Thomas, Roy L 1986-12-10

Roy L. Thomas reminisces about his life, farming in Texas, and the changes in technology and behavior patterns he has witnessed.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Roy L. Thomas

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: December 10, 1986

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 1 hour 45 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Background, Born: January 5, 1898, Milam County, Texas, Parents, Grant Thomas, father, Lawcie Thomas, mother, Move to Texas, Grandfather’s farm, Father’s farm, Move to Texas (again), Brown County, Texas (1899), Reasons for move, Clear Creek area, Crops, Livestock, Early automobiles, Effect on horses, Father’s farm (again), Cotton, Mother’s work, Trips to town, Effects of drought (1917-1918), Livestock feed, Good year (1919), Oil wells at Brownwood, Roy L Thomas (again), Gas pipeline work, Farming, Crops, Cotton varieties, Planting techniques, Boll weevils, Move to West Texas (1925), Reasons for Advertising, Friends (Stovalls), Land prices, Mode of transportation, Santa Fe Railroad, Boxcars, Loading, Model T, Road condition.

Tape 1, Side 2: Roy L. Thomas (continued), Move to West Texas (continued), Neighboring, Financing land, Father’s help, Wife—Christine Guyer, Brown County (again), Neighboring, Schools, Clear Creek school, Teachers, Home school, Howard Payne College, Father’s farm (again), Water sources, West Texas farm, Hale County, Water wells, Land purchases/prices, Depression—hard times, Government programs, Crops, Feed (grain), Mr. Struby’s cheese factory, Crops (again), Corn, Hogs, Sorghum, Hi-gear, Wheat, Irrigation, Sorghum (again), Types, Cotton harvesting, Mechanization, Cotton strippers, Tractors.

Tape 2, Side 1: West Texas farm (continued), Mechanization (continued), Tractors (continued), Effect on farming, Early irrigation (1940), Reasons for drilling, Techniques, Waste, Castro County farm, Depression (again), Government programs (again), Effects, Signing up, Shortcomings, Cycles—good years/bad years, Social changes, Neighboring, Dancing, Play parties, Automobiles, Effect on morals, Schools, Teacher pay, Anecdote: "Go to the woods" (toilets), Agricultural changes, Mechanization (again), Plows, Overproduction.

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1898-1986

Bulk Dates: 1920-1945

Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

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