In the early days of automobiles, learning to drive was an adventure.  As the son of the local Ford dealer, James Allen of Port Gibson learned to drive at a young age. Allen recalls how different the Model T was from other cars. He also remembers how his father taught a local rancher to drive his first car.

By the 1960s, railroads had lost much of their freight hauling business to trucks. Ray Ward of McComb recalls how track maintenance suffered as a result. As a car man, Ward’s job was to re-track derailed cars and locomotives. He explains how he was able to do this with a crew of only two men.

As World War Two raged on, women helped keep the trains rolling back home.  Bonnie Stedman of McComb remembers the work as difficult and dangerous.

The advent of Diesel-electric locomotives was a vast improvement over the steam engines they replaced.  John Balser worked as a machinist at the McComb Railroad repair shop. He recalls the pride that the steam engineers took in their locomotives. Balser also details how much more efficient the new Diesel engines were than their steam predecessors.

Working on the railroad was always been hard, dangerous work.  Woodrow Addison of McComb recalls the frequent derailments he experienced during his 38 years with Illinois Central.

Woodrow Addison worked for the Illinois Central Railroad shop in McComb for 38 years.  He worked first as a brakeman and then, a conductor.  Addison contrasts the duties of the two jobs.  He also discusses the advantages of diesel over steam power.

Growing up on a farm, Natchez resident Alonzo “Duck” Irving learned many things from his mother.  He discusses the food they grew and how he has benefited from his mother's wisdom. 

For thousands of troops during World War II, their journey began with a trip to Mississippi for training.  Ruth Colter of Natchez remembers helping to entertain those young men. As a member of the service group Military Maids, Colter helped to organize local dances for the troops.

     F. L. Speights of Ripley, Mississippi, devoted his life to education. He recalls helping to start the first black high school in Ripley as well as his memories of school integration during the 1960s.

Palmer Foster of Tupelo was introduced to Scouting as a teen in his home town of Ripley. He recalls his time as a Boy Scout and as the first African American Boy Scout executive in Mississippi.

University of Southern Mississippi graduate student, Isaac Gang, immigrated to Jackson, Mississippi, from post-war Southern Sudan in 1995, several years before the "Lost Boys" of Sudan made their journey to the U.S.  He discusses fleeing war and genocide, assisting the Lost Boys in their transition, enjoying the simple modern luxuries, and the importance of giving back. (photo of Isaac Gang at the University of Juba, July 2007)