This interview is part of a series called "Making Sense of the Factory" (MSOTF) a project created by then UNCG student Amanda Holland in partnership with MUSE Winston-Salem (formerly New Winston Museum). These are a series of oral history interviews conducted with people who worked at the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco factories in Winston-Salem, NC. The interviews were conducted in 2015 and led to an exhibit that examines the way these factory workers remember the Reynolds factories through the five senses. This interview is with Cecil Allen, a lifelong farmer who spent one year (1958-59) working tobacco markets for RJ Reynolds. This is part one of his interview.

Cecil Allen, Making Sense of the Factory pt. 1

This interview is part of a series called "Making Sense of the Factory" (MSOTF) a project created by then UNCG student Amanda Holland in partnership with MUSE Winston-Salem (formerly New Winston Museum). These are a series of oral history interviews conducted with people who worked at the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco factories in Winston-Salem, NC. The interviews were conducted in 2015 and led to an exhibit that examines the way these factory workers remember the Reynolds factories through the five senses. This interview is with Cecil Allen, a lifelong farmer who spent one year (1958-59) working tobacco markets for RJ Reynolds. This is part two of his interview.

Cecil Allen, Making Sense of the Factory pt. 2

Walter Bennett served in the Vietnam War from September 1966 - September 1967 in the Army, First Battalion, 40th Artillery Corps. He was stationed near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). In this interview, he describes his experiences before, during, and after the War. Mr. Bennet is a writer and a retired lawyer and judge who lives near Chapel Hill, NC. This interview was recorded at his home on 13 March 2021 by Cyndi Briggs. Photo credit Walter Bennett private collection.

Walter Bennett, Army Veteran, Vietnam War

Oral History interview with Fred Norman, Sr. for the StoryTap initiative of MUSE Winston-Salem, formerly New Winston Museum. Interview conducted by Cyndi Briggs.

Fred Norman Sr

Interview for the StoryTap Oral History initiative of MUSE Winston-Salem (formerly New Winston Museum). Interviewee is Norman Bishop, interviewed by Gail Fisher. Bishop was formerly incarcerated and went through Project Re-entry to prepare him for his release from the prison system.

Norman Bishop, August 2016, Project Re-entry Winston-Salem, NC

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Interview with Dr. Sondra Barber Akins, April 2019. Dr. Akins tells her story of growing up as an African American child in segregated Winston-Salem, NC and reflects on what the city and state were like for African Americans at the time. Dr. Akins attended Skyland School, Atkins High School, and even took a class at the all white Reynolds High School during segregation. Dr. Akins went on to receive a bachelor's degree in chemistry from University of California, Berkeley in 1967, when the student body was almost entirely white. Akins had a long career in in education and education leadership in New Jersey.

Sondra Barber Akins Oral History Interview

MUSE Winston-Salem oral history interview with David Moore, owner and founder of the Southside Rides Foundation. Interviewed by Alanna Meltzer-Holderfield on Dec. 1, 2022. The interview covers David's life as a native of Winston-Salem, his childhood and family dynamics, his time in prison, and his path to reshaping his life, and helping others to do the same.

David Moore Oral History Interview

MUSE Winston-Salem Oral History Interview with Whitney Jones about the Jargon Society, a small-press publishing company founded in California in the 1950s, with North Carolina and Winston-Salem connections. Interview recorded March 5, 2020, in Winston-Salem, NC.

Whitney Jones Oral History Interview

LTC Franz David Cone served in the Army during both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He is a Purple Heart recipient, among other distinctions. He was interviewed on March 23, 2016 in Winston-Salem, NC by Cyndi Briggs. Interview length = 100 minutes.

LTC Franz David Cone, Korea and Vietnam Army Veteran

Phil Hewitt served in the US Army Infantry in Italy, Sicily, and Northern Africa during WWII. He was wounded at the Battle of Casino in Italy and received the Purple Heart. He was awarded the Bronze Star for rescuing two men from a downed plane. This recording was made on 2/16/2016 in Greensboro, NC by Cyndi Briggs. Interview length 67 minutes.

Phil Hewitt, World War II Army Veteran

DeWitt "Lucky" Wells served in the Army during WWII and landed on Utah Beach on D-Day. He was interviewed on June 2, 2016 at his home in Winston-Salem, NC by Cyndi Briggs

DeWitt Wells World War II Veteran

Jim Burgio served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. In this interview, he discusses his experiences in the war, and his service contributions after the war, including helping to establish the Carolina Field of Honor in Kernersville, NC. Cyndi Briggs conducted this interview on June 8, 2016, at Jim's office in Greensboro, NC.

Jim Burgio Vietnam Veteran

Mr. Ronald "Ronnie" Macklin was a life-long Winston-Salem, NC resident who served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He was born on Sept. 23, 1923, and died on Sept. 14, 2018. An excerpt from his obituary in the Winston-Salem Journal: 

"After graduating from Reynolds High School in 1941, Mr. Macklin enlisted in the Army/Air Corps in September of the same year. He was assigned to the 34th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Group after attending airplane mechanic school at Kessler Field. His squadron was a replacement for the 34th that bombed Japan from the Carrier Hornet on April 18, 1942. After a few months of flying the B-25, his squadron converted to the B-26 Marauder and went overseas on November 18, 1942. Mr. Macklin participated in 10 campaigns and shot down two ME 109s in early 1943. He received three Air Medals, two Presidential Citations, and the French Croix de Guerre Avec Palme. In 1946, he was awarded the "France Libre Medal" and in 2009 the "French Legion of Honor" by the President of France. For a short time he was the crew chief for General Doolittle's B-26 while he was stationed in North Africa. After VE day, he was part of the team that recovered aeronautical knowledge from the Germans for use by the allies. Prior to returning to the states, his squadron helped liberate Mauthausen, a concentration camp located in Austria. Mr. Macklin was granted a commission as a 2nd lieutenant after discharge in September 1945." 

Mr. Macklin was interviewed on March 3, 2017 at his home in Winston-Salem, NC by Cyndi Briggs.

Ronald "Ronnie" Macklin World War II Veteran

Dr. Carlos Cooper completed two years of pre-medical training at Mars Hill College when he left school to enter service in the Army during World War II. There he served as a medic under Patton and was present for the Nuremberg trials after the war. He is a graduate of Mars Hill and Wake Forest University. He received his degree in podiatry from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and practiced in North Carolina for 60 years. He retired in December 2014. He currently lives in High Point, NC. interviewed by Cyndi Briggs February 27, 2015 in High Point, NC.

Carlos Cooper, World War II Veteran, Army Medic

Stephen "Steve" Hicks enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1980 and served for 10 years in the US and abroad. His postings included Ramstein, Germany (just after the bombing at the Marine barracks in 1981); Kuwait; Osan, Korea; and Panama. His primary roles were as a military police officer and K-9 officer. This interview was conducted on March 27, 2019 by Cyndi Briggs and Meg Sigler.

Stephen "Steve" Hicks, United States Air Force Veteran (1980s)

This is an interview with Linda Davis and Patricia Norris, the two first female police chiefs of Winston-Salem, NC. Davis was the first female to be appointed chief of WSPD, in 1999. She was succeeded by Norris in 2004, who became the second female, and first African American Chief of the local PD. This interview was conducted on May 30, 2018, on the campus of Winston-Salem State University, by Gail Fisher and Alanna Meltzer-Holderfield for the StoryTap Oral History Initiative of New Winston Museum. Photo shows from left: Patricia Norris, Linda Davis, and Gail Fisher.

Interview with Linda Davis and Patricia Norris, Former Female Police Chiefs of Winston-Salem

Jerry Hanes, born in 1948 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, tells the story of his life: growing up in segregated Winston-Salem, his developing interest in art, military service in the Vietnam War, factory work at R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., studying at university, his art career, and more. Interview conducted by Alanna Meltzer-Holderfield.

Jerry Hanes, African American Artists of Winston-Salem Series

This is an interview with Sandra Waldron for MUSE Wintson-Salem's oral history initiative. Waldron was the first paid female firefighter in the nation, and served in the Winston-Salem Fire Department for nearly 30 years. This interview discusses her early life, her career, and a bit about her life after firefighting. Recorded October 24, 2019.

Sandra Waldron, the first paid female firefighter in the country

Marvette Aldrich was born in Winston-Salem, NC in 1946. In this interview she talks about growing up dividing her time between Winston-Salem and the town(s) in Western NC where her mother had to take teaching jobs. Marvette and her mother were African American and she grew up during segregation. Marvette talks about the trials they endured traveling across the state when Black people were not welcome  in most White owned businesses/places. Marvette is also an artist and talks about the local arts community and her experiences.

Marvette Aldrich, African American Experience in Winston-Salem

MUSE Winston-Salem, formerly New Winston Museum, is a community history museum located in Winston-Salem, NC.  We use this SoundCloud page for our oral history initiative, StoryTap.

MUSE Winston-Salem

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