Denney, Ruth T 2000-07-24

Ruth Terry Denney talks about life in Ranger, Texas in the early and mid 1900s as well as the area colleges of the time. Ms. Denney attended Simmons College, SMU and the University of Texas. She also discusses the oil boom in Ranger.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Ruth T. Denney

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: July 24, 2000

Location: El Dorado, Arkansas

Interviewer: David Marshall

Length: 55 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: b. July, 4, 1901, Ranger, Texas, Farming, Ranching, Cotton, Cattle, No fences, Herding to Ft. Worth, Texas, Parents, T.R. Denney – doctor, Nancy Terry, Ranger, Roads through town, Eastland, Texas, Father, Traveled with horse and buggy, Serviced the whole area, Mother, From Ellis County, Childhood, Laundry, Scrub board and wash tub, Brothers, Jack, Joe, Games played, Drop the handkerchief, 4th of July Celebrations, Christmas, Large tree downtown, Santa Claus, Fireworks, General Store in Ranger, Peddlers, School in Ranger, Started at age 6 or 7, Brick building, 4 rooms, Mr. Oder – Math Teacher, Subjects studied, Math, Reading, History, College, Simmons College at age 16 or 17, Flora Goforth, Teacher, Art Courses, Music, Singing, Piano, History, Master’s Thesis, History of Ranger, Texas, Rupert Richardson, Professor from Caddo, Temple Peters, Latin Professor, Friends from Ranger at Simmons, Dormitory, Brick, Hardin Simmons Dormitory, 3 Buildings on campus, SMU – Southern Methodist University, Texas University – Bachelor’s Degree, Simmons College – Master’s Degree, Oil Well in Ranger, McKlesky Well, Walker Well, Simmons College (again), Travelling home to Ranger, Father (again), Very busy during the oil boom, World War I, Boys drafted from Ranger, Simmons College (again), More boys then girls

Tape 1, Side 2: McKlesky Well, Transformed Ranger to a boom town, More doctors came to town, Father (again), Doctor during the boom, Treated injured hands and burns, Oil Wells, In town, literally, Changes in Ranger, Letter writing to keep up, Brothers, Simmons College, Then another college, Dad went to college, Careers of people in Ranger, Young people left town after the boom, Parents stayed in Ranger whole life, Simmons College – 1918, SMU, Texas University, Simmons – 1941, Masters, Teaching school, Ranger, 1920s-30s, High school – all subjects, Ranger Junior College, Moving after the boom, To El Dorado, Arkansas, Around 1941, Taught high school History in El Dorado, Retried 1950s?, Climate Changes, Getting used to the changes, Ranger (again), Wildlife, Cattle, Coyotes, Bobcats, Horned Toads, Rivalry between Ranger and Cisco, Churches, Brick Buildings, More during the boom, Protestant Church, Went to Methodist church, Simmons (again), Baptist, Continued High School there, McMurry Methodist College

Range Dates: 1901-2000

Bulk Dates: 1918-1941

Access Information

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