Interview with Thomas D. Clark, July 10, 2002

Interview Summary

Thomas D. Clark remembers his experiences growing up on a cotton farm in Mississippi, focusing on the effect of the boll weevil in the Louisville, Mississippi area. Clark recalls that cotton farmers were aware of the arrival of the boll weevils, but did not know how devastating it would be to their way of life. Clark reveals that during the height of the infestation, his father's farm produced almost no cotton, and to help support his family he went to work on a dredge boat.

Clark discusses the chemicals used to kill boll weevils and attempts at diversification of crops to help lessen the dependency on cotton. Clark remembers that the 4-H Club attempted to introduce hogs and peanuts, and tried to improve varieties of corn. Clark describes when agricultural extension agents introduced terracing. After World War I, the extension service hosted demonstration farms to show farmers new agricultural techniques. Clark describes some of his father's struggles due to the boll weevil and the large debts that he became responsible for when a farming cooperative failed. Clark details the Great Migration of African Americans out of Mississippi and the South in general.

Clark graduated from the County Agriculture High School and states that there were a limited number of high schools in Mississippi. He attended college, received his PhD, and secured a job teaching at the University of Kentucky. He explains the situation which prompted him to research the effect of the boll weevil on the Southern country store. Clark highlights his research in collecting Southern country store records. He describes convincing merchants to donate their records and remembers interesting people and records he found along the way. Clark lists some of the products that Southern country store owners sold, as well as the demographics of the profession. Clark considers the impact of the automobile on farming during his childhood. Clark also details the social structure of the Louisville, Mississippi area when he was a young child. Clark concludes the interview with an overview of his ancestry and family history.

Interview Keyword

Howard Odum Terraces (Agriculture) Great Migration, ca. 1914-ca. 1970 Country stores Family Books Early life Automobiles

Interview LC Subject

Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005 Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History Boll weevil Childhood Farms Farmers Cotton farming Cotton Crops Agriculture Pests Sharecropping African Americans--Segregation Mississippi Louisville (Miss.) Rural Education Crop diversification Poverty African Americans Merchants Authors University of North Carolina (1793-1962) Demographics Ancestry

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.