Indianapolis Blues, 1985
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory
Indiana University
400 North Sunrise Drive
Weatherly Hall North, Room 122
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
http://www.indiana.edu/~cshm
Creator
Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory
TitleIndianapolis Blues, 1985
Project No.
ohrc069
Interviews
5 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room
122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells
Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please
contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
These interviews trace the life histories of five blues musicians
in Indianapolis, Indiana. The interviewees discuss their experiences, their
knowledge of blues and jazz, and their musical contemporaries. In addition,
several comment on the segregation and racism that characterized life in the
earlier part of the twentieth century.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains five interviews conducted over five months. The interviews range from twenty-eight minutes to approximately
four hours. All interviews consist of audio tapes and most have typed transcripts.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for the Study of History and Memory at Indiana
University is open to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are
available only when such copies are permitted by the deed of gift signed by the
interviewee. Scholars must honor any restrictions the interviewee placed on the
use of the interview. Since some of our earlier (pre-computer) transcripts do
not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript (deletions,
additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Tapes may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for
that interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the
taped interview. Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use,
but excerpted quotes may be used as long as researchers fully cite the data in
their research, including accession number, interview date, interviewee's and
interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for the Study
of History and Memory, Indiana University, Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript].
Interview List
Interviewee
Deakyne, Florence R. Garvin
February 27,
1985
Call Number
85-073
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 4 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 3 hours 55
minutes
Interviewer
Wheeler, Will; Barrow, Garry; Harrah-Conforth, Bruce
Access Status
Restricted (quotes may be used only with the permission of the
interviewee)
Scope and Content Note
Florence R. Garvin Deakyne, born on January 15, 1927, describes
her life history and experiences as a musician in Indianapolis, Indiana.
-
Keywords
-
-
Occupation Names
- blues musician
Interviewee
Edwards, Willie "Kid"
June 22,
1985
Call Number
85-075
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes
Interviewer
Wheeler, Will; Barrow, Garry; Harrah-Conforth, Bruce
Access Status
Restricted
Scope and Content Note
Willie "Kid" Edwards discusses his life as a blues musician in
Indianapolis, Indiana.
-
Keywords
-
-
Occupation Names
- blues musician
Interviewee
Grandy, Errol
February 16,
1985
Call Number
85-071
Physical Description
31 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 69 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Wheeler, Will; Barrow, Garry; Harrah-Conforth, Bruce
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Errol Grandy, born on February 2, 1918, discusses his career as
a professional blues pianist, a talent he discovered playing music at his
father's church. He speaks of several Indianapolis clubs, his memories of
fellow musicians, and of the differences between jazz and blues music. In
addition, Mr. Grandy comments on the violence that often invaded some
Indianapolis jazz clubs.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Paradise Club
- Sunset Club
- Walker Casino
-
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Carr, Leroy
- Ellington, Duke
-
-
Subjects
- blues music
- gospel music
- jazz music
- night club violence
Interviewee
Hall, J. Wallace
February 27,
1985
Call Number
85-074
Physical Description
77 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 139 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Wheeler, Will; Barrow, Garry; Harrah-Conforth, Bruce
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
J. Wallace Hall, born on August 2, 1890, relates some details of
his life history, including stories of his youth in rural Kentucky, his
experiences with the Ku Klux Klan, racism, and segregation, and his work as a
saxophone player and night club owner in Indianapolis, Indiana. He speaks of
his heritage; his mother, a former slave, and his father, part Native American,
contributed to his wide and varied knowledge and pursuits. In addition, Mr.
Hall comments on the best ways to make money, his education, farming, and home
remedies.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Club Royale
- Ku Klux Klan
-
-
Family Names
- Buffalo, New York
- Mount Sterling, Kentucky
-
-
Occupation Names
- saxophone player
-
-
Personal Names
- Armstrong, Louis
- Bennet, Frank
-
-
Subjects
- African-Americans
- Black history
- discrimination
- education
- farming
- home remedies
- horse training
- jazz music
- marijuana
- prostitution
- racial violence
- racism
- segregation
- syncopation
Interviewee
Rachell, James Yank
February 16,
1985
Call Number
85-072
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 28 minutes
Interviewer
Wheeler, Will; Barrow, Garry; Harrah-Conforth, Bruce
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
James Yank Rachell discusses his life history and experiences as
a blues musician.
-
Keywords
-
-
Occupation Names
- blues musician
