Files, John 1971-07-22

John Files, son of former Itasca Mill manager Sidney Files, covers important events in the mill’s history, the character of its policies and workers, background of the Files family, and agricultural trends throughout the region.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: John Files

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: July 22, 1971

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Elizabeth Bucy, Sylvan Dunn, David Murrah, and David Nail

Length: 35 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Explains initial financing of the mill, Local control maintained, Depression shutdown lasted 18 months, Notes World War II production peak, Post-war labor attempts discussed, Recalls local economy during Depression, Community attitude toward the New Deal expressed, Comments on the sociology of the textile worker, Origin of the Weaver's Guild, Traces Itasca Mill's evolution: mail order to retail stores, Lubbock store mentioned, Reeves Brothers leased mill, Explanation of Reeves Brothers decision, Expresses community attitude toward mill's closing, Employment policy and worker attitude studied

Tape 1, Side 2: Explanation of local control, Process of liquidation outlined, Mr. Carr P. Collins: promoter, Sidney Files characterized, Files Valley origin and location given, Suffered mental anguish over labor problems, Speculation about possibilities for historical interpretation, Creation of fabrics reviewed, Inventive aptitude of Sidney Files, Mill used local, Texas cotton, Cites cause of decline of cotton quality, Recalls use of red-tinged West Texas cotton, Remembers associations with cotton breeders

Tape 2, Side 1: Possibilities for taped interviews of former Itasca employees cited

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

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Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

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