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Oral History: Home

Oral Histories held at WCJC Library.

The WCJC library houses the full DVD collection of Wharton County's Historical Commission Oral History Programs. This collection is comprised of videos of formal and informal interviews, personal and family experiences, events, and more from the county's past.

To access the oral history collection, contact the library at wcjclibrary@wcjc.edu or 979-532-6509. You can also complete this online request form.

Here's a list of items within the collection:

  • OH-01, November 12, 1980: "An interview with Francis 'Frank' Des Riviers Sorral" by Willian A Ansley and Sidney A Wilbeck. Run time: 56 min.
  • OH-02, November 25, 1980: "An interview with Oryn Andrews 'Tom' Tyler" by R.D. 'Jim' Little, M.D. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-03, April 23, 1981: "An interview with Edgar Hinkle Hudgins (ranching)" by Stanley D. Irish. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-04, February 2, 1981: "An interview with Mary Lee Shannon Stevens" by Ruth Patton. Run time: 35 min.
  • OH-05, June 2, 1981: "An interview with F.J.L. 'Bing' Blasingame" By R.D. 'Jim' Little, M.D. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-06, June 3, 1981: "An interview with William Aldridge Cline, Sr. (history of the Wharton County Abstract Co.)" by William A. Cline, Jr. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-07, June 9, 1981: "An interview with Charles Graves Sivells, Jr. (history of public education in Wharton)" by Mrs. Lannie B. Williams. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-08, June 23, 1981: "An interview with Edgar Hinkle Hudgins (Hudgins family and development of the J.D. Hudgins ranch)" by Merle Reue Hudgins. Run time: 50 min
  • OH-09, August 20, 1981: "The history of the Colorado River raft or natural dam - an interview with Judge Thomas Henry Abell" by Mrs. Eve Bartlett. Run time: 40 min.
  • OH-10, October 1, 1981: "An interview with Charles Washington Dawson (personal history and history of African-American education in Wharton)" by Charles Graves Sivells. Run time: 50 min.
  • OH-11, October 15, 1981: "History of the Wharton Masonic Lodge - and interview with Irving Moore and Vernon Melton" by Henry Smith. Run time: 55 min.
  • OH-12, October 27, 1981: "An interview with Mrs. Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Otto (early history of the First Baptist Church of Wharton and general history of early years in Wharton)" by Dr. Jim Coats. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-13, October 28, 1981: "An interview with Verner Petersen (history of Danevang, Texas)" by R.L. Cowser. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-15, August 20, 1982: "An interview with Anton 'Toby' Chomout and R.J. 'Rudy' Strnadel  (personal histories)" by Chuck Schwartzkopf. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-16, September 15, 1982: "Life as I have lived it - an interview with Tom Tyler (personal history)" by Leroy 'Sonny' Bahner. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-17, September 20, 1982: "My experiences with Wharton County Junior College - an interview with Sybil L. Goldsmith" by Patsy Norton. Run time: 30 min.
  • OH-18, September 27, 1982: "Recollections of early life in El Campo, Texas  - an interview with Mr. Bernie Louis Franke" by T.K. 'Ken' Franke. Run time: 25 min.
  • OH-19, October 8, 1982: "Old days in Wharton - with Horton Foote and Maner Stafford." Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-20, October 8, 1982: "Old days in Wharton - with Horton Foote and Laura Brooks Ray." Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-21, November 12, 1982: "Recollections of the El Campo public school system - an interview with Selma Allen" by Arliss A. Treybig. Run time: 50 min.
  • OH-22, February 17, 1983: "A half-century of banking - an interview with Mr. Ralph Kirk and Mrs. Patsy Kirk Wigginton (personal history of banking in El Campo)" by Joe Tom Davis. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-24: October 4, 1983: "A conversation with John Samuel 'Jno' Morris and his grandson, Richard T. 'Dick' Hudgins (personal history)." Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-25, November 7, 1983: "An interview with T.W. 'Buckshot' Lane (personal history and history in law enforcement)" by W.O. 'Bubby' Frazier. Run time: 45 min.
  • OH-27, July 5, 1984: "Educational, civic and cultural leader; a visit with Mrs. Agnes Isaacson of El Campo" by Joe Tom Davis. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-28, July 31, 1984: "Ruby Baty, a life of community service (parts 1 and 2)." Run time: 60 min (part 1) and 30 min (part 2).
  • OH-29, September 27, 1984: "Paul Williams, a W.C.J.C. original (parts 1 and 2)" by Joe Tom Davis. Run time: 45 min (part 1) and 60 min (part 2).
  • OH-30, October 18, 1984: "A Wharton county cowgirl, an interview with Naomi Chappell" by Joe Tom Davis. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-32, July 1, 1993: "An interview with I.J. Irvin" by Annie Lee Ansley. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-33, February 10, 1999: "History of the El Campo Women's Club (1912-1989) with Mary C. Wilson and Lucy Collins." Run time: 35 min.
  • OH-35, March 7, 2000: "Bolton and Armstrong/Watts family histories -early Wharton settlers" by Patsy Norton. Run time: 35 min.
  • OH-36, March 7, 2000: "Louie Fabian Worthing, family patriarch and community leader - as told by Sue Worthing White" by Merle Reue Hudgins. Run time: 35 min.
  • OH-37, 1978: "The Eyes of Texas' with Ray Miller (KPRC-TV Channel 2 Houston) - The Egypt Plantation: George Heard Northington III and Anita Williamson Northington (Note: Master tape of this program resides at Northington Plantation, Egypt, Texas)." Run time: 8 min.
  • OH-38, March 9, 1998: "Looking Back' series - Wharton County Historical Museum; John Morris and Tom Tyler (Note: Master tape of this program resides at Wharton County Historical Museum, Wharton)." Run time: 1 hour and 21 min.
  • OH-39, June 6, 1999: "Looking Back' series - Wharton County Historical Museum; Delfin Marek and Dorothy Kennedy (Note: Master tape of this program Resides at Wharton County Historical Museum, Wharton)." Run time: 1 hour and 49 min.
  • OH-40, May 7, 2000: "Looking Back' series - Wharton County Historical Museum; John Kavsh and Annie Lee Ansley (Note: Master tape of this program resides at Wharton County Historical Museum, Wharton)." Run time: 1 hour and 30 min.
  • OH-41, July 19, 2000: "History of the Egypt Plantation, an interview with Anita Northington" by Joe Tom Davis. Run time: 60 min.
  • OH-42, November 22, 1983: "An interview with Sol Alpard, co-founder of Wharton County Junior College' (WTVM-TV Channel 5 Wharton) - Wharton County Historical Commission and Wharton County Junior College" by Chuck Schwartzkopf. Run time: 27 min.