Texas Tech University Archives
Texas Tech Oral History Interviews
The following oral history interview with Texas Tech alumni and former staff discuss topics related to Texas Tech University. The sound recordings are available for listening in the Southwest Collection's Holden Reading Room.
- Robert Abbott Oral History interview (2000) - Covers the dedication and groundbreaking ceremony of Texas Technological College in the 1920s.
- Byron Abernethy Oral History interview (1974) - Discusses working at Tech and attitude towards the Institute of Americanism, Texas Tech and Athletics
- Tom Abraham oral history interview (2006) - Talks about the history of the Toreador (now the Daily Toreador) newspaper
- Bidal Aguero oral history interview(1998) - Discusses education, Texas Tech and discrimination
- Rebecca Arriaga oral history interview(2015) - Reflects upon her time at Texas Tech and her career in marketing.
- Helen Mack Hume Akers oral history interview (1982) - Talks about being a student at Texas Tech during World War II
- Ruth Horn Andrews and Mabel Irwin oral history interview (1968) - Recalls early years of Texas Tech with emphasis on faculty matters
- Jane Blay oral history interview (2015) - Discusses attending Texas Tech in the early 1960s, living in the Home Management House, and her career as a Home Demonstration Agent in Gains and Terry Counties.
- Mr. and Mrs. Nolan Barrick oral history interview (1973) - Comments on William Ward Watkin's contributions to Texas Tech's architecture
- Mrs. Shirley S. Bates oral history interview (1975) - Talks the development of food services at Texas Tech
- B. A. Brady oral history interview (1980) - Talks about being an engineering student in 1920s, football and designing the Double T Bench.
- Mary Louise Brewer oral history interview (1976) - Discusses teaching at Tech, Black students and early discrimination against female instructors.
- Claude H. Brown oral history interview(1985) - Talks about early Tech Dairy operations (late 1920s or 1930s?)
- Betty Carr oral history interview (2017) - Talks about growing up in West Texas, marrying her husband, and returning to Texas Tech to complete her degree later in her life.
- Robert Carr oral history interview (2014) - Talks about attending Texas Tech and going into the medical profession in Lubbock.
- Otilo J. Castellano Jr. oral history interview (1999) - Includes comment about few Hispanic students and organizations at Tech in 1972.
- Rudolfo Chino Chapa oral history interview (2015)
- George Chaffee oral history interview (2013) - Includes discussion on studying music at Texas Tech and John Denver.
- Alice Chavez oral history interview (1999) - Comments on Texas Tech student views on Hispanics.
- Tony Chavez oral history interview (1976) - Talks about Chicano organizations at Texas Tech and discrimination in Lubbock.
- Fern Cone oral history interview (1979) - Talks about Texas Tech boarders, buildings, and celebrations.
- J. E. Couch oral history interview (1984) - Talks about hazing, classes and campus life in 1926.
- Stella Crockett Courtney oral history interview (2010) - Covers her time as the first non-transfer African-American student to graduate from Texas Tech.
- Estella "Stella" [Crockett] Courtney oral history interview - reflects on being in the first integrated class at Texas Tech and her long career as an educator (2014)
- Jack Dale oral history interview (2001) - covers his time with Red Raider broadcasting.
- Alvin Davis oral history interview (2016) - Discusses meeting his wife (Barbara) and his involvement in rodeo while attending Texas Tech University.
- Barbara Davis oral history interview (2014) - Discusses her early life, upbringing, and experiences as a home economics student and resident in the Home Management House at Texas Tech University.
- Bill Dean oral history interview (2001)
- Betsy Dempsey oral history interview (2017) - Discusses attending Texas Tech starting in 1934, meeting her husband, Dennis, and World War II era Lubbock.
- Fidela "Fifi" Perez De Lira oral history interview (2009) - Talks about being one of the first members of Los Tertulianos, the first minority group at Texas Tech.
- Patt Ellebracht oral history interview (2013) - Discusses attending Texas Tech.
- Abner Euresti oral history interview (1998 and 2001)
- James B.Franks oral history interview (1985) - Discusses Texas Tech laundry facilities.
- Dr. Solomon E. Fields oral history interview (2021)
- James R. Gammill oral history interview-faculty (1972) - Discusses student life in early 1930s, including hazing, and mentions Dr. John Granberry's use of "I" when teaching which confused his students and contributed to his dismissal.
- Mrs. Dorothy T. Garner oral history interview (1973) - Addresses women's residence hall administration and curfew policies.
- Tomas Garza oral history interview (1998) - talks about Los Tertulianos and going to law school
- W. Tom Gaston oral history interview (1963) - Covers his time as the Budget Director of Texas Tech and the State of Texas.
- Tomas Garza oral history interview (1998) - talks about Los Tertulianos and going to law school.
- Flora Goforth oral history interview (1999 and 2000) - Talks about her childhood, getting an education at Texas Tech, her teaching career, the beginning of the Archaeology Department at Texas Tech, her degree in Archaeology, and her involvement in procuring the Spur Ranch letter books for the Texas Tech library. In the second interview, Flora Goforth talks about her education at Texas Tech University, her teaching in Texas public schools, and her teaching through the U.S. Indian Service. She also talks about her book, Weave It Yourself, and talks about the background and descriptions of the items she is donating to the Southwest Collection.
- Mrs. Lucille Graves oral history interview (1974) - Covers her admittance into Tech as the first African-American student.
- W. A. Greer oral history interview (1998) - Makes numerous comments about Texas Tech in the 1920s.
- Inez Russell Gomez oral history interview (2016) - Covers her career in newspapers including her time as a journalism major at Texas Tech.
- Owen Hamilton oral history interview (2021) - Discusses his memories of desegregation and the first black student at Texas Tech. He then moves on to recall Texas Tech sports and how they have changed over the years.
- Anita Carmona Harrison oral history interview (2009) - Discusses her time at Texas Tech University and her experiences as being part of the Hispanic community in Lubbock.
- Maxine Harrison oral history interview (2014) - Talks about her experiences at Texas Tech and her involvement in various social clubs. Harrison also discusses San Angelo and Angelo State.
- Walter D. Henson oral history interview (1978) - Talks about Texas Tech in 1928.
- Mrs. Bill Poage Hickerson oral history interview (2000) - Discusses student life at Texas Tech from 1925-1928.
- J. Culver Hill oral history interview (1975) - Comments on early Tech Band from 1927-1932 and the name change.
- Jean A. (Mrs. J. Harmon) Jenkins oral history interview (1975) - Covers many early Tech topics from 1930s-1950s, including introduction of women's sorority systems to campus and initiation of athletes into the Double T Association.
- Eugene E. Jordan oral history interview (1975) - Various early Tech recollections from 1924-1930, including hazing, Cheri Casa, and conflict between the town and students.
- Harve Kendrick oral history interview (1975) - discusses early Lubbock, the city's growth and the establishment of Texas Tech.
- Ginger Kerrick oral history interview (2016)
- Virginia Landwer oral history interview (1982) - Topics include Women's Athletic Association, Women's Recognition Service, and Doak Hall in 1934.
- Mrs. George Landford oral history interview (1973) - Covers her time as the first women's PE teacher, the department's curriculum, and both sexes sharing the same facilities.
- Noé Lara oral history interview (2009) - Talks about being a member of Los Tertulianos.
- Grey Lewis oral history interview (2003) - Talks about hazing and student life at Tech.
- Julio Llanas oral history interview (1998) - Discusses Texas Tech and minority issues.
- R. C. Marshall Jr. oral history interview (1980) - Recalls writing the lyrics to The Matador Song.
- Christy Martinez oral history interview (9/18/20)
- Bob Messersmith and Lloyd Lanotte oral history interview (undated) - Talks about "Spectrum Texas Tech".
- Roy Middleton oral history interview (2019) - Talks about his father, Raleigh C. Middleton, who worked as a Dairy Cattle Herdsman in the early years of Texas Tech, growing up in Lubbock and attending Texas Tech.
- David Miller oral history interview (2014) - Discusses working with Kent Hance, Texas Tech University, and the wind energy industry.
- Elton T. Mims oral history interview (1978) - Topics include attending Texas Tech in the 1920s and the first gymnasium.
- Elmer Moore oral history interview (1981) - Talks about the early history of Texas Tech and being one of the first cheerleaders.
- Sally Murray oral history interview (2013) - Discusses attending Texas Tech University to become a teacher, and marrying Grover E. Murray who became president of Texas Tech.
- Lomer Nelson oral history interview (1979) - Talks about the early history of Texas Tech and the Toreador newspaper.
- Thomas James "TJ" Patterson oral history interview (1999, 2004, 2013 and 2018)
- Luciano Perez oral history interview (1976) - Discusses discrimination in education.
- Wanda Perry oral history interview (2004) - Covers topics such as the fencing team and balancing student life with athletics.
- Larry Philippe oral history interview (2014) - Talks about student disability services.
- James Otis Price oral history interview (2013) - Discusses being one of the first African American students to attend Texas Tech, be part of the Goin' Band under Band Director Dean Killion, and dealing with racial discrimination.
- Janie Landin Ramirez oral history interview (2016) - covers topics such as attending Tech in the mid-1970s, the Lubbock Tornado, and Chancellor Montford.
- Marcelina Ramos oral history interview (2021) - Talks about being an early Mexican American student at Texas Tech.
- Maria Ramos oral history interview (2021) - Talks about being an early Mexican American student at Texas Tech.
- Maria Rivas oral history interview (2010) - Talks about being a member of Los Tertulianos and attending Texas tech in the mid-1960s.
- Edith Lucille Robinson oral history interview (undated) - Talks about the early history of Texas Tech and its people.
- Willie M. Hawthorne Rogers oral history interview (1998) - Talks about being a student at Texas Tech in the 1920s.
- Catherine Royalty oral history interview (2019) - covers growing up in Lubbock, her family's involvement with the founding of Texas Tech, serving in the WAVES during World War II, returning to Lubbock to teach in the public school system and helping found school newspapers in Lubbock middle schools.
- Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Rush oral history interview (1971) - Family land sold to help establish Texas Tech.
- Dorothy Rylander oral history interview (1981) - Talks about being a student at Texas Tech in the 1920-30s.
- Dorothy Rylander oral history interview (1985) - Talks more about Texas Tech over the years.
- Amanda Salazar oral history interview(2015) - Talks about attending Texas Tech and the Miss Hispanic Lubbock pageant.
- Vilsen Salinas oral history interview(2012) - Talks about experiencing racism and forming Los Tertulianos.
- Gretchen Scott oral history interview (2016) - Talks about attending Texas Tech and being one of few women enrolled in Agricultural Sciences.
- Rodrick Shaw oral history interview (1998) - Attended Texas Tech in the 1940s and owned dairy cow.
- Lon Sitton oral history interview (2014) - Talks about attending Texas Tech and handicap accessibility.
- Mrs. Wilmer Smith oral history interview (1976) - Talks about being a student at Texas Tech in the 1930s, women's liberation and her distinguished career.
- Virginia Snelling oral history interview (1973) - Talks about her 46-year career at Tech as the Payroll and Employee Benefits departments.
- Joe F. Taylor oral history interview (1975) - Talks about being a student at Texas Tech in the 1930s.
- Texas Tech Day oral history interview (1956) - Hal Mayfield, Mr. Walker and Bob Nash talk about the growth, new construction and progress of various academic and athletic areas at Texas Tech.
- David Thompson oral history interview (1975) - Talks about being a student at Texas Tech in the 1950s.
- Mike Torres oral history interview (1/24/12 and 2/17/12) - Talks about experiencing racism, including while working in the Texas Tech Police Department, and working on the Timothy Cole case.