W.J. Usery, Jr. oral history collection [sound recording] 1987, Mar. 18 [Tape 08].

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W.J. Usery, Jr. oral history collection [sound recording] 1987, Mar. 18 [Tape 08].

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50790714

Usery describes the first home owned by his parents and his father's mortgage payments on same. Noted are his father's farming at the Humphrey house and Usery's chores there. His contracting malaria and its restrictions leads to reading, and here Usery notes the lack of libraries at that time. Walking to the Midway Elementary School, the experience there with math as a favorite subject, and being reprimanded about his lying are mentioned. Usery describes an 8th grade teacher, Paul Torrence [later known as an authority on gifted children], the Public Works Administration building of the high school, and his decision to attend Georgia Military College (GMC). Usery describes the discrepancies among social classes, but also offers that there was a lack of differences in treatment between the poorest whites and African-Americans. Usery charts his early focus on labor and equality issues, his mother's influence on his negotiating style, and again mentions their "watching people" to understand the importance of people's interactions and behaviors, and the eventual development of his "people skills."

1 sound cassette.Transcript 34 p.

Georgia State University

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SNAC Resource ID: 7632598

Georgia State University

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Hough, Leslie S.

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Georgia Military College

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Usery, W. J., 1923-

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W.J. Usery (1923- ), machinist, union official, Assistant Secretary and Secretary of Labor, federal and private mediator, born in Hardwick, Georgia. From the description of W.J. Usery papers, 1940, 1952-1985. (Georgia State University). WorldCat record id: 38477540 W.J. Usery, Jr. (1923- ), machinist, union official, Assistant Secretary and Secretary of Labor, federal and private mediator, born in Hardwick, Georgia. From the description of W.J. Usery, Jr. oral hi...