Boaz Jones Oral History

Collection

Identifier: M312

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains an audio cassette and transcript of an oral history taken during the 1992 spring semester by Deborah Lindner, a member of Dr. John Gonzales' Mississippi History course at the University of Southern Mississippi. These items contain recollections of Picayune resident, Boaz Jones.

Mr. Jones recalls his family's traditional lifestyle and how the day-to-day lives of his family and community were affected by the advancing technology of the 20th century. He recounts his family's experiences with the construction of Highway 43 South, the railroad, the temporary logging camp once located in Caesar, Mississippi (now Picayune), and the advent of electricity.

Mr. Jones also includes his recollections of Choctaw (Chatta) Indian fairs, tribal councils, and rituals. Another interesting description provides information about Hillcrest Farms near Anchor Lake, which was once utilized as a prisoner of war camp for WWII German and Italian soldiers.

This collection would be of interest to any student studying the cultural and economic history of the Pearl River County region or Mississippi's prisoner of war camps.

Dates

Creation: Spring 1992

Conditions Governing Access

Noncirculating; available for research.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Biographical / Historical

Boaz Jones was born in Logtown, Mississippi (now the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA] test site in Hancock County) on December 7, 1923. Mr. Jones lived in Caesar, which was later incorporated into Picayune, where he lived and worked as a repairman for Quick and Grice Gas and Propane Company. Jones also was a retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant.

Jones died of a heart attack on March 4, 1992 at the age of 68, and is interred at the Pearson Cemetery in Picayune, Mississippi. He was survived by his wife, Mabel, and three children: Dana L. Jones, Annida K. Sanders, and Beth Jones Stephenson.

Extent

.10 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Tape and transcript of his memories of life in southwest Mississippi.

Arrangement

Folder 1 contains a cassette in which Boaz Jones provides information concerning some aspects of his community's culture during a time span which includes the early 1900's, the Great Depression, and the post-WWII period. He discusses schooling, childhood games, church activities, and family events. Jones briefly furnishes information about the economic activities of the Picayune area by discussing subsistence farming, animal husbandry, the local lumber industry, and WPA projects.

The accompanying transcript in Folder 2 contains only portions of the oral history recorded to cassette.