Oral History Collection

Fordyce_Employees
Fordyce Bathhouse employees

National Park Service image from HOSP archives

In the early 1980s interpretive rangers at Hot Springs National Park began recording oral accounts from some of the bathing attendants and other employees of the various bathhouses in town. These accounts include the recorded interview, written transcription, and photographs of each person interviewed. Later interviews were also conducted by local historians and park staff.

Below are links to the audio recordings and their text transcriptions. The audio files are large, so please be patient while they load.

 
Earnie Adams Interview Transcript
 

Claudine Adams Interview Transcript

 
Iola Bedford

Iola Bedford Interview Transcript

 
Myrtle Cheatham

Myrtle Cheatham Interview Transcript

 

Florine B. Coe Interview Transcript

 
 

Audrey Olds Interview Transcript

 

Elbert Payton Interview Transcript

 

Eugenia Payton Interview Transcript

 

Alfred Peppers Interview Transcript

 

Marcus Phillips Interview Transcript

 
Emma Steward

Emma Steward Interview Transcript

 
Marylon Taylor

Marylon Taylor Interview Transcript

 
Joel Tweedle

Joel Tweedle Interview Transcript

 
Lewis "Snook" Wesson

Lewis "Snook" Wesson Interview Transcript

 

Last updated: August 4, 2021

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Hot Springs, AR 71901

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