About the Collection
In 1963, Dr. Joseph Riggs, Professor of Speech and Drama at Memphis State University, conducted an oral history interview with former Governor Gordon Browning, forming the beginning of an outstanding oral history collection. That initial interview, coupled with material gathered in 1967 for a documentary on the life of E. H. Crump, were the nucleus of the Everett R. Cook Oral History Collection. Click to read more about this collection or begin browsing the interviews below!
You can view all of the digitized oral histories by clicking the Browse Collection button, or scroll to explore the mini-collections below. This project is on-going. New items will continue to be added as additional interviews are digitized.
Mini-Collections
“Beale Black and Blue” Interview Series
Interview conducted by Margaret McKee and Fred Chisenahll for their book Beale Black and Blue, a resource profiling those individuals who played a leading part in the music history of Memphis. Interviews with Walter “Furry” Lewis, Rufus Thomas, and others.
“Life of E. H. Crump” Interview Series
Tapes in this series contain interviews used for a film documentary produced by WMC-TV in Memphis during Nov. and Dec. 1967. Includes interviews with former governor Gordon Browning, Judge Russell Sugarmon, attorney Lucius Burch, and others.
Buntyn-Messick Neighborhood
Interviews with residents of the Buntyn-Messick Neighborhood, conducted as part of the Neighborhood History Project sponsored by the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association.
Cherokee Neighborhood
Interviews with residents of the Cherokee Neighborhood, conducted as part of the Neighborhood History Project sponsored by the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association.
Douglass Neighborhood
Interviews with residents of the Douglass Neighborhood, conducted as part of the Neighborhood History Project sponsored by the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association.
Memphis Public Library & Information Center
Interviews conducted as part of library programming and events, including an interview with Library Director, Lamar Wallis.
Civil Rights Oral Histories
Two series of interviews (one in 1982 and another in 2002), conducted by Thomas Faist and Elizabeth Gritter. The individuals interviewed were either directly associated with the movement in Memphis or were prominent citizens working to achieve social justice goals.
Vollentine-Evergreen Community Association
Similar to the neighborhood interviews conducted by MIFA, the Vollentine-Evergreen Community Association also interviewed members of the their own community about their life, history, and families.
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