Williams, Tom J 1969

From SWC Oral History Collection
Revision as of 15:21, 27 August 2019 by Elissa (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Tom Williams, a nephew of the Higginbotham brothers, recalls the founding and development of the Higginbotham Company and its various businesses. Among other things, he discusses old company records and photographs.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Tom J. Williams

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: 1969

Location: Comanche, Texas

Interviewer: Fred A. Carpenter

Length: 1 hour 15 minutes


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Discussion with a Mr. and Mrs. Jim Dudley and mother Editha Williams Dudley, Tom J. Williams born (1874), Family settles in Dublin, Texas (1870s), Railroad comes to Dublin (1880), Williams’ education and first job, Goes to work for the Higginbothams, his uncles, Becomes bookkeeper for the store, Buys an interest in the business, Store opened in Comanche (1901).

Tape 1, Side 2: Grocery business and grocery prices, Location of general stores, lumber yards, Funeral homes opened, Comanche becomes headquarters of business (1917), Fires damage business, Wagons and buggies sold, Coffins sold, Trips to buy dry goods, Went to Worlds Fair at St. Louis (1904), Williams’ childhood reminiscences, Oil boom in West Central Texas (1917-1918), Brief discussion of De Leon, Texas.

Tape 2, Side 1: Discussion of old photographs and books from the Higginbotham Company.

Tape 2, Side 2: Williams’ position in the company, Discussion of book about the Higginbotham Company, Location of Higginbotham stores, Fire losses at the stores.

Range Dates: 1874-1969

Bulk Dates: 1890s-1920s


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.