Oral Histories

The Alabama State University Oral History Collection consists of recordings that date back to the 1970s, and they include transcripts, audio, and video interviews from various sources. The interviews are particularly informative as they record individuals recounting the historic events they participated in, or that they themselves witnessed. These individuals recreate facial expressions, mimic voice tone, dialect, and volume, as they recount episodes as common as from everyday life experiences, to shed light on events that changed the nation and influenced world events. 

The ASU Oral History Collection consists of over 150 interviews. ASU's Oral History Collection includes interviews with pivotal civil rights figures. They included conversations with E.D. Nixon, who bailed Rosa Parks out of jail and emerged to become one of the city’s most aggressive proponents of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Dr. Charles Goode Gomillion, who formed the Tuskegee Civic Association and worked to break down long-standing barriers to Black voter registration. These Oral Histories also include interviews with Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, who rose to become a pivotal figure in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the MIA, and the SCLC. In addition the collection maintains interviews from James McFadden, an ASU student activist who participated in the 1960 sit-in movement, and interviews with Montgomery journalist Inez Baskin and civil right opponent, Alabama Governor John Paterson.

The ASU Oral History collection also reflects contributions by several professors and their classes. Interviews now housed in the ASU Oral History Collection come from Dr. Pamela D. Gay and her Fall 2005 English Literature Class as well as Dr. Shirley Jordan and her Spring 2006 Honors Class. The Patrons of the National Center for the Study of Civil Right and African American Culture at ASU also contributed interviews to the Collection. The ASU Oral Collection also reflects on-going recordings by archivist Dr. Howard Robinson, and oral history donations from Jean Gilman, Frye Gaillard, and Willy Siegel Leventhal. Other oral histories in the collection are part of larger projects conducted at Tuskegee Institute or Auburn University. In all, Alabama State University’s Oral History Collection is an important resource for individuals interested in the African American experience, Civil Rights, African American education, life in 20th century Alabama, and the history of Alabama State University.

• Dr. John H. Jones oral history. [videorecording]
• Interview with James Sherman McFadden [videorecording] 2005.
• Interview with Ann Pratt [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Barbara Ann Howard [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Bertha Pleasant Williams [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Bertha Relf [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Bridie Carr Young [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Catherine Johnson [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Chandra Rostick [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Cora L. McHaney and Marion Shepard Hardy [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Doris Crenshaw [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Dorothy Tann Posey [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Dot Moore [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Dr. Gwendolyn Patton [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Dr. Hagalyn Seay Wilson [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Eddie Mae Pratt [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Elizabeth Brown [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Elnora D. Lee [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with George and Maggie Bruce Walker [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Gladys Williams [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Idessa Redden [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Imogene Dillon [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Inell L. Johnson [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Irma Dacus Murray [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Jacqueline Allen Trimble [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Jamesie Boswell [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Jean Lowe Alexander [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Jerome Ennels [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Joseph Dickerson and Rev. Nelson Henry, Jr. [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Josie Lawrence and Saralyn Pace [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Judge Vanzetta Penn Durant McPherson [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Judge Vanzetta Penn McPherson [videorecording] 2000.
• Interview with Lucille A. Times [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Lynn Hampton [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mark Gilmore, Jr. [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mary Jo Smiley [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mary Lee Laster [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mary Lee Stapp [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mildred Holman [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mose T. Tolliver [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mr. Addre Bryant, Sr. [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mr. Joseph Dickerson [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mr. Ronald Grace [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mrs. Amelia Green [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mrs. Earnest Lee Coty [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mrs. Elnora Baine [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mrs. Elnora Lewis Dawkins [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mrs. Hattie May Crosby Carter [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mrs. Pearl Gray Daniels [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mrs. Ruth Briggs Craig [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Mrs. Sangernetta Bush, Patricia Rich Bell and Jamsie H. Boswell of the Women's Federated Clubs [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Nelson Malden [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Olivia Boyd [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Olivia Turner [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Pat and Bob McDonald [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Princella Howard Dixon [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Renny McLeod [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Rosie Coleman [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Sadie Gardner Penn [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Sallie M. Smiley [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Sherri T. Williams [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with the Descendents of Aurelia Browder [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with the Reverend John Alford, Sir. [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Valda Harris Montgomery [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Wihelmina Howard Harris [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Zecozy Williams [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Ex-Gov. John Patterson 1974.
• Interview with Alvin Holmes. 1973.
• Interview with Clifford and Virginia Durr, Civil Rights in Alabama. 1973.
• Interview with Dr. B. D. Mayberry. 1973.
• Interview with Dr. Charles Goode Gomillion. 1973.
• Interview with E. D. Nixon. 1973.
• Interview with E. D. Nixon [sound recording] 2000.
• Interview with Fred Gray. 1973.
• Interview with James Pierce. 1973.
• Interview with Mr. Albert C. Bulls, Jr. 1973.
• Interview with Mrs. O. B. Underwood. 1973.
• Interview with Rufus Lewis and Eugene Ligon. 1973.
• Interview with Thelma Rice. 1973.
• Interview with Wendell Paris. 1973.
• Interview with John Westley Laughinghouse. 1972.