Oral History

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YCLD Oral History Collection

These stories document 19th and 20th century military, commercial, cultural and irrigation-agricultural history of the Lower Colorado River; Western migration, early pioneers and family histories; Yuma politics and personalities; natural disasters; the impact of WWII along Arizona’s western border; and the long standing geographic and economic ties with California and Mexico. Arranged alphabetically by surname, if known, or by topic and chronologically within. Most folders include originals as well as copies of tapes and transcriptions except where noted.  A small number of cassette tapes were sampled for sound quality and condition and were found to be playable and audible. See container list.

Oral History

Ku Klux Klan Collection

The brief summary of the Klan by B. Johnny Rube entitled “Yuma County’s Invisible Empire: The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan” indentifies the organization coming to Arizona in 1921. The Yuma Klan held their meetings at Somerton, Arizona ten miles southwest of Yuma. It was claimed that over 2,000 persons attended some local Klan meetings with “at least 50 or more men” becoming members. Most individuals left the Yuma membership early in 1925. This collection consists of correspondence, publications, membership materials, and blank forms associated with the Yuma County Ku Klux Klan Chapter. Also contained in the collection is a catalogue of official robes and banners for purchase, along with a brief pamphlet of Klan organizational history in western Arizona. There are eight photos and ten negatives depicting materials in the collection. One oral recording of the Somerton Star talk by Dr. Minor about the Ku Klux Klan was transferred to the Oral History collection, AHS-Tucson. See container list.

YCLD Oral History Collection

These stories document 19th and 20th century military, commercial, cultural and irrigation-agricultural history of the Lower Colorado River; Western migration, early pioneers and family histories; Yuma politics and personalities; natural disasters; the impact of WWII along Arizona’s western border; and the long standing geographic and economic ties with California and Mexico. Arranged alphabetically by surname, if known, or by topic and chronologically within. Most folders include originals as well as copies of tapes and transcriptions except where noted.  A small number of cassette tapes were sampled for sound quality and condition and were found to be playable and audible. See container list.

Yuma Media Collection

Some of this material was recorded by the AHS - Rio Colorado Division for educational purposes or to document field trips and special projects.  Several appear to be duplicates of items already included in the oral history collections.  The Hanrath and Hopkins CDs appear to be oral histories neither of which were included in the YPG or Yuma Oral History Collections. Consists of VHS cassettes tapes, reel to reel tapes, CDs and DVDs. Arranged by format and alphabetically within. Condition is unknown. See container list.

Yuma Proving Grounds Collection

Yuma Proving Grounds is a military testing area for new technologies. It began in 1943 as the Special Bridge Test Section to assist in the development of floating bridges by testing them in the swiftly flowing Colorado River. The bridge tests were also used to train engineering troops in using the finalized bridges in the European theatre of WWII. In 1944, due to lack of man power, the testing was carried out by volunteer Italian Prisoner of War troops. Near the end of the war testing was also done on placing roads across rice paddies in preparation for invading Japan. This collection is an eclectic mix of materials donated by individuals associated with the Proving Grounds, and records copied from the National Archives. This collection is organized into nine series: Series I – Documents, Series II – General, Series III – Historical Preservation, Series IV – Newspaper Articles, Series V – Personnel, Series VI – Photographs, Series VII – Publications, Series VIII – Videos, Series IX – Oversize. See container list.

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