Scope and Contents From the Collection: When UH’s Center for Public History and the University Libraries collaborated to create the Houston History Archives (UH-HHA), part of their mission included a repository for oral histories that tell stories of the growth and development of the Gulf Coast region from multiple points of view. To that end, the Houston Oral History Project in the Center for Public History trains history graduate students to research and interview Houstonians with recollections of the city’s civil rights,...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: When UH’s Center for Public History and the University Libraries collaborated to create the Houston History Archives (UH-HHA), part of their mission included a repository for oral histories that tell stories of the growth and development of the Gulf Coast region from multiple points of view. To that end, the Houston Oral History Project in the Center for Public History trains history graduate students to research and interview Houstonians with recollections of the city’s civil rights,...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: When UH’s Center for Public History and the University Libraries collaborated to create the Houston History Archives (UH-HHA), part of their mission included a repository for oral histories that tell stories of the growth and development of the Gulf Coast region from multiple points of view. To that end, the Houston Oral History Project in the Center for Public History trains history graduate students to research and interview Houstonians with recollections of the city’s civil rights,...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: When UH’s Center for Public History and the University Libraries collaborated to create the Houston History Archives (UH-HHA), part of their mission included a repository for oral histories that tell stories of the growth and development of the Gulf Coast region from multiple points of view. To that end, the Houston Oral History Project in the Center for Public History trains history graduate students to research and interview Houstonians with recollections of the city’s civil rights,...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: When UH’s Center for Public History and the University Libraries collaborated to create the Houston History Archives (UH-HHA), part of their mission included a repository for oral histories that tell stories of the growth and development of the Gulf Coast region from multiple points of view. To that end, the Houston Oral History Project in the Center for Public History trains history graduate students to research and interview Houstonians with recollections of the city’s civil rights,...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: When UH’s Center for Public History and the University Libraries collaborated to create the Houston History Archives (UH-HHA), part of their mission included a repository for oral histories that tell stories of the growth and development of the Gulf Coast region from multiple points of view. To that end, the Houston Oral History Project in the Center for Public History trains history graduate students to research and interview Houstonians with recollections of the city’s civil rights,...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: When UH’s Center for Public History and the University Libraries collaborated to create the Houston History Archives (UH-HHA), part of their mission included a repository for oral histories that tell stories of the growth and development of the Gulf Coast region from multiple points of view. To that end, the Houston Oral History Project in the Center for Public History trains history graduate students to research and interview Houstonians with recollections of the city’s civil rights,...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Port Sulphur, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaWe had been introduced to Bert Turlich, a long-time Freeport Sulphur employee, by Kerry St. Pé of the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Program. Kerry, a native of Port Sulphur, had nominated Bert as our "ambassador" to Plaquemine Parish. The interview covered a number of areas, including descriptions of Freeport's company townsite at Port Sulphur, evacuation and shut-down procedures for the...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaGlenn Usie was recommended by several business leaders, including the head of the Chamber of Commerce. He owns his own machine shop, Glenco, and is active in the community. We met at his office in his shop, where he could be accessible to his workers. The interview was interrupted periodically by people checking on work-related topics.Glen Usie is a machinist. After learning the...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Stone. Thibodaux, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaJim Fields grew up with "Little Merrill" Utley and often heard stories about his father's ("Big Merrill") role in the offshore industry in Southern Louisiana. He helped us to set up the interview and participated toward the end. Little Merrill sat in to help jog his father's memory as Big Merrill has been suffering from Alzheimer's for two years. After the interview, Little Merrill told me that...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. New Orleans, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaDr. Keith Van Meter has been treating commercial oilfield divers since 1978 and was mentioned by many divers as an excellent source of information on the diving industry and on injuries and their treatment. I contacted Dr. Van Meter and was able to arrange an interview with him on a Friday evening at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Despite his busy schedule, he graciously spent two hours with...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Grand Bois, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met Marie Verdin when I was working with her daughter, Clarice, to document community perspectives regarding the Campbell Wells and U.S. Liquids oilfield waste disposal facility in Grand Bois. Marie and I became friends, and I would visit her whenever I was passing through Grand Bois. I told her that I was trying to interview more women about their perspectives on the impacts of the oil and...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): S. Kennedy. Dulac, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met with Mr. Kirby Verret at his house which is raised on stilts, and it is necessary to climb several stairs to get to the front door. Kirby Verret is originally from Bayou Dularge, Louisiana, and has lived in Dulac in Terrebonne Parish most of his life. He is Houma Indian and worked his way through college as an employee of Delta Iron Works. He learned all types of work in the oil field, and...

Scope and Contents

Interviewer(s): A. Gardner. New Iberia, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Unell Verret was one of the ilfield men I met at the Shell retiree's dinner. Unell was a lifelong Shell employee, hired by Shell in 1953. He was born on Avery Island, and went to work on Weeks Island.

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Gardner. Erath, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI sat with Kenneth Viator and his wife for over an hour. We had met at the Shell Pensioner's club meeting, where Jimmy Hebert made sure I had everyone's phone number. Kenny was happy to meet with me - I could tell he was excited the minute I came in. We had a great time. Kenneth was able to vividly describe his memories of the oilfield. He was also a very friendly man. His wife participated in the...