Vera Bell Gary (Pt. 1) - February 11, 2022

Vera Bell Gary (Pt. 1) - February 11, 2022

Activism;African American clergy;African American college students;African American educators;African American neighborhoods;African American neighborhoods--Economic aspects.;African American teachers;African Americans in the professions;African Americans--Civil rights--Societies, etc.;African Americans--Civil rights—Texas;African Americans--Economic conditions.;African Americans--Education (Higher);African Americans--Education--Texas.;African Americans--Employment.;African African American elementary schools;Americans--Families.;African Americans--Food.;African Americans—Hairdressing;African Americans--Hospital care.;African Americans--Housing.;African Americans--Interviews.;African Americans--Marriage.;African Americans--Military service.;African Americans--Political activity.;African Americans--Political activity--20th century.;African Americans--Recreation.;African Americans--Religion.;African Americans--Relocation.;African Americans--Segregation.;African Americans--Social conditions.;African Americans--Social conditions--20th century;African Americans--Social life and customs.;African Americans--Social networks.;African Americans--Societies, etc.;African Americans--Sports.;African Americans—Texas;African Americans--Texas--Religion.;African Americans--Texas--Social conditions.;Athletes;Baptists, Black;Baptists--Clergy.;Baseball;Basketball;Boxing;Children;Civic leaders;Civil rights;Civil rights movements—Texas;Education;Education, Primary.;Elementary school teaching;Families;Flood and natural disasters;Hairdressing of African Americans;HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities);Hurricane Carla, 1961;Industry, (Tex.);Interviews;King, Martin Luther, III;Labor Rights;Labor unions;Labor unions--Political activity;Louisiana--Franklin.;Louisiana--Jeanerette.;NAACP;Mental Health;National Association for the Advancement of Colored People;Natural disasters—Texas;Newspapers;Non-Violent Protest;Oral Histories;Public School Education;Race discrimination—Texas;Race relations;School integration;Schools;Segregation;Siblings;Social reform;Sports;Texas City (Tex.);Texas City (Tex.)--Explosion, 1947. Texas City (Tex.)--Social life and customs.;Texas--Race relations;Transcripts;Warton (Tex.);Discipline;Clothing and dress

Vera Bell Gary grew up in the West Texas City / La Marque area in an area known as the 1867 Settlement and is 96 years old at the time of this interview. She is a descendent of the Bell family, one of three families of freed slaves who settled in the Settlement in 1867. She talks about her family driving cattle with the Butler Ranch out of League City, up the Chisholm Trail. She describes living in the Settlement, and what it was like growing up the youngest of five children. She talks about her parents, grandparents and great grandparents, and their accomplishments made to the community. Gary tells how her mother taught her to sew, and how they made clothes out of sugar bags. Gary attended A & M Prairie View University and describes how nervous she was during her freshman year. Gary received a degree in Home Economics and became an educator; first at Lincoln High School, then at La Marque High School during the time of integration. She was in her first year of teaching during the 1947 Texas City Disaster and describes what it was like in the aftermath. Gary shares stories about helping members of her community. She talks about getting every eligible person out to vote and her time as a precinct judge. Gary shares her thoughts about the 1867 Settlement and what she would like to see for its future.

2022-02-11

audio

2022OH_AAE006

Theresa Mayfield

Vera Bell Gary

Calvin Bell, Sr.;Kneeland Britton;Frank Bell Jr.;Ollie Caldwell Bell;Sonny Boy;Eunice Bell;Evelyn Bell;Alonzo Bell;Bustee;Frankie Bell's Store;Thomas Caldwell;Dave Hobgood;Central High School;Katy Johnston Bell;William Jones (Judge);Rev. Wally Dunn;Rev. E.H. Norton;Gus Allen;T.E. Armstrong;T.W. Patrick;Bell Zion Church;B.P.&A;BAP;Mason;Eastern Star;Heroines of Jericho Steve's Barber Shop;Front Door Club;Club Morocco;Prairie View A & M University;Depression;Carnation Ball;World War II;Pontiac;Army;Coast Guard;Maceo's;Gaido’s;Italians;Model T Ford;Search Light Inn;Radio;Telephone;Beno;Camp Wallace;Charles Brown;Cougars;Danny Phillips;Danny Phillips;Democrats;Dr. Anderson;Dr. Danforth;Dr. Parker;Greater Barbour's Chapel;Hurricane Carla;Hurricane Ike;Jack Johnson;Joe Abernathy;Joe Louis;John Sealy Hospital;Johnnie Henderson;Lincoln Eagles;Lincoln High School;Martin Luther King;Mike Tyson;Monsanto Chemical Company;Panthers;Professor Simm;Ray Cuny;Republican;Slave Auctions;St. Mary's Hospital;Star Spangled Banner;Television;Tigers;Wayne Johnson;Cafes;Texas Longhorn;Black Cowboys;Slaves;Clear Creek;Flavilla Bell;Grandparents;1865 Emancipation Proclamation;Colonel Granger;Ashton Villa;Waterfront;Plantations;1867 Settlement;Segregation;AKA Sorority;Baseball;Basketball;Beer joint;Black High School;Black smoke;Cattle;Church choir;Clubs;College;College aspirations;Community;Crime;Dead;Desegregated;Doctor;Entertainment;Explosion;Family meals;Fights;Flames;Football;Gossip;Hayrides;Interracial marriages;Lake Road;Movies;Precinct Judge;Prejudice;Fountain;Railroads;Ranches;Refineries;Refrigerated truck;Ship;Fried chicken;Slaves;Slaveport;Smoke;Speeches;Refrigerated Truck;Ship;Fried chicken;Slave port;Smoke;Speeches;The Settlement;Tourists;Vote;Wood stove;Carver Park;Chisholm Trail;East Beach;Highway 3;Highway 75;Texas Gulf Coast;West Beach;Willis Circle;Nasby Rd.;106 Bell Dr.;3189 Bell Dr.;Arkansas