Clingan, Berniece 1977-11-29

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Berniece Clingan reviewed childhood in Anadarko, Oklahoma, and World War II years in West Texas.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Berniece Clingan

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: November 29, 1977

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Kim Mills

Length: 25 minutes


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Clingan, Berniece

She lives now at 2630 22nd Street in Lubbock, Texas

She was born January 29, 1911 in Anadarko, Oklahoma

Her parents were W. R. and Dorothy McCullough

Father was in auto business, mother taught school before marriage

Grandparents were farmers

She had one brother and one sister

Her father made the decisions, but mother gave in-put

Housing: in the summer father would drill wells on the lease

They would stay in a tent on the lease

Discipline by parents, two spankings from her father

She had skipped school, also had sassed her mother

After she and her sister finished school, they helped parents in Depression time

Her sister had divorced after marrying too young

Pre-marital pregnancy was not approved of, women voting was supported

Her mother voted and she voted first for Franklin Roosevelt

Smoking: her father did, mother did to cure nerves later by Doctor’s orders

Drinking: her parents did some, he served her friends at home before dances

They had to walk a string in the house before they could go to dances

The family was close-knit

She married at age 25 but couldn’t cook or keep a house

Sunday mornings her father would read the comics to the children in bed

He encouraged the daughters to get an education

Dating

Her 1st date informally at age 13, age 17 to her 1st dance

Rules for dating

Her brother started working after age 18, was independent

Rules of the home and disobedience

School was 2 miles away, they walked

High School and other schools at the same site

Junior College was adjacent, she took a business course

She became a legal secretary

School discipline, some corporal punishment

One girl was “spastic” with learning problems

Typical dating

Tape 1, Side 2: Clingan, Berniece (again)

They lived 1½ miles from town and carried pillow to the theater

Saturday morning matinee

Dances when young with their parents

Dates for dances at age 18 as Senior in High School

Light drinking and smoking in High School

She smoked until age 50

She married in 1936 to Conway Clingan at Pecos, Texas at sister’s home

They lived in Wink, Texas for 2½ years

Depression problems (again)

Father had debts

She was out of business college and he paid 1st month rent

First payment on a stenotype machine

Her father had $17 left

Her 1st check was $75 and she sent $45 home to parents

Outlaws Bonnie and Clyde

They kidnapped the sheriff in Carlsbad, New Mexico

She and friends were at Carlsbad Caverns and driving back to Wink

Same car as the outlaw’s, stopped 7-8 times going home

Two or three days later the outlaws were killed

Her husband served in World War II as Master Sergeant in Air Corp

They were in the gasoline business, she worked it for 6 months

They sold the business and moved to Lubbock

She kept books for her husband’s business

He had volunteered to serve in the war

She originally liked Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Current poor government programs originated with FDR

[Tape ends after 10 minutes]

Range Dates: 1911-1977

Bulk Dates: 1920-1940


Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:



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