LaCrystal Evans was a graduate student at Jackson State University at the time of the interview. She talks about her experiences as a Head Start student in the Greenville, Mississippi, Head Start program in 1969.
Dr. Aaron Shirley began his work with Head Start while working with the Freedom Schools during Freedom Summer in 1964; many of those schools became part of Child Development Group (CDGM). Dr. Shirley talks about his role as a medical services provider for Head Start programs all over Mississippi as part of a team of Black doctors.
Pinkie Johnson was a Head Start student in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, at Parish Elementary School. She recounts her time as a student, including her memories of teachers and activities the students would do. She also talks about her family's involvement in fundraising for Head Start, including cooking items for bake sales.
Minnie Ripley helped bring Head Start to Mayersville, Mississippi. She talks about her experiences in the Civil Rights Movement, including her story of registering to vote and being put in jail. She also recounts her position as chairwoman of the board of the Mayersville Head Start program, one of the earliest in Mississippi.
Clarence Hall Jr. was a board member for the initial Head Start programs in Sharkey and Issaquena Counties (Mississippi) in 1965. He talks about joining the Army and being in England for 3 years during World War II. He says that the treatment he experienced with racism after coming home led to his work in the community and with Head Start.
Hollis Watkins was a Civil Rights organizer in Mississippi in the 1960s. This interview was recorded in a meeting of Dr. Alferdteen Harrison's Oral History class at Jackson State and featured questions from Dr. Harrison and several students. Mr. Watkins talks about his experiences with the Civil Rights Movement and the beginnings of Head Start.
Sam Whisterton was a teacher in Madison County, Mississippi in 1965. He talks about how students coming to his classes were prepared by Head Start. He also talks about the connection between the Freedom Schools of Freedom Summer and the Head Start program and some of the support and push back Head Start experienced when it started.
Rochelle Carter, a student at Jackson State University at the time, talks about her experiences attending the Head Start program in Champaign, Illinois, in 1972.
Willie Crump was part of the group that started the first Head Start program in Edwards, Mississippi in 1965. She talks about her previous work in the community and working with her daughter on the Edwards Head Start program. She also recounts some of the obstacles they faced while getting the center going.
Annie Smith was part of the group that started the first Head Start program in Edwards, Mississippi in 1965. She talks about that process, including buying and renovating the building, hiring teachers, and recruiting students to get the program off the ground.
Eddie Smith was founder and first director of Institute of Community Services Head Start program that originated in Marshall County, Mississippi, through Rust College. He talks about how he first got involved with the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM) and Head Start and his work organizing since the Civil Rights Movement.
Rev. Coleman Turner was a Methodist minister and became involved with the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM) through his ministry. He talks about his time as a member of the CDGM board and becoming the chairman of the board later.
Carolyn Parker began working with the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM) in 1966 after years of working clerical jobs for different human rights organizations. She talks about her work in the Civil Rights Movement and the role of community organization in the beginning of Head Start.
Barbara Strauss was a member of the board of directors of the Bethlehem Center in Jackson, Mississippi, a United Methodist Church organization that does work in impoverished communities. She talks about her extensive work in these communities and the Bethlehem Center sponsoring the opening of the first Head Start in Jackson.
Alfred Rhodes was part of the original 8-week Head Start program in Quitman County, Mississippi, as a teacher. He talks about his work as a teacher and his later work out of Tougaloo College to supervise Head Start Centers in 4 counties and going into communities to open new centers.
Nancy Stewart worked in the central office of the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM) in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1967 until 1970. She talks about growing up during segregation in Gulfport, Mississippi, and the views that many people had about Head Start serving Black children. Interview is incomplete. Recording cuts short at the end.
Willie Daugherty worked at Head Start in Benton County, Mississippi. She speaks about educators, church leaders, and others who had an influence on her as a teacher and community leader. She also gives her opinions on the future of Head Start. The Interview is incomplete, the first part of the recording is missing.
Ruth Fitts became a teacher with Head Start in Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1966 after being alerted by her husband to a job opening in an advertisement. She talks about her experiences being a White teacher in the Head Start Program and discusses a number of colleagues she worked with.
Rev. Rims Barber came to Mississippi in 1964 to assist in the Civil Rights Movement. He talks about his work in the movement and Delta Ministry and about the connection between the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM) and Delta Ministry in bringing Head Start to Mississippi through grassroots organizing and community development.
At the time of the interview, Rev. R.L.T. Smith was on the board of directors of Mississippi Action for Progress (MAP), which was part of his larger work within the community for people in need. He tells the story of how Head Start came to be in Mississippi.
Nolan Tate began his involvement with Head Start in 1964 when he was recruited by Charles Mosley to the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM). He started out as head of supplies and transportation. He talks about his work during the Civil Rights Movement including working with Medgar Evers in getting people registered to vote.
Netterine Theodore was one of the founders of the Turkey Creek Head Start Center near Gulfport, Mississippi in 1964. She worked for Head Start as a teacher and committed the entirety of her life to school and education. Ms. Theodore discusses the origins of Head Start in the Turkey Creek community and the effect that had on race relations.
Willie Payton began with Head Start holding meetings at churches to encourage people in the community to get involved. She ultimately helped with the opening of the first Head Start Center in the Pearson Community in Rankin County, Mississippi. She discusses her experiences with voter registration work in Mississippi in the 1960s.
Melba Smith heard about Head Start for the first time in 1968 and after attending a community meeting, she started working for Head Start with the title of Head Teacher. She went on to work as an internal auditor with Head Start. She discusses her roles in those positions as well as other community service oriented jobs she worked over the years.
Maxine Hudson began her education at a Head Start program in a church in Louisville, Mississippi, and she discusses the good it did for her in her educational life and career. She became a teacher herself at Eiland Middle School in Louisville, Mississippi.