Nye, Mary 1985-05-23
Mary Nye discusses the life of her late husband, attorney/folk singer Hermes Nye.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Nye Mary
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: May 23, 1985
Location: Dallas, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour 20 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Jeffrey Swan,
Greer Garson,
Family photographs,
Nye family origin,
Hermes Nye’s father,
Education,
Nora Cheny, Hermes Nye’s mother,
Family origin,
Hermes trip to England,
Hermes’ grandmother,
Hermes Nye meets Mary Beasely,
Initial meeting,
Courting in a canoe,
Clothing,
Courting (again),
Trip down Boquillas Canyon,
Nye’s poetic ability,
Trip down Boquillas Canyon (again),
Trip down Santa Elena Canyon.
Tape 1, Side 2: Santa Elena Canyon trip (continued),
Meeting of Folklore Society in Santa Elena Canyon,
Brownie McNiel,
Discussion of photograph,
Nye’s interest in folk music,
Early interest,
Performing and programming,
Children’s book,
Recordings,
Source of material,
Radio program,
Soliciting material,
Return to law practice,
Radio program (continued),
Station,
Nye’s involvement with folklore societies,
Articles on folklore,
Mechanic’s language,
Armadillo,
Research.
Tape 2, Side 1: Nye’s reputation for "scandal",
Sweet Beast I Have Gone Roaming,
Autobiographical aspects,
Law practice,
Partnership with Jake Newberry (1935),
Military service,
Civil service work,
Work for Whittle Music Company,
Return to law at age 50,
Building of clientele,
Success.
Tape 2, Side 2: Membership in Unitarian church,
First contact with church,
Nye’s work with youth,
Problems at camp,
Nye’s religious philosophy,
Service to church,
Hermes Nye’s philosophy (again),
Radio program (again),
Fortune Is a Woman,
Book signing.
Range Dates: 1900-1985
Bulk Dates: 1935-1980
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.