Murdough, James H 1971, 1973

Tape 1: James H. Murdough, retired civil engineering professor at Texas Tech, recalls his work with the Lubbock zoning commission in the 1940s and 1950s and expresses his attitude toward Lubbock zoning. Tapes 2 and 3: Murdough recalls his 35-year association with Tech as Chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering and outlines his theory of education.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: James H. Murdough

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: December 22, 1971; April 8, 1973

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Alice Johnson, Jeff Townsend

Length: 2 hours 10 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: States reasons behind initial zoning, Description of Lubbock in 1925, Spent early life in Boston, Objectives behind zoning listed, City leaders characterized and business ethics verbalized, Automobile trips from Lubbock to Boston in 1920s recalled, Expresses attitude toward moving to Lubbock from Boston, Discusses zoning commission and planning commission, 1930s and 1940s, Looking for oral history sources, Names sources of opposition to zoning, Work on zoning subcommittee outlined.

Tape 1, Side 2: Controversy arose over G. H. Koch’s work, Patterns of growth traced, Annexed developed areas outside city limits, Dr. M. C. Overton recalled, Classification of annexed areas, Anecdotes about public efforts to influence zoning, Explains controversy concerning 34th Street planning, Speculation on downtown deterioration, Attitude given toward membership of later zoning commissions, Describes decision-making process and mistakes in city planning, The "servants’ quarters" problem, Cites enforcement problems in zoning, Case against Lubbock recalled, Houston’s zoning peculiarities mentioned, Various techniques and philosophy and objectives of zoning, States attitude toward zoning of liquor sales.

Tape 2, Side 1: Biographical information given, Reviews parents’ backgrounds, Memories of Boston, Came to Lubbock in 1925, Joined the Physics Department at Texas Tech, Also taught civil engineering, Was Chairman of Civil Engineering Department (1927-1962), Explains early difficulty finding faculty, Outlines circumstances leading to his coming to Tech, Trips back East described, Texas Tech (continued), Opinion of Dr. Paul Horn related, States attitude toward the name change issue.

Tape 2, Side 2: Texas Tech (continued), Discusses types of students attending Tech, Personal education described, Parents’ education reviewed, Texas Tech (again), Greek fraternities were first barred from campus, Recollections of Amon G. Carter, Holds high opinion of Clifford B. Jones, Reminisces about work during the Depression, Associated with PWA, Recollections of Miss Craddock’s social center, Tech presidents recalled, J. Evetts Haley discussed, Growth of the Civil Engineering Department, Explains committee work at Texas Tech.

Tape 3, Side 1: Career at Texas Tech recalled, Lists committees on which he served, Discipline inherent in technical training, States opinion of the course education is taking today, Cites difference between privileges and rights, Teachers should control classroom.

Tape 3, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1925-1973

Bulk Dates: 1925-1962

Access Information

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Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

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