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Visual Collections - Open Doors Oral History Project. 2002-2004

The University of Mississippi dedicated the 2002 -2003 academic year to the 40th anniversary of Dr. James H. Meredith's enrollment in the University. As part of this celebration, students and faculty recorded oral histories with former students, faculty, towns people, lawyers, governmental officials, and military personnel who were involved in the events surrounding Meredith's entrance to the University.

DVD viewing copies are available for all the interviews. Those with links are available online to stream using the Windows Media Player.

Harold M. &Happy" Antwine
Student at the University of Mississippi, Member of the Local National Guard
View the oral history online using the Windows Media Player.

Kathleen Armstrong
Husband in National Guard, Visited Oxford

Ouida Barnett Atkins
Daughter of former Governor Ross Barnett

Gary B. Baker
503rd MP, PFC

Martha Aldridge Baty
Student at the University of Mississippi

Judge Neal Biggers
Law Student at the University of Mississippi, President of Judicial Committee

Gerald Blessey
Student at the University of Mississippi, Associated Student Body Cabinet Member

Charles M. Jr. Bolen
Freshman Student at the University of Mississippi, Operations Officer 2nd Battle - Group, 23rd Inf, 2nd Inf. Div.

Bobby Boyd
Sophmore at the University of Mississippi, Football Player

Emmett Chassaniol
Student at the University of Mississippi, Member of the Greenwood, MS National Guard

Sibyl McRae Child
Senior Student at the University of Mississippi

Charles H. Doughty
503rd MP

William Doyle
Author of An American Insurrection

Myrlie Evers-Williams
Civil Rights Leader, Wife of Medgar Evers
View the oral history online using the Windows Media Player.

Murry C. "Chooky" Falkner
Troop commander of the Oxford National Guard
View the oral history online using the Windows Media Player.

Cy Faneca
Sophmore Student at the University of Mississippi

Henry T. Gallagher
Officer in the US Army Military Police Pattalion (116th MP), James Meredith's Personal Security Officer

Donald E. George
Company B, 503rd MP

Karl David Gottschalt
Sophmore Student at the University of Mississippi

Gene Gratz
Communications Officer, 108th Armored Calvalry Regiment, Tupelo

Reverend Duncan M. Gray, Jr.
Rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Oxford Mississippi, 1957-1965

Lewis Guy
Student at the University of Mississippi

Ira B. Harkey, Jr.
Owner and Editor of the Pascagoula Chronicle, Pulitzer Prize winner

Robin Reed Hendrickson
Senior Student at the University of Mississippi

Reverend Arthur Herod
Pastor, working for the city of Oxford when Meredith enrolled in the University

Lloyd Gerald Hopkins, MD
Doctor in Oxford, Mississippi

John M. "Monty" Horne, Sr.
Gave a Student from his Hometown a Ride Back to Oxford, worked for Core of Engineers in Batesville, MS

Sterling Gray Jackson, Jr.
Senior Student at the University of Mississippi, Vice President of the Associated Student Body

Ben D. Jones
Football Coach

Cecil B. Jones, Jr.
Senior Student at the University of Mississippi, Member of Student Judicial Council

Nicholas D. Katzenbach
Assistant Attorney General, 1961-1962; Deputy Attorney General, 1962-1964; Acting and later U.S. Attorney General, 1964-1966; Under Secretary of State, 1966-1969, in Lyceum Building on the Night of the Riot

G. Ray (George Raymond) Kerciu
Art Professor at the University of Mississippi, had Meredith over to his House Regularly, 1st Year of Teaching at the University, Arrested for a Show of his Art Work on Campus

Nancy Koehler
Freshman Student at the University of Mississippi

Brenda Rush Lee
Freshman Student at the University of Mississippi

Douglas B. Lewis
Student at the University of Mississippi, Editor of the Ole Miss Yearbook

Susie Marshall
Oxford Resident

Frank Mash
Riot Control September 30, 1962

James D. McNew
503rd MP

Arthur C. Meredith
James Meredith's Younger Brother

James Meredith
First African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi

Bill Minor
Reporter and Columnist for the New Orleans Time-Picayune

Richard A. Mitchell
716th MP, at University of Mississippi at the end of Meredith's Year at School, Member of Security Surrounding Meredith (the "Peanut Patrol")

Sidna Brower Mitchell
Student at the University of Mississippi, Editor of the Daily Mississippian
View the oral history online using the Windows Media Player.

Rebecca Larche Moreton
Graduate Student, Taught at the University of Mississippi

Charles Moore
Photographer, Photos of the Riot published in Life Magazine
View the oral history online using the Windows Media Player.

Constance Baker Motley
James Meredith's NAACP Attorney

Jimmie E. Robinette
503rd MP

Penny Ray Sisson
Student at the University of Mississippi

David E. Smith
US Marshall

Robert F. Smith
Son of Reverend Wofford K, Smith, the Epsicopal Chaplain in Oxford

Jim Symington
Robert Kennedy's Administrative Assistant

Willie B. Tankersley
Driver for University of Misssissippi's Chancellor J.D. Williams

Clark Hairston Taylor
Senior at the University of Mississippi

Jay A. Travis, IV.
Student at the University of Mississippi

Lucy C. Turnbull
Assistant Professor of Classical Archeology, Active Member of the University of Mississippi Chapter of the American Association of University Professors

Fred Villella
503rd MP

Gerald Walton
Assistant Professor of English at the University of Mississippi

Miriam Wilson Weems
Senior at the University of Mississippi

Curtis Wilkie
Student at the University of Mississippi

Richard B. Wilson, Jr.
Law Student at the University of Mississippi, President of the Associated Student Body

William Winter
Former Governor of Mississippi (1980-1984)

Malcolm T. Yawn
108th Armored Calvalry Regiment