Clingan, Berniece 1977-11-29

Berniece Clingan reviewed childhood in Anadarko, Oklahoma, and World War II years in West Texas.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Berniece Clingan

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: November 29, 1977

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Kim Mills

Length: 25 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1:

She lives now at 2630 22nd Street in Lubbock, Texas; She was born January 29, 1911 in Anadarko, Oklahoma; Her parents were W. R. and Dorothy McCullough; Father was in auto business, mother taught school before marriage; Grandparents were farmers; She had one brother and one sister; Her father made the decisions, but mother gave in-put; Housing: in the summer father would drill wells on the lease; They would stay in a tent on the lease; Discipline by parents, two spankings from her father; She had skipped school, also had sassed her mother; After she and her sister finished school, they helped parents in Depression time; Her sister had divorced after marrying too young; Pre-marital pregnancy was not approved of, women voting was supported; Her mother voted and she voted first for Franklin Roosevelt; Smoking: her father did, mother did to cure nerves later by Doctor’s orders; Drinking: her parents did some, he served her friends at home before dances; They had to walk a string in the house before they could go to dances; The family was close-knit; She married at age 25 but couldn’t cook or keep a house; Sunday mornings her father would read the comics to the children in bed; He encouraged the daughters to get an education; Dating; Her 1st date informally at age 13, age 17 to her 1st dance; Rules for dating; Her brother started working after age 18, was independent; Rules of the home and disobedience; School was 2 miles away, they walked; High School and other schools at the same site; Junior College was adjacent, she took a business course; She became a legal secretary; School discipline, some corporal punishment; One girl was “spastic” with learning problems; Typical dating

Tape 1, Side 2: They lived 1.5 miles from town and carried pillow to the theater; Saturday morning matinee; Dances when young with their parents; Dates for dances at age 18 as Senior in High School; Light drinking and smoking in High School; She smoked until age 50; She married in 1936 to Conway Clingan at Pecos, Texas at sister’s home; They lived in Wink, Texas for 2.5 years; Depression problems (again); Father had debts; She was out of business college and he paid 1st month rent; First payment on a stenotype machine; Her father had $17 left; Her 1st check was $75 and she sent $45 home to parents; Outlaws Bonnie and Clyde; They kidnapped the sheriff in Carlsbad, New Mexico; She and friends were at Carlsbad Caverns and driving back to Wink; Same car as the outlaw’s, stopped 7-8 times going home; Two or three days later the outlaws were killed; Her husband served in World War II as Master Sergeant in Air Corp; They were in the gasoline business, she worked it for 6 months; They sold the business and moved to Lubbock; She kept books for her husband’s business; He had volunteered to serve in the war; She originally liked Franklin Delano Roosevelt; Current poor government programs originated with FDR; [Tape ends after 10 minutes]

Range Dates: 1911-1977

Bulk Dates: 1920-1940

Access Information

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Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

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