A complete listing of the audio for the oral histories is available using the following button.  Individual oral histories and transcripts (when available) are linked in the text below.

Oral History (OH-001) 

Thomas D. Anderson is the former lawyer and nephew of Will Clayton talks about the 1910 Harris County

Courthouse (1930s and 1940s), the Anderson Clayton Building, and his uncle, Will Clayton.

Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Oral History (OH-002)

Long time Harris County employee (1954 - 2006) discusses growing up in Anniston, Alabama, 

serving in the Merchant Marines during World War II in the European and Pacific Theaters,

working on the railroad, moving to Houston, working for Harris County as a janitor and

eventually Building Superintendent, and Harris County politics and politicians.

Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Oral History (OH-003)

At 93 years of age, Judge Bill Hatten discusses growing up in Houston’s First Ward,

attending parochial and law schools, practicing law, the significance of fraternal organizations,

joining the Marine Corps in World War II, Harris County politics, the 1946 election for Harris County Judge,

the Port Commission and the Juvenile Protection Board. 44 pp. including 3 photographs.

Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Oral History (OH-004)

A retired employee of the Home Demonstration Service reminisces about growing up in a rural community

near Palestine, Texas, attending Prairie View College, conducting home demonstrations for Southern

Newspapers (1935 - 1937), working for the Negro Extension Service in Austin County (1937 - 1941) and

Harris County (1941 - 1973), leading 4-H groups, integration of the extension service and 4-H. 69 pp. including 4 photographs.

Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Oral History (OH-005)

A retired employee of the Agricultural Extension Service, Shaw talks about growing up in

Terrell, Texas, his service in the United States Army during the Korean War, attending

Tuskegee Institute, working for Firestone Rubber in Liberia, and his years as an extension

agent in Milam, Angelina, Freestone, and Harris Counties in Texas.

Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Oral History (OH-006)

A native Houstonian, Hill discusses the influence of his parents, George A. and Mary Hill;

growing up in Houston; education at the Hotchkiss School, Texas A & M; Naval service during World War II

including the V-12 program at Rice University, service on LSM 92, the Battle of Iwo Jima; extensive travels in

South America and Europe; the University of Houston Law School; early law practice with Hill, Lowry, Mulvihill,

Cannon, and Lee; running Robert Lowry’s initial campaign for District Judge; Harris County politics;

the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department; the Harris County Child Welfare Unit.

Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Oral History (OH-007)

A 31-year employee of the Harris County Tax Office, as of August, 2010, McLemore discusses

pre-computer systems and routines, working under Carl Smith and Paul Bettencourt,

and training and certification of tax office employees. Born in Alice, Texas, she discusses

growing up in South Texas and perceptions of segregation in the 1950s and 1960s.

Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Oral History (OH-008)

Harris County Tax Office Employee (transcript pending)

Oral History (OH-009)

Harris County Tax Office Employee (transcript pending)

Oral History (OH-010)

Harris County Tax Office Employee (transcript pending)

Oral History (OH-011)

Harris County Tax Office Employee (transcript pending)

Oral History (OH-012)

Harris County Tax Office Employee (transcript pending)

Oral History (OH-013)

Born in 1919 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, Thelma Mueller worked for Harris County

for 32 years from 1938 until 1970. Mueller discusses growing up in Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas;

the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department; the office of the District Clerk; the county culture;

restrictions on women; World War II; district courts; Harris County 1910 Courthouse; segregation;

jury selection; Ray Hardy; J. W. Mills.

Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Oral History (OH-014)

Declared a dependent child and committed to the Ethel A. Claxton School for Girls in 1947,

Herrera shares her recollections concerning foster care, the juvenile probation department,

and the Mary Burnett School for Girls. (transcript pending)

Oral History (OH-015)

Retiring in 2014 after 23 years with Harris County’s Ryan White Program, Charles Henley

discusses growing up in San Antonio, working with child welfare and later with adolescents

in psychiatric hospitals, supervising case management programs for MHMRA, and finally,

the chaotic beginnings and growth of the Ryan White Program.

Click here for a transcript of the recording.

Oral History (OH-016)

Employed by the Harris County Hospital District in January 1984, King Hillier found himself in

the epicenter of the HIV / AIDS epidemic in Houston and Harris County. Hillier discusses Harris

County’s response to the epidemic including city-county partnerships, community response,

the establishment of the Thomas Street Clinic, and the Ryan White Program.

Click here for a transcription of the recording.

Oral History (OH-017)

Ruth SoRelle discusses the county government’s role in health care delivery in particular the

Harris County Hospital District and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. (transcript pending)