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SLEDGE, Ely (b. 1934) and SLEDGE, William (b. 1928)

Oral Histories

OH 1210

For the Ray Roberts Lake Oral History Project. Reminiscences and experiences concerning their father's farm near Pilot Point, Texas, 1900-1980 Comments about their African-American ancestors; their descriptions of various pieces of old farm equipment strewn about the homestead; sorghum mill and syrup- making; hog butchering and meat preservation; water well; description of farm buildings; segregated education; home remedies; garden area; canning; rural social life and entertainment; trading among neighbors; cash crops (peanuts, cotton); harvesting; description of the interior of the family farmhouse and its contents; listening to boxing contests (Joe Louis and “Jersey Joe” Walcott) on the family radio; store-bought and mail order catalog items; ”Juneteenth” celebrations; description of personal documents and papers, 1878-1931.