Wright, Mary Alice, 1930-2003

Coppedge, Michael

Charlotte, North Carolina

J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

1993-10-31

1 audio file (41:47) : digital, MP3

sound recording-nonmusical

spoken word

eng

Mary Alice Wright was a 63-year-old woman at the time of interview, which took place in her home in Marshville, North Carolina. She was born in Waxhaw, North Carolina in 1930. She competed tenth grade, and was employed as a homemaker, a cashier, and as a chicken wrapper at a Holly Farms chicken processing plant.

Mary Alice Wright discusses growing up in the mill village in Waxhaw, North Carolina. In particular, she describes how she worked in the mill village as a concession stand operator and actively participated in social activities, such as square dancing and hayrides. Mrs. Wright then recalls the challenges that her family faced upon her father's death, noting specifically how she sacrificed her final year of high school to care for her father, and her mother's efforts to financially support the family. Mrs. Wright also discusses the tragic car accident that killed her sister's husband. She vividly remembers being overcome with great sadness because the accident occurred just prior to the death of President John F. Kennedy, and with both deaths children were left without their fathers. In addition, she describes residing in various places during her adult life, and recalls living with members of the Traywick family, including country singer Randy Travis (birth name: Randy Traywick) when he was a baby.

MP3 access copy created on ingest from WAV preservation master. Interview originally recorded on Analog audio cassette and digitized using a Digidesign 003 rack.

Food industry and trade--Employees
Homemakers
Cashiers

Wright, Mary Alice, 1930-2003
Travis, Randy

Mills and mill-work
Parents--Death
Grief
Housing, Rural
Country life

North Carolina--Union County
North Carolina--Waxhaw

Interviews
Oral histories

1930-2010

David Goldfield student project on change in the Charlotte region

Living Charlotte : the Postwar Development of a New South city

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Digitization made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.

audio/mpeg

GF-WR0223