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Former Slave Interviews

Historic WPA Conversations with Former Slaves

Former Slave Interviews

8 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 3 hours, 17 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
2 Audio CDs


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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Federal Writers Project 1936-1938

During the Great Depression Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Work’s Progress Administration (WPA) in hopes of creating jobs for Americans. Over 8,500,000 Americans were hired through the WPA mostly to work in manual labor building roads and making park. Unemployed artists and writer’s were given work through a branch of the WPA known as the Federal Writers’ Project.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

The most well known works from the Federal Writers’ Project was know as the American Guide Series which contained the histories and points of interest of each state in the union. Another gem of the Federal Writers’ Project is the oral histories’ project in which over 10,000 Americans from all walks of life were interviewed including former African-American slaves.

Some of the authors of the Federal Writers’ Project include Zora Neale Huston, Richard Wright, Saul Bellow, Claude McKay, Nelson Algren, Maxwell Bodenheim, Loren Eisley, Vardis Fisher, Weldon Kees, and many others. Acclaimed author Ralph Ellison was one of the interviews of the oral history project and admits that the slave narratives greatly affected his character study in the novel, The Invisible Man.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

This collection includes interviews with seven former slaves as well as transcripts and photographic portraits. The compelling interviews give the listener a taste of life as a slave as well as reveal the attitudes and beliefs of each individual. Some interviewees sing songs, tell stories of encounters with ghosts, and general life before and after the 13th Amendment.

For inspiring African American stories see : Destination Freedom and for more WPA recordings, see also: WPA Concert Recordings and Americans All, Immigrants All.

See also Civil Rights, Racism, Discrimination, and Prejudice in Old Time Radio, KKK in Old Time Radio, Superman Fights the KKKPeople Take the LeadDestination Freedom, Racist Music, Former Slave Interviews, A New World A-Coming, and Minstrel Shows.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    Excellent recordings of old WPA artist recordings from the 1930’s. Was shocked that this stuff survived and is available!

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    8 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 3 hours, 17 min
    8 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 3 hours, 17 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 8 shows - total playtime 3 hours 17 minutes
    2. Charlie Smith, Bartow FL 750317.mp3
    3. Fountain Hughes, Baltimore MD 490611.mp3
    4. George Johnson, Mound Bayou MI 410900.mp3
    5. Isom Moseley, Gee's Bend AL 1941.mp3
    6. Uncle Billy McCrea, Jasper TX 1940.mp3
    7. Uncle Bob Ledbetter, Oil City LA 1940.mp3
    8. Wallace Quarterman, St Simons Island GA 330805.mp3
    9. Wallace Quarterman, St. Simons Island GA 350600.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    8 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 3 hours, 17 min
    8 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 3 hours, 17 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 8 shows - total playtime 3 hours 17 minutes
    2. Charlie Smith, Bartow FL 750317.mp3
    3. Fountain Hughes, Baltimore MD 490611.mp3
    4. George Johnson, Mound Bayou MI 410900.mp3
    5. Isom Moseley, Gee's Bend AL 1941.mp3
    6. Uncle Billy McCrea, Jasper TX 1940.mp3
    7. Uncle Bob Ledbetter, Oil City LA 1940.mp3
    8. Wallace Quarterman, St Simons Island GA 330805.mp3
    9. Wallace Quarterman, St. Simons Island GA 350600.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    8 recordings on 2 Audio CDs. Total playtime 1 hours, 59 min
    8 recordings on 2 Audio CDs
    total playtime 1 hours, 59 min

    Former Slave Interviews Disc A001

    1. Isom Moseley, Gee's Bend AL 1941
    2. Uncle Billy McCrea, Jasper TX 1940
    3. Uncle Bob Ledbetter, Oil City LA 1940
    4. Wallace Quarterman, St Simons Island GA 330805
    5. Wallace Quarterman, St. Simons Island GA 350600

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Former Slave Interviews Disc A002

    1. Fountain Hughes, Baltimore MD 490611
    2. Charlie Smith, Bartow FL 750317

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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