, AgriBusiness/AgriScience professor, shares the history behind the development of MTSU's hydrogen fueled car. |
| MT2000.007 | John Harris, director of MTSU Disabled Services, recalls the history of Disabled Services on campus. |
| MT2000.008 | Mary Kate Cope remembers the years spent on campus with her husband Quill Cope, MTSU president from 1958 - 1968. |
| MT2000.009 | Phyllis Hickerson Washington was a student at MTSU during the 1970s. She shares memories of campus activities. |
| MT2000.010 | Patrick Doyle, Biology professor, shares the history behind the MTSU Recycling program. |
| MT2000.011 | C.C. Flowers recalls his years of work with the CCC - Civilian Conservation Corps. |
| MT2000.012 | Harriett Howard, WWII veteran, shares memories of the war years and the history of the WAVES. |
| MT2000.013 | Cliff Gillespie recalls the MTSU campus and student government activities during his undergraduate years in the late sixties and early seventies. |
| MT2000.014 | Jim Free shares memories of the MTSU campus and his time as Student Body President in the late 1960s. |
| MT2000.015 | Bertha Chrietzberg shares memories of her years in the MTSU HPERS Department. She also relates the history behind the Murfreesboro Greenway. |
| MT2000.016 | Tommy Brown, MTSU graduate, recalls the early years of integrated sports at MTSU. |
| MT2000.017 | Gwen Walker, wife of former MTSU president James Walker, shares memories of their years on campus. She also shares her involvement with organ donation programs and the story of her own lung transplant. |
| MT2000.018 | Frank Forgette, MTSU Audio/Visual Services, explains the history behind the Learning Resources Center building on campus. |
| MT2000.019 | Mary Scales recalls her teaching career with Murfreesboro City Schools and as the first full-time African-American faculty member at MTSU. She also reflects on the leadership role of her husband Robert with the Murfreesboro City Council. |
| MT2000.020 | Margaret Lindsey Warden remembers her 55-year career as equine reporter for the Tennessean newspaper. |
| MT2000.021 | Larry Sizemore recalls his undergraduate years at MTSU during the 1960s and discusses the evolvement of campus grounds and buildings. |
| MT2000.022 | Judy Smith, former MTSU Associate Dean of Students, remembers the changing rules for women on campus in the seventies. |
| MT2000.023 | Buleah Davis remembers her student years at MTSTC and her years of teaching with MTSU HPERS department. |
| MT2000.024 | Sylvester Brooks recalls his leadership role for the African-American community on campus in the early seventies. |
| MT2000.025 | Bryant Millsaps remembers his undergraduate years at MTSU during the late sixties and early seventies. |
| MT2000.026 | J.O. Gist recalls his service in WWII and his return to campus as a student following the war. He also details the development of Auxiliary Services at MTSU. |
| MT2000.027 | Jennings & Rebecca Jones, Murfreesboro community leaders, reflect on WWII at home and in Europe, community planning for roads and schools, Gen. Douglas MacArthur's visit, and the history behind their philanthropic work in Murfreesboro. |
| MT2000.028 | Bob Lamb, Murfreesboro realtor, remembers his undergraduate years at MTSU during the sixties. |
| MT2000.029 | Howard & Gladys Thomas remember his WWII experiences with the SeaBees and her work at Oak Ridge. |
| MT2000.030 | Robert & Pat Sanders share memories of their work which led to Tennessee becoming the first state in the country to require use of child safety seats. |
| MT2000.031 | Billie Little, Executive Director of Children's Discovery House, details the history behind this hands-on museum. |
| MT2000.032 | Bud Morris, shares memories from his student years at MTSU in the 1960s as well as childhood memories of Murfreesboro. |
| MT2000.033 | Jerry Gaither shares stories from his rural childhood as well as details about his work with State Vocational Schools and as a Rutherford County Commissioner. |
| MT2000.034 | John Pittard recalls his student years at MTSU and his work with the Murfreesboro City Council. |
| MT2000.035 | Bob Couch reminisces about Camp Forrest in Tullahoma and the MTSU campus following WWII. |
| MT2000.036 | Bob LaLance shares stories from his 30+ year career in MTSU Student Affairs. |
| MT2000.037 | C.B. Arnette, author of From Mink Slide to Main Street, shares early memories of Murfreesboro. |
| MT2000.038 | Richard Reeves, current mayor of Murfreesboro, talks about his childhood memories of Murfreesboro along with goals and challenges for the city today. |
| MT2000.039 | Kitty Stickney came to Murfreesboro as a "GI Bride" following WWII. She tells of life in London during the war. |
| MT2000.040 | Marvin Runyon shares the history behind the arrival of the Nissan Company in Smyrna, Tennessee. |
| MT2000.041 | Harley Foutch joined the MTSU faculty in 1970 and recalls the history of the AgriBusiness/AgriScience Department. |
| MT2000.042 | William Pickron details his time as a fighter pilot in the Pacific during WWII and his later years of service as pilot to Tennessee governors. |
| MT2000.043 | Myrtle Lord recalls her 42-year teaching career and childhood memories of Murfreesboro. |
| MT2000.044 | Alice Ray tells about her love of antiques and her work to help establish Cannonsburgh. |
| MT2000.045 | Mary Belle Robinson shares memories of Crichlow School both as a student and teacher. She also shares memories from her time as a student at Tennessee College for Women. |
| MT2000.046 | Stenia Olivia Woods was the first African-American student to attend MTSC in 1962. She shares memories of this special time in campus history. |
| MT2000.047 | Ron Green recalls MTSU in the mid-60s and details of his duty in Vietnam. |
| MT2000.048 | Susan Bragg shares her childhood memories of Murfreesboro. |
| MT2000.049 | William Sellers remembers his time as a fighter pilot during World War II. He also shares highlights of his time as Rutherford County Attorney from 1957-1983. |
| MT2000.050 | Bessie Gore was a student at the Normal School in 1924-1926. She shares memories of her college years. |
| MT2000.051 | William Miller recalls his experiences as a World War II fighter pilot and his memories of MTSU before and after the war. |
| MT2000.052 | Knox Ridley shares memories of his service during WWII, his work as county judge, and later as mayor of Smyrna. |
| MT2000.053 | John Rucker remembers his student years at MTSU, training as a glider pilot in WWII, and his service during WWII. |
| MT2000.054 | Roy King received Adeline King's letters during WWII. He recalls his work in France with the railroad. |
| MT2000.055 | Harold Smith has been a student and employee at MTSU since 1963. He reflects on memories of this long-time association. |
| MT2000.056 | Burns Phillips served in WWII and taught mathematics at MTSU. |
| MT2000.057 | Rose Witherspoon Spence shares her experiences as an African-American woman serving with the WACS during WWII. |
| MT2000.058 | Shirley Jones remembers teachers and events at Crichlow School. She also shares details of her work with the Rutherford County Historical Society. |
| MT2000.059 | Raymond Lee tells details of his childhood in rural Smyrna and his service during WWII. |
| MT2000.060 | George Kersey recalls his days of delivering groceries by bicycle, service in WWII, and owning and operating the LaVergne telephone system. |
| MT2000.061 | Jim Akins tells of his time as a POW after his bomber was shot down while on a mission during WWII. |
| MT2000.062 | Robert Jones Floyd describes the services provided on the peddling truck route he drove throughout Rutherford County in the '40s and '50s. |
| MT2000.063 | James Walls was stationed at Hickam Field near Pearl Harbor in 1941. He shares memories from the day of the attack. |
| MT2000.064 | Carolyn Brackett, Marketing Director, and Tony Guzzi, Assistant Curator, of the Hermitage in Nashville, TN |
| MT2000.065 | John Bragg shares details of his career in the Tennessee Legislature. |
| MT2000.066 | Herschel Mullins describes downtown Murfreesboro at the time he opened his business in 1938. |
| MT2000.067 | Matt Ward shares memories of his years at MTSU. |
| MT2000.068 | Fayne Haynes recalls his involvement in WWII and operating the Haynes Candy Company. |
| MT2000.069 | Wordna Black attended Tennessee College for Women and shares memories of that time. |
| MT2000.070 | Frank & Shirley Davis remember WWII. Frank served as a Navy fighter pilot in the Pacific. They also discuss their work with the Sam Davis home in Smyrna. |
| MT2000.071 | Carl Black remembers WWII and his work to help build the China-Burma road. |
| MT2000.072 | Perry Bullock shares memories of his work with the Civilian Conservation Corps. |
| MT2000.073 | Ben Hutcherson remembers his time with the Civilian Conservation Corps. |
| MT2000.074 | Jane Maxwell Tucker attended State Teachers College during World War II and shares memories of that time. |
| MT2000.075 | Johnnie Corbitt shares experiences from the Civilian Conservation Corps. |
| MT2000.076 | Clifford Caplinger remembers his time in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Morristown, Tennessee. |
| MT2000.077 | Howard Agee joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934. |
| MT2000.078 | Martha Rion Moffett remembers Crichlow School. |
| MT2000.079 | Woodrow Hunter recalls his experiences in the Civilian Conservation Corps. |
| MT2000.080 | Daniel Harley Fite graduated from MTSU in 1927 and recalls memories of the Normal School. |
| MT2000.081 | Nancy Vaughan shares childhood memories from Murfreesboro. |
| MT2000.082 | Zane Cantrell shares memories of Crichlow School. |
| MT2000.083 | Sara Lowe tells her experiences with the WAVES during WWII. |
| MT2000.084 | John Helton shares details of his WWII experience and his time as a POW. |
| MT2000.085 | James Elkins remembers his WWII experience with the 276th Combat Engineers. |
| MT2000.086 | Louise Brendle |
| MT2000.087 | Jack Jenny tells of his experiences as a B-24 bomber pilot in WWII. |
| MT2000.088 | Barry Chism describes his service in Italy during WWII. |
| MT2000.089 | Jacob McClenny recalls his service as a B-17 bomber pilot in WWII. |
| MT2000.090 | Harold McCracken shares his WWII experience. |
| MT2000.091 | Jim Staley remembers MTSU during the 70s - 90s. |
| MT2000.092 | Houston & Ella Overton - Murfreesboro memories |
| MT2000.093 | Mary Eileen Gore Rotenberry shares her memories of being a WAVE during WWII. |
| MT2000.094 | Ike Farrar - WWII |
| MT2000.095 | Robert Bomar - WWII |
| MT2000.096 | Aaron Wade |
| MT2000.097 | Marshall Duggin - WWII |
| MT2000.098 | Paris Brewer - WWII |
| MT2000.099 | Y.T. Vaughan - Korean War |
| MT2000.100 | Horace Reed - WWII |
| MT2000.101 | Tommy Thompson - WWII |
| MT2000.102 | David Walker - WWII |
| MT2000.103 | Roger Linbaugh - Vietnam |
| MT2000.104 | Ben Hutcherson - WWII |
| MT2000.105 | Howard Agee - WWII |
| MT2000.106 | Woodrow Hunter - WWII |
| MT2000.107 | Ed Howard - WWII |
| MT2000.108 | A.J. Kyukendall - WWII |
| MT2000.109 | Ray Gilbert - WWII |
| MT2000.110 | Johnnie Corbitt - WWII |
| MT2000.111 | Earl Hudson - WWII |
| MT2000.112 | Whitney Stegall - CCC |
| MT2000.113 | Willie Ray Burks - WWII |
| MT2000.114 | James Shubert - WWII |
| MT2000.115 | Aubrey Anderson - WWII |
| MT2000.116 | Arch Cousins - WWII |
| MT2000.117 | Ralph Schulz - WWII |
| MT2000.118 | Margaret Salm - WWII |
| MT2000.119 | Bill Farrell - WWII |
| MT2000.120 | Harry Snodgrass - WWII |
| MT2000.121 | Henry Nixon - WWII |
| MT2000.122 | Charles Jacobus - WWII |
| MT2000.123 | Thomas Brannon - WWII |
| MT2000.124 | Len Blaylock - WWII |
| MT2000.125 | Emmett Kennon - State Teachers College, WWII |
| MT2000.126 | Celinda Bassett - Shares memories from her time in the Army |
| MT2000.127 | Florence Slavin - WWII |
| MT2000.128 | CCC128 |
| MT2000.129 | CCC129 |
| MT2000.130 | CCC130 |
| MT2000.131 | Jimmy Jackson - WWII |
| MT2000.132 | CCC132 |
| MT2000.133 | Leone Murphy - WWII |
| MT2000.134 | Henry Nixon - Korean War, Vietnam War |
| MT2000.135 | Jim Criner - WWII |
| MT2000.136 | Elinor Folk - WWII |
| MT2000.137 | Don Clement - WWII |
| MT2000.138 | Polly Harms - WWII |
| MT2000.139 | Pam Polk |
| MT2000.140 | Thelma Battle |
| MT2000.141 | Amelia Slayden - WWII |
| MT2000.142 | Donald Stewart - Vietnam, Desert Storm |
| MT2000.143 | Finis Poole - WWII |
| MT2000.144 | GW Eddleman - Shares memories of the Bataan Death March |
| MT2000.145 | James N. Lassiter - Shares memories of his service in WWII. |
| MT2000.146 | W.K. Lane - WWII |
| MT2000.147 | Tom Long - WWII |
| MT2000.148 | Marvin Jennings - WWII |
| MT2000.149 | Jesse Morris - WWII |
| MT2000.150 | Richard Robertson - WWII |
| MT2000.151 | Robert Hughes - WWII |
| MT2000.152 | Victor Wilson-WWI |
| MT2000.153 | Jack Snead-WWII |
| MT2000.154 | Larry Richards-WWII |
| MT2000.155 | Ivy Agee-WWII |
| MT2000.156 | Luther Taylor - WWII |
| MT2000.157 | Harold Lilly - WWII |
| MT2000.158 | Bill Allen |
| MT2000.159 | R.E. Alexander |
| MT2000.160 | Spencer Dixon - Vietnam |
| MT2000.161 | Bill Williams - WWII |
| MT2000.162 | Ben Cunningham - WWII |
| MT2000.163 | Truman Setliffe - WWII |
| MT2000.164 | Hugh Killingsworth - WWII |
| MT2000.165 | Erlon Hagerup - WWII |
| MT2000.166 | Barbara Robinson - WWII |
| MT2000.167 | William Robinson - WWII |
| MT2000.168 | John Tucker - Korean War |
| MT2000.169 | Olga White - White Dairy |
| MT2000.170 | James Taylor - WWII |
| MT2000.171 | Robert Thomas - WWII |
| MT2000.172 | Ernest Hooper - WWII |
| MT2000.173 | Houston Overton - Korean War |
| MT2000.174 | Lurleen Rushing - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.175 | Tom Adams - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.176 | Richard Palmer - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.177 | Elmer Davis - WWII |
| MT2000.178 | David Garvin - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.179 | Lawrence Freeman - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.180 | Grace Batts - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.181 | Jordan McElroy - WWII |
| MT2000.182 | W.B. & Florence Sanford - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.183 | James Fagan - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.184 | Samuel Watkins - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.185 | Jimmy Jones - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.186 | James Morgan - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.187 | Lillian Branson - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.188 | Vincent DeGeorge - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.189 | Myers & Ann Nora Parsons - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.190 | Marjorie Hernandez - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.191 | Sarah King - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.192 | Jere Warner - WWII & Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.193 | JW Victory - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.194 | Robert McKnight - WWII & Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.195 | Emma Jean Vaught - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.196 | Calvin Fite - WWII |
| MT2000.197 | Col. Jean Jack - WWII |
| MT2000.198 | Carl Buckner - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.199 | Maye Taylor - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.200 | Ida Lee Johns Wright - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.201 | Raymond Maxwell - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.202 | Elizabeth Lemieux - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.203 | Katie Delbridge - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.204 | Frances Campbell - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.205 | Dean Hayes - MTSU Memories |
| MT2000.206 | Floyd Moore, Jr. - World War II |
| MT2000.207 | John Shacklett - World War II Memories |
| MT2000.208 | Joe B. Jackson - World War II & Murfreesboro Memories |
| MT2000.209 | Clara Singleton Nelson - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.210 | J.T. Jackson - World War II Memories |
| MT2000.211 | Rose Ann Meshotto Smith - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.212 | William Benedict - WWII, Korea, Vietnam |
| MT2000.213 | Bobby Lamb - Rutherford County Memories |
| MT2000.214 | Willie Stem - WWII & Murfreesboro Memories |
| MT2000.215 | John Mason - WWII Memories |