Interview with Virginia Stroud, Narrative of Her Life – Great Depression/World War II/Civil Rights Movement/Moving around the US, History 150 Spring 2023, Conducted by Camryn Mowery, March 26, 2023.
Biography
Virginia Stroud, my great-grandmother, was born on November 11th, 1922 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She has undergone many changes in her life. Starting with being born in the Great Depression, finding love in the midst of a war, and raising two daughter during the civil rights movement, have all impacted her into who she is today. She has lived in many places through-out her life like Kosciusko, Mississippi, New Orleans, Portsmouth, VA, D.C, and Rome, NY. Her job during the time she is talking about which is around 1929 to 1960 is a communications engineer for RCA at Griffiss AFB. The featured picture consist of Virginia Stroud, Guy Stroud (her husband), Debbie Boyd (her oldest daughter) and Susan Seeley (her youngest daughter). She currently lives in an apartment by herself and her favorite thing to do is recite poetry. She recently has obtained assisted living due to health conditions.
Research
Going into this interview I felt confident in the information Virginia was going to talk about, but dived deeper. Starting off I could tell that the subject of the Great Depression was hard for her to talk about. Which I understood more about diving into a source that produced many visuals of the hardships people faced during those times. I would say that this era in her life inflicted childhood trauma which she has previously talked to me about. In the 1930’s the Depression hit hard, but especially in the south. Many Americans lost their job and went to beg hungry on many occasions. Virginia doesn’t talk in detail of her experience of the Depression except for that it was hard for her to understand why the effects of the Great Depression were happening, I mean she was only around 9 years old growing up in the south when this happened.
After the Great Depression WWII entered into her life. The History of WWII Museum noted that many women played crucial roles in communications in New Orleans and Virginia say almost exactly that. She worked in New Orleans as a communications engineer. Also during WWII many women sought out to have “quickie marriages” which I believe is due to the fear instilled into people during the war. Lastly I drew from a source noting the desegregation of schools. Virginia’s daughter were both in mixed schools. There was a major shift to desegregate schools especially in the South after the civil rights movement, while the North contained many schools already desegregation. The North and South had very different aspects of life when the Civil Rights Movement was taking place. Virginia and her family were in settings to see the differences in segregation across the US.
Camryn Mowery 0:00
So, you’re okay. With me recording this right? Our conversation?
Virginia Stroud 0:07
Yes
Camryn Mowery 0:07
Yes. Okay. So, when you were younger? What was your favorite hobby to do as a child?
Virginia Stroud 0:16
Well, going to church,
Camryn Mowery 0:22
What did you enjoy most at church?
Virginia Stroud 0:24
The singing
Camryn Mowery 0:25
The signing? You liked the singing?
Virginia Stroud 0:27
Mhm
Camryn Mowery 0:28
Okay. And that was when you were younger. So you went with your family at church when you were younger?
Virginia Stroud 0:39
With a group
Camryn Mowery 0:40
With a group, okay. You were born in 1922? Correct?
Virginia Stroud 0:45
Correct.
Camryn Mowery 0:46
Correct. Okay. So you were around like 10 years old when there was the Great Depression, right? The Great Depression.
Virginia Stroud 0:56
Yes
Camryn Mowery 0:56
Yes. So what was that like for you? And your family during that time? Was it like, because you were in Mississippi, right?
Virginia Stroud 1:05
Right, and it was very hard to understand why it was happening. So we just had to persevere. And carry on.
Camryn Mowery 1:29
Okay, so how old were you when World War Two started?
Virginia Stroud 1:37
Twenty.
Camryn Mowery 1:39
So what was it like hearing? Was it what, what like emotions did you feel when you heard you’re about to go into, when America was about to go into a war?
Virginia Stroud 1:50
Terrifying
Camryn Mowery 1:51
Can you tell me about how you met my great grandfather. Tell me the story of how you met him.
Virginia Stroud 1:57
I hadn’t thought about that. A long time. It had to be in the early 40s
Camryn Mowery 2:02
Was my great grandfather in the war?
Virginia Stroud 2:04
He was working at a job in Portsmouth, Virginia, when he was drafted. And so he uh he was sent to a camp in New Orleans and working and that’s where I met him in New Orleans. He was stationed at the Jackson Memorial I think on board ship. A long time ago, my dear and he was on board the ship he was I’m trying to think of his title but anyway, I can’t
Camryn Mowery 2:49
Were you married then to him?
Virginia Stroud 2:55
Was I married to him then? No, no, no, no. (laughs)
Camryn Mowery 2:58
So you were dating?
Virginia Stroud 3:01
I met him and I guess he did ask me and his cook on board the ship cooked up a basket of picnic food and gave it to him and then he came in and we ate in the park, there beautiful parks there and it was very nice. It was all food you know fixed in a basket and whatever.
Camryn Mowery 3:43
So y’all went on a date. So y’all went on a date together.
Virginia Stroud 3:48
What?
Camryn Mowery 3:49
So you went on a date?
Virginia Stroud 3:51
Well, yes, because he had brought the food that the cook on the ship had prepared for him to bring to take me to the park to have a picnic. So that’s what we did.
Camryn Mowery 4:09
When did he ask you to marry him?
Virginia Stroud 4:16
Now, you’re going way ahead
Camryn Mowery 4:18
Oh, am I going too far ahead?
Virginia Stroud 4:21
Sort of.
Camryn Mowery 4:22
Alright then let’s go back some. What happened after that so what was….
Virginia Stroud 4:28
Well when you…… when you’re connected with the army and whatever he was in, connections with the Navy as a…….
Camryn Mowery 4:45
He was something (laughing) (referring to title that she couldn’t think of)
Virginia Stroud 4:55
But, I remember he was going through Guadalcanal on board the ship that they had to continue to go on because they were scheduled to go to an island in the South Pacific to deliver fresh foods from the ship, you know, the vegetables and all of that. And so he did that. And then was brought aboard the ship, you know back to well it was a camp in New Orleans, that the ship was attached to, you know, he appeared at the place where I work. And I was told, I worked on the sixth floor of the paymasters office, and I was told that there was someone who wanted to see me at the window at the towers window in the paymasters office. And I went to the window and there was Guy, you know, his ship had gotten back and it was in port.
Camryn Mowery 6:26
So it was a surprise.
Virginia Stroud 6:28
Yes.
And I guess that’s whenever we sort of planned ahead and I would go to Portsmouth to be married at his church or something. And so that’s what we did. And it was April the 21st of 19. What year was that? 19? I want to say four to six, but his pastor married us. And it was on a Sunday afternoon, April the 21st 1946 I believe.
Camryn Mowery 7:05
So after y’all got married, where did y’all live? Did you live…
Virginia Stroud 7:10
in Portsmouth? Because Guy had his job. When he got out of the service. It was waiting for him in the shipyard. His job and so he, you know, went to work after a few days off and whatever. And we lived in an apartment.
Camryn Mowery 7:30
Then you had your first daughter, my grandma.
Virginia Stroud 7:33
Oh well I guess I did. (laughs)
Camryn Mowery 7:39
Well you would’ve had too.
Virginia Stroud 7:41
Debbie was born in 49. yes.
Camryn Mowery 7:43
Yes, and where did you live when you had her?
Virginia Stroud 7:47
We lived in Portsmouth, honey, Virginia. That was a Navy town. Long estabolished and whatever.
Camryn Mowery 8:02
Your two daughters?
Virginia Stroud 8:03
Yes.
Camryn Mowery 8:04
Yes.
Virginia Stroud 8:05
Debbie and…
Camryn Mowery 8:07
Susan.
Virginia Stroud 8:07
Susan. Yes. And Susan was born in 53. I had two children, when I lived in Portsmouth. That’s all I had.
Camryn Mowery 8:16
Well, I know. Why did you all have to move to New York?
Virginia Stroud 8:20
Because Guy’s job we lived in the edge of… D.C and Guy was stationed at the Andrews Air Force Base. And his group of people were transferred to Rome, Georgia.
Camryn Mowery 8:43
New York.
Virginia Stroud 8:47
Did I say Rome Georgia? Rome, NewYork (laughs). Yes. And that’s when he worked for a company.
Camryn Mowery 9:05
Did you enjoy Rome?
Virginia Stroud 9:07
Yes we lived there. For quite a few years. I mean a few years.
Camryn Mowery 9:15
Was that your favorite place you live?
Virginia Stroud 9:17
Oh, well, we moved around so much Portsmouth Virginia was our home though. That’s where we had our home and, and rented out and such while we were away. And that’s where Guy’s folks lived. His mother and grandmother and his uncle. Then guy was discharged and went back to work for the federal government. His job would be inhaled after the war. Then he joined…… RCA. The company and work for them. I think it was about 10 years, something like that. And we lived in Rome, New York, then from Rome we moved…. guy had a chance to go back to the civil service job with the government. So he took it, it was moved back to Virginia, from Rome, New York.
Camryn Mowery 10:34
But your daughters were, their childhood was in Rome, New York, for the most part.
Virginia Stroud 10:45
Well their early childhood, going to grammar school, from church, and then Debbie was a senior in high school when we moved from Rome, New York, back to Portsmouth. Because Guys job was possession there. And he had applied for it and was accepted. So we moved back there, into our house.
Camryn Mowery 11:13
Segregation was going on. Right.
Virginia Stroud 11:15
Segregation?
Camryn Mowery 11:17
Mhm..
Virginia Stroud 11:18
Well we didn’t particularly, involve in a school that was, you know outstanding for controversial, or anything like that.
Camryn Mowery 11:40
Did you? Did the girls go to a school that was segregated? Or did the girls go to a school that was not segregated?
Virginia Stroud 11:49
I’m sure that went to a school that was mixed.
Camryn Mowery 11:52
In northern part of America, segregation was not as enforced as in the south. So would you say there was a difference in segregation in Mississippi then in Rome, New York? Was there a difference of how segregation was?
Virginia Stroud 12:09
Sure each state, each county and everything, had their own school system and such. So that was all part of the curriculum.
So, I’ll have to show you some of the materials when you come.
Camryn Mowery 12:32
Do you remember visiting Mississippi when there was segregation?
Virginia Stroud 12:36
Well, of course, I was born in Mississippi.
Camryn Mowery 12:39
No, I mean, when you when you were older, when you lived in Rome, New York, would you go and visit Mississippi where your family was?
Virginia Stroud 12:47
Oh well, of course, we went there for vacation. My family lived there and went to Mississippi, Kosciusko.
Camryn Mowery 12:56
Was there a difference in how things were in Mississippi then in Rome?
Virginia Stroud 13:00
Well, I’m sure there was different parts of the country, probably had more people that were from that area, than the ones that were in the army in whatever and moved to different cities to join them, whatever. Oh, it was interesting. A lot of interesting people we met, and whatever. And that’s not much of a history lesson. [laughs]
Camryn Mowery 13:34
Well, it’s okay. It’s whatever you feel like saying.
Virginia Stroud 13:40
But that was a good milk shake, and a good…….
Camryn Mowery 13:43
Dinner. Did you enjoy it?
Virginia Stroud 13:46
Yes, it was very good. Thank you.
Camryn Mowery 13:49
In Rome, New York, when you lived in New York with your husband and your two daughters. What was something y’all enjoyed doing as a family?
Virginia Stroud 13:56
In New York……. lots of parks and lots of places to visit and all of that. So that’s what we did we visited other areas, you know, and and some activities were held at them.
Camryn Mowery 14:22
You finally decided to live…….So y’all had a house in Virginia that you’ve rented, why you lived in the other places?
Virginia Stroud 14:30
And Guy was born in that area, and we were married in that area and the children were born in that area. So we lived there.
Camryn Mowery 14:37
Yeah. Yeah. So this was, so you would call this your home. This was where a lot of things happen for you
Virginia Stroud 14:44
And Guy had a brother Venman and his family lived there. And other people, you know.
Camryn Mowery 14:52
So you enjoyed the area because there was family.
Virginia Stroud 14:56
Yeah.
Camryn Mowery 14:56
And your daughters were born here.
Virginia Stroud 14:58
Yes.
Camryn Mowery 14:58
So you enjoyed the area.
Virginia Stroud 15:00
Yes.
Camryn Mowery 15:00
That’s, that’s good. So what…..
Virginia Stroud 15:05
Let me tell you this when we left Rome, when Debbie was a senior in high school.
Camryn Mowery 15:12
Yes
Virginia Stroud 15:13
And she hated so badly to leave there, she wanted us to leave her with a family that went to the church that we went to, for her to finish her 12th grade there. But I wouldn’t we wouldn’t do that. It was too far to drive, and too expensive, you know, to keep her in one place and us in another place. So we moved back here, but she always resented having to move.
Camryn Mowery 15:49
I’m sure. I mean…
Virginia Stroud 15:50
When she was a senior.
Camryn Mowery 15:52
I would, I would have been pretty upset too. If I was, if I was a senior. And my mom told me I had a move. I would have been a little upset. But…
Virginia Stroud 16:02
But, would have understood that you had to do what the family.
Camryn Mowery 16:06
She had a right to be upset a little, you know, it was her last year.
Virginia Stroud 16:11
Yes, because see, she was a senior and she moved back to Portsmouth, then she enrolled in the college and would going to a college that was established there.
Camryn Mowery 16:24
It was hard, but she knew she had to do what was best for y’all.
Virginia Stroud 16:29
Oh, yes. It was all pretty hard work, you know, moving in all of this.
Camryn Mowery 16:36
Yes.
Virginia Stroud 16:36
And finding new places to live and whatever. God thank, you know, we found a place and a church and all of this and that helps. So all of that is a memory. But it’s fun to go back and look at your pictures and everything, you know that it brings it all out. And to other people who may have experienced the same type of moving about, you know, with your children in Rome, Georgia, Rome, New York, because that was Griffis Air Force Base that Guy was sent to, to serve and we were there for several years.
Camryn Mowery 17:31
What is advice you would give someone, advice you’d give to me, who’s still so young, and has so much more to do?
Virginia Stroud 17:43
Oh, well listen, no one can add any more to it than you can yourself. The area that you live in is to be involved in the activities going on in that area. And enjoy your high school if you were in high school at the time, and uh the churches that we belong to they always had good programs and and were very interesting. Oh, people that we’re involved in the ministry there and so it’s always a different atmosphere and things now than it was at that time. So you come across it in different times in you’ll handle it in a probably a very different way a more understanding way. Now that you’ve been around a lot of places.
Let’s see where Suzy is on her nail polish. [referring to my great aunt in the other room]
Camryn Mowery 19:00
Susan? This is the last thing. Can you say a poem?
Virginia Stroud 19:05
Which one?
Camryn Mowery 19:06
Whatever one you want. And then this is it. That’s it. I know I’ve asked a lot of you.
Virginia Stroud 19:10
I see you in the vast blue sky. The sun, moon and stars, the galaxies and Milky Way the planet Earth and Mars. I hear your praises sung by dove and mockingbird. They sit outside my window as I read through your word. I smell you in the air breathe among the pines and furs. I………feel your presence in my life. You’re everywhere it’s clear for all that you have given me, your love for me most dear.
Camryn Mowery 19:46
I love that one.
Virginia Stroud 19:47
I do too. Another one that I love too…..and it’s
I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats high over hill and back. When all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils, beside the lake beneath the trees, dancing and fluttering in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the Milky Way, they stretched in a never ending line along the margin of a vein. 10,000, saw eye at glance, tossing their heads in sprightly dance, but they added the sparkling waves and glems. I feel your presence in my life. It’s everywhere. It’s clear for all that you have given me your love for me is most dear. That’s not the end of that one. [laughs]
Camryn Mowery 20:47
It’s okay. [laughs]
Virginia Stroud 20:48
That’s the end to the other one. [laughs]
Camryn Mowery 20:51
I love you.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Overview of interview technological process
The interview was taken place Virginia Stroud’s apartment. The interview was recorded on my computer and the setting was quiet. The audio is clear with some overlap of us laughing.
Overview to Social Change Interview
Through-out this interview there were many different aspects of social change. Many themes were produced such as The Great Depression, World War 2, The Civil Rights Movement, gender roles, and the aspect of moving to different locations during these events were discussed with Virginia. When looking at other interviews many pull in aspects of The Civil Rights Movement and gender roles, but not as many on The Great Depression or World War 2. This is because the time frame of The Great Depression and World War 2 were around 1929 to 1945. Many of the people my peers interviewed were in timeframes later than 1929 to 1945. Virginia expanded this interview over a wide period of time. During her interview there was a sense of some topics being harder to talk about than others. Virginia had a hard time talking about The Great Depression. In an article by The Children’s Theatre Company, the author notes that The Depression has impacts of childhood trauma on children being raised in that period and is likely to still affect them in their older years. A highlight of this interview was the poems Virginia Stroud, my great grandmother, recounted. In an article by Nina King, she noted that older generations are more accustomed to having things more memorized since search engines were not present during their days of learning. Poetry, for instance, has been overlooked by many of the newer generations, but cherished by people who are older such as my great-grandmother. Virginia was able to recall dates and poems at 100 years old. Technology has been the main reason memorization has decreased. King stated the younger generations are in a time of skimming rather than remembering. The second highlight of this interview was how fond Virginia was of talking about her husband Guy. She seemed to take pride in his accomplishments even though the interview was supposed to be reflected around her.
Bibliography
A Child’s Life in the 1930s Compared to Today | Children’S Theatre Company. 28 Sept. 2021, childrenstheatre.org/2021/09/28/a-childs-life-in-the-1930s-compared-to-today/#:~:text=The%20life%20of%20a%20child,money%20to%20spare%20for%20entertainment.
Congress of the library. Americans react to the Great Depression:great depression and World War II, 1929-1945: The Library of Congress. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/great-depression-and-world-war-ii-1929-1945/americans-react-to-great-depression/
(This source draws from primary sources to help analyze the Great Depression through pictures and text. The writers of the sources are creditable with degrees and the information is always being updated to the newest findings.)
Editors of the National WWII Museum. History at a Glance: Women in world war ii: The National WWII Museum: New Orleans. The National WWII Museum: New Orleans. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/women-wwii?gclid=CjwKCAjw__ihBhADEiwAXEazJpMLR992ODDXeKNtqKTV_fOstABn9PG4jVGCW8NdToNrdFM68BZO8RoC9FwQAvD_BwE
(This source is apart of the National WWII Museum. They offer many personal details and insights to WWII specifically on the roles of women. They also offer virtual trips through-out the museum)
Kang, Nina. “The Lost Art of Memorizing Poetry.” Salon, Apr. 2014, www.salon.com/2014/04/27/the_lost_art_of_memorizing_poetry_partner.
Noblit, George W., and James H. Adams. School Desegregation : Oral Histories Toward Understanding the Effects of White Domination. Edited by George W. Noblit, Sense Publishers, 2015.
(This source comes from the HIST 150 course guide, it is peer reviewed and has a creditable author. The source derives from the desegregation of schools from a sociologist and provides fascinating insight to desegregation.)