Williamson, Beth 1986-05-21
Beth Williamson discusses her service with the Unitarian Universalist Church and her experiences teaching in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, including in the Texas prison system.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Beth Williamson
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: May 21, 1986
Location: Bedias, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour 40 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Background,
Born: Hamilton, Texas,
Education,
Early contact with Unitarian Church,
Membership,
Service in church leadership,
Board service,
Vice Presidency,
Accomplishments as District President,
Extension ministry,
Church growth,
Typical Unitarian member,
Pressure for conformity in the Bible Belt,
Effect on church growth,
Tulsa, Oklahoma,
Unitarian characteristics,
District conferences meeting,
"Fellowship" concept,
Growth,
Circuit riding ministers,
Women in ministry,
Experiences in Valley of South Texas,
Migrant children in school system,
Poverty,
Salary in Edinburgh,
Teaching in Port Isabel,
Migrant children (again),
Anglo students,
Land owning families,
Girl Scouting,
Othel Brand helps with camp,
Bentson State Park,
Othel Brand (again),
Large Land owner mentality,
Attitude toward agricultural labor,
Legalities of using migrant labor,
Fruit in valley of South Texas,
Loss of citrus crops,
Decrease in citrus acreage,
"Snow birds",
Opportunities for today’s youth,
Leadership qualifications,
Potential for Geriatric center in the valley,
Allergy potential,
Tuberculosis,
Leprosy,
"Snow birds" (again),
Economy of the valley,
Banking and international trade,
Effect of deflated Peso,
Agriculture,
Poverty,
Adjudication of waters of Rio Grande,
Problems with water rights,
Wastage,
Diversion of San Juan River,
James Wilkes,
Description,
To Brownsville, Texas,
Ideals about women,
Attendance at singles group,
Suicide,
Unitarian districts,
Mountain-Desert District,
Southwest District,
New England District,
Western Districts,
Northeastern Districts,
Career in Education,
Advanced teaching degree at Texas Tech,
Dissertation,
Impressions of Tech,
Walt McDonald,
Teaching secondary schools in the valley,
Masters studies at Texas A & I,
Peace Corps application,
Remedial developmental program at Brownsville Junior College.
Tape 1, Side 2: Blank
Tape 2, Side 1: Career in education (again),
Commerce ISD,
Students,
Sam Houston State University,
Tradition,
Students,
Prison System,
Huntsville, Texas,
Students,
Prison inmates,
Alcoholics Anonymous,
Cultural differences,
Furloughs,
Prison population,
Discrimination in sentencing,
Wayne Justice,
Prison guards,
Corruption,
Prison inmates (again),
Educational levels,
Teaching,
Crimes,
Unitarian fellowship in prison,
Closing of Mexican border,
Mexican nationals working in the U. S.,
Expectations,
Realities,
Spanish speaking teachers in Texas,
Medical care for the indigent.
Tape 2, Side 2: Racial Discrimination in Texas,
Regional language inflection,
Equity in society,
Transportation,
Potential for time capsule,
Predicting the future,
Flying,
Montgomery County, Texas,
Development problems,
Population movement,
Regulation of Development in Grimes County,
Water District,
Irrigation, West Texas,
Scarcity,
Good dry-land farming communities,
Good irrigated farming communities,
Sprinkler system,
Row water,
Repressurizing aquifer,
Future for cotton on South Plains,
Insecticide control, South Texas,
Effect on cotton industry,
Mexican border (again),
History,
Industry in Mexico,
Steel industry,
Auto industry,
Absurdities in industry practices,
Burger King and beef,
Shipping of fruits and vegetables,
Interdependence with other countries,
Changes in consumption.
Range Dates: 1934-1986
Bulk Dates: 1960-1986
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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