Oral Histories
This Oral History Collection consists of audio recordings of oral histories and interviews as well as recordings of public events. Many Bosque County natives have recorded oral histories of their life while growing up in Bosque County.
These recordings were originally on cassette and reel-to-reel tape. Thanks to the efforts of Bill Duncan, many of our oral histories have now been digitized and are presented here. Use the play icons below to listen (you must have a browser that is capable of understanding HTML5). Please keep in mind that these recordings belong to and are copyrighted by the Bosque County Historical Commission and may not be used elsewhere except with the written permission of the Bosque County Historical Commission.
You may search for specific names/words on this page by using the Find function in your browser (Ctrl-F in Windows).
| Speaker | Subject | Length | ID Code |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Retired Teachers Talks |
Talks Honoring Superintendents, Packs, Day, Appleby, Nutt, Raley | 0:28:52 | OH-0002a |
|
Torrence, Elizabeth at Retired Teachers Talks |
Jane Long, Elizabeth Barnes, Dr. James Long, Capt. Samuel Barnes | 0:23:45 | OH-0002b |
|
Lane, Creola & Ragsdale, Norene & Bettis, Lottie |
Mosheim/Oak Creek, Union Hill & Cove Springs Schools | 0:47:01 | OH-0003a |
|
Conley, Elizabeth & Charles |
WW I Experiences & Railroad, Iredell | 1:03:40 | OH-0004ab |
|
Bell, W. T. & Cleve & Maude |
Early Times in Jasper County | 0:53:31 | OH-0006ab |
|
Simpson, Leonard & Nowlin, Gordon interviewed by Gordon Nowlin |
Conversations, Old Ranching Family | 1:09:35 | OH-0007a |
|
Veteto, Joe & Nowlin, Gordon |
Life & Times in Bosque County | 0:15:27 | OH-0008a |
|
Robinson, Mrs. Omar |
Family, Life & Times | 0:04:37 | OH-0009a |
|
Cole, Mrs. W. H. |
Meridian College & her Life & Times | 0:33:31 | OH-0010ab |
|
Paulson, Mrs. Selma Amundson interviewed by unidentified |
Family, Life & Times | 0:31:13 | OH-0011a |
|
Torrence, Iva Pool |
Pool Cemetery | 0:24:18 | OH-0012 |
|
Speer, Mrs. Birdie |
Family History | 0:38:55 | OH-0013a |
|
Simpson, Leonard & Nowlin |
Conversations, Life and Times, Old Ranch Families (original and uncut) | 0:56:19 | OH-0014a |
|
Pool, William C. |
Program, Courthouse (Part of tape is no good) | 0:22:42 | OH-0016a |
|
Conrad, Mrs. Josie Rhodes of Meridian, TX. interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Cyclone in Chase Community 1924 | 0:37:45 | OH-0017ab |
|
Morman, Mrs. Alma interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Teacher of a One Teacher School Center Hill (Boxy 1926) | 0:14:14 | OH-0018a |
|
Roberson, Bob Pool interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Memories of Center Point School | 0:16:17 | OH-0019a1 |
|
Fallis, Jasper 'Jap' (1898-1992) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Life and Times | 0:35:23 | OH-0019b |
|
Ficklin, Mrs. Zula Odle (1894-1992) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Life and Times, School | 0:23:33 | OH-0020a |
|
Sanders, Mrs. Alisse Shelton (1903-1994) & Mary Joe Hedrick (1901-1986) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
James Buckner 'Buck' Barry and Family | 0:14:03 | OH-0022a |
|
Fallis, Jasper 'Jap' (1898-1992) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Charlie 'Wild Horse' Hughes | 0:23:48 | OH-0023a |
|
Olsen, Palmer H. (1894-1994) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Fishing Experience 1905 | 0:05:27 | OH-0024a1 |
|
Helm, Mrs. Lena Snell (1894-1994) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Life & Times | 0:15:16 | OH-0024a2 |
|
Vickrey, Stella (1891-1988) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Family, Life & Times | 0:24:31 | OH-0024a3 |
|
Brewer, Mrs. Lola Bradstreet (1888-1987) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Life & Times in Bosque County | 0:16:06 | OH-0024b |
|
Jordan, Johnnie M. (1896-1988) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Isaac Gary & early Meridian, Life and Times, Baptist preacher | 0:22:22 | OH-0025a |
|
Shipman, Mrs. Laura Massey (1880-1973) and Mrs. Mozelle Davidson Hensley (1903-1999) interviewed by Jim Sweeney |
Life and Times, Walnut Springs of early 1900s | 0:28:34 | OH-0026a1 |
|
Avirett, Robert R. 'Bob' (1918-1995) interviewed by unidentified |
Life & Times in Bosque County | 0:30:48 | OH-0027a |
|
Anderson, George W. (1892-1988) interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Childhood in Harmony Community; Murder of Edna Kellersberger by Nora Bosche and subsequent trial | 0:28:38 | OH-0028a |
|
Schow, C. E. |
Dr. Van Goodall | 0:45:47 | OH-0029a1 |
|
Redder, Al of Waco, TX. |
Bob Veteto Speaks with Al Redder on the General Archaeology around Smith Bend | 0:09:23 | OH-0030a |
|
Smith, Doug of Houston, TX. |
Family at Smith Bend | 0:21:20 | OH-0030b1 |
|
Gouldman, James of Houston, TX. |
Family at Smith Bend | 0:06:47 | OH-0030b2 |
|
Ramsey, Mary Butler |
Life and Times - the Butler family in early 1900s Clifton | 0:57:31 | OH-0031ab |
|
Cates, Lila Veteto of Lufkin, TX. |
Smith Family History; Smith Bend Community | 0:11:00 | OH-0032a1 |
|
Burrus, Florrie of Goldthwaite, TX. |
Smith Family History; Smith Bend Community | 0:05:56 | OH-0032a2 |
|
Redder, Al of Waco, TX. |
Geology of Smith Bend - conversation with Bob Veteto | 0:04:42 | OH-0032a3 |
|
Hill, Lois of Waco, TX. |
Smith Family History; Smith Bend Community | 0:06:06 | OH-0032a4 |
|
Redder, Al of Waco, TX. |
Horn Shelter; Interviewed by Bob Veteto | 0:24:46 | OH-0032b |
|
Taylor, Vivian Barnes interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Life and Times by Granddaughter of Sam Barnes | 0:14:16 | OH-0033a |
|
Reinhardt, Virginia Hearne of Albemarle, NC. |
Hearne Family of Smith Bend Community; Interviewed by Bob Veteto | 0:24:57 | OH-0034a |
|
Smith, L. C. of Sealy, TX. |
Smith Family, Ferries of Smith Bend Community; Interviewed by Bob Veteto | 0:26:22 | OH-0034b |
|
Womack, R. C. of Smith Bend Community |
History of Smith Bend Community; Interviewed by Bob Veteto | 0:27:12 | OH-0035a |
|
Hopkins, Mrs. Etoile of Forest, MS. |
(Anderson?) Smith Family, Smith Bend Community; with Bob Veteto | 0:07:25 | OH-0035b |
|
Hill, Lois & Hansel of Waco, TX. |
Name and Date Inscriptions from Smith Family Grave Markers in MS | 0:04:12 | OH-0036a1 |
|
Hill, Lois & Hansel of Waco, TX. |
Smith Bend History - old general store and gin; Smith family | 0:08:25 | OH-0036a2 |
|
Smith, L. C. of Crosby, TX. interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Smith Family of Smith Bend Community History | 0:03:03 | OH-0036b1 |
|
Smith, Chesley of Sealy, TX. interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Smith Family and Early Smith Bend Community History | 0:38:12 | OH-0036b2 |
|
Hill, Sybil of Hill County, TX. interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Smith and Horn Families; Smith Bend Community | 0:57:18 | OH-0037a |
|
Hill, Lois & Burrus, Florrie in Waco, TX. interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Smith and Butler Families | 0:37:57 | OH-0037b |
|
Olsen, Palmer H. interviewed by Elizabeth Torrence |
Spanish-American War Days in Clifton (1899) | 0:08:43 | OH-0038a |
|
Rowe, Thelma Ruth of Cleburne, TX. interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Smith Family & Pictures; Smith Bend Community | 0:05:56 | OH-0039a1 |
|
Bonds, Marguerite of Coon Creek Community interviewed by Bob Veteto |
History of Smith Bend Community | 0:14:36 | OH-0039a2 |
|
Harris, L. W. (Pete) of Baytown interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Smith Bend Community History & Family | 0:34:00 | OH-0039a3+b |
|
Lomax, John T. |
Courthouse Water Trough; John A. Lomax (Uncle) | 0:04:46 | OH-0040a |
|
Chase, Ruth Smith of Houston, TX. interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Smith Family, Smith Bend | 0:30:46 | OH-0041a1 |
|
Arnold, Effie Smith of San Antonio, TX. interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Family History - Smith, Veteto | 0:27:46 | OH-0041b |
|
Mims, Nancy of Edgefield, SC. interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Family History - Smith, Veteto | 0:10:53 | OH-0043a1 |
|
Peacock, Mable of Clifton TX. interviewed by unknown |
Life and Times in Smith Bend; Family Histories | 0:46:00 | OH-0043a2+b1 |
|
Moore, Charlsie of Houston TX. interviewed by Bob Veteto |
Smith Family History, Smith Bend Community | 0:20:46 | OH-0043b2 |
|
Ford, Mary Lou of Iredell, TX. interviewed by Jim Sweeney |
Life and Times | 0:25:54 | OH-0044a1 |
|
Torrence, Elizabeth |
Life and Times in Bosque County | 0:24:30 | OH-0045a |
|
Aars, Hulen C. |
Life and Times; History of Clifton | 0:39:16 | OH-0045b |
|
Olsen, Palmer H. |
Memory Corner Drug & Brooks Bldg. | 0:12:51 | OH-0061a |
|
Wilson, Jay |
WW II Experiences | 0:25:02 | OH-0096b |
|
Olsen, Palmer H. |
Cotton Picking (1906) | 0:07:07 | OH-0105b |
|
Lomax Part III 1995 |
Lomax Gathering | 0:46:53 | OH-0113a |
|
Cranfill, M. M. & Whittington, Gail |
Sam Cranfill | 0:36:17 | OH-0131a |
|
Martin, Bernay |
Chisholm Trail & Kimball | 0:05:34 | OH-0132a |
|
Stempler, Fran |
Oral History | 0:08:49 | OH-0133a |
|
White, Frank |
Interview | 0:47:48 | OH-0134a |
Although it is not an oral history in the Bosque County Collection, you may enjoy listening to what is considered by many as one of the best songs ever written about life in rural Texas. Texas Trilogy, written in 1967 by singer/songwriter Steven Fromholz, describes life in the town of Kopperl and Bosque County in the 1950's. Listen to Texas Trilogy.
