Tuesday February 27th, 2018

 Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission.  (1976).  Baptists and the American Experience.  Retrieved 2/27/18

Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission.  Dr. Ruth Retrieved 2/27/18

I arrived at the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 8:00 a.m.  I resumed digitizing oral histories.  The first cassette I digitized was, once again, another tape with two parts.  The first side of the tape was of an interview with Dr. Ruth (no first name was given) whom served as Executive Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention for 25 years.  During the interview, Dr. Ruth discusses the role the Executive Committee played in Southern Baptist Life.  Interestingly, Dr. Ruth discussed the role of the Southern Baptist Convention in relation to racial equality and civil rights.  Although a date is note given for the interview, it is assumed that this interview took place not too long after the very year that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, 1968.  Dr. Ruth reveals that after Dr. King's Assassination, "Many felt that the Southern Baptist Convention had an opportunity and demand to make a positive Christian contribution to the matter of racial justice" (MBHC).  Indeed, a 'Crisis' Statement was submitted by the Executive Committee to attempt to approach this issue in a reasonable way.  I found it interesting since the month of 'Black History Month' is coming to an end. The other side of the tape was of a panel about the beginnings of the Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. 

I took a break for lunch at 12:23 p.m. and returned at 12:53 p.m. 

I resumed digitizing oral histories.  The next cassette was of a performance of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra in 1975 which was a Bicentennial Production.  Notice that it is a Bicentennial Production yet it wasn't 1976 yet.  That's why, even if the cassette is listed as a bicentennial, I don't list the date unless it is spoken on the recording or written on the cassette.  The next tape was another Bicentennial related event.  This time it was a presentation in Washington D.C. pertaining to Baptists and the American Experience.  Although I completed the digitization, I was not able to replay it to get important details.  However, while digitizing the recording, I noticed many interesting points that were made.  For instance, it has evidently been said that early Baptists in the American Colonies believed in the 'Separation of Church and State' (MBHC, 1976).  In addition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was mentioned again and the Reverend Billy Graham was mentioned whom is being buried Friday.

(In honor of the mentioning of the two men, Here are Pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Billy Graham)

Thursday February 22nd, 2018

Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission.  (1976).  Dr. Harrison Daniel Retrieved February 22nd, 2018

Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission.  (1976).  Dr. William J. Reynolds Retrieved February 22nd, 2018



I arrived at the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 8:00 a.m.  I resumed digitizing oral histories.  The next cassette was also related to America's Bicentennial and Baptists.  It was of Dr. William J. Reynolds whom was Secretary of the Church Music Department of the Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville.  Dr. Reynolds discusses the aspects of Baptists singing during the colonial times.  Reynolds even says, "Singing in the Baptist Churches during the 17th Century may have existed in the American colonies more so than those of England" (MBHC, 1976).  I took a break for lunch at 12:40 p.m. and returned at 1:10 p.m.  The next cassette was of University of Richmond Professor of History, Dr. Harrison Daniel, concerning his paper "The Significance of the American Revolution in American History."  This is obviously less of a religious view of the American Revolution.  During the recording, Dr. Daniel points out the different interpretations of The American Revolution by historians.  For instance, he points out the differences between what he refers to as imperialist and progressive historians.  According to Reynolds, the imperialist historians felt that the "American Revolution could not strictly be viewed from an American perspective but must seen as an integral pat of the history of the British empire" (MBHC, 1976).  The Progressive historians, on the other hand, saw the American Revolution as a result of economic interests between the Colonies and England as well as an internal revolution happening within the colonies themselves (MBHC, 1976        ).  After digitizing these two oral histories, I left the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 4:30 p.m.

(Since the subject matter has pertained to the American Revolution and today is George Washington's Birthday, Here is a Picture of the First President of the United States!!)

Tuesday February 20th, 2018

Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission (1975). Dr. Baker "Baptists and the Bicentennial"

Mississippi Baptist Historical Commision (1976).  John Moore "Struggle for Religious Freedom in Virginia"

I arrived at the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 8:00 a.m.  I resumed digitizing oral histories.  This time, I digitized the oral history of Mr. George Thornton in 1975.  Thornton was an alumnus of Mississippi College whom became a member of the Board of Trustees and also played a part in helping Mississippi College obtain a Law School.  I learned from this interview that a resolution was passed to buy what was then called the Jackson Law School into the Mississippi College School of Law which started in 1975, the very year of this interview.   I took a break for lunch at 12:45 p.m. and returned at 1:15 p.m. The next recording was another of Dr. R.A. McLemore.  This time, Dr. McLemore was giving a speech concerning the Bicentennial of the American Revolution which took place in 1976.  The next cassette contained two interviews which also took place during the Bicentennial.  The first is supposed to be with Dr. Baker (no first name was given) but was orchestrated on his behalf with Dr. McBeth instead.  Following provenance, I indicated it to be Dr. Baker in the metadata.  This recording was about a paper by Dr. Baker titled "Baptists and the Bicentennial".  It's an interesting account of the evolution of Baptists during the American Revolution.  Dr. Baker even "suggests that an impartial rereading of the crucial events of the 18th Century reveals that God used the Baptists as signal instruments in working out what may have been man's greatest step forward in all his political history."  The next recording was with a gentleman named John Moore pertaining to a paper of his known as "Struggle for Religious Freedom in Virginia".  The idea of 'Freedom of Religion' that this country was founded on obviously entailed great changes and difficulties met by the various Christian denominations and the Baptists were no exception.  John Moore notes an account of an English Quaker at a meeting in York County, Viriginia.  The man states, 'The first Baptists organized in Virginia were accorded a measure of tolerance in Prince George County in 1715 but enjoyed no religious freedom" (MBHC 1976).  I left the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 4:30 p.m. 

(In light of the subject matter of today's oral history, here's a re posting of Freedom of Religion)

Thursday February 15th, 2018

I arrived at the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 8:00 a.m.  I resumed digitizing audio cassettes.  This time, I digitized oral histories conducted by former Mississippi College President Dr. Aubrey McLemore in 1974 and 1975 with former Professors of the early years of Mississippi College.  The first professor was very outspoken and discussed a lot of the ethical issues that surrounded the formation and early years of Mississippi College.  He even gives a reference to Richard Nixon which I liked because it reminded me of what point in American History that the interviews took place.  I took a break for lunch at 12:25 p.m. and returned at 12:55 p.m.  The next cassette would not work.  It was discouraging but it can be expected  with audio cassettes that are so old.  The next interview was with a Professor whom was involved in the English Department in the early days of Mississippi College.  I completed the digitization of half of his oral history.  In the interview, the Professor discussed many of the religious related issues that surrounded the origins of the school's academic curriculum.  It was interesting hearing him talk about the moral standards that a Christian institution felt they had to abide by back then.  I have now completed two whole boxes of audio cassettes and two audio cassettes in a third box.  I left the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 4:30 pm.

Tuesday February 13th, 2018

I arrived at the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 8:00 a.m.  I completed the digitization of another interview before I decided to go back to all of the oral histories and interviews I had digitized and make sure that the metadata I had given them was sufficient.  I found out that I did need to rearrange the title, record name, and tag numbers of a few.  It is important to differentiate between the contents of the different elements.  Some features will appear in both but that doesn't mean that they are exactly the same. I took a break for lunch at 12:25 p.m. and returned at 12:55 p.m.  I completed editing the metadata of all the previous recordings I had digitized.  I have now reached a point in the collection where more of the religious related figures are profiled.  I resumed the recordings and began digitizing a recording of a head reverend stepping down from his position in 1973.  It was complete with a service in front of a congregation and recordings of phenomenal singing.  I made sure to adjust both my recording and playback levels when the audio would switch from the singing to the reverend speaking.  I left the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 4:30 p.m.

Thursday February 8th, 2018

MBHC (1976).  R.A. McLemore Memorial Service 1st Baptist Church Clinton, MS.

MBHC (1975).  Dr. Charles Martin

I arrived at the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 8:00 a.m.  I resumed digitizing audio cassettes.  As previously stated, I had moved from digitizing oral histories to even speeches.  On Tuesday, I retrieved the next batch of audio cassettes from the vault.  Dr. R.A. McLemore's Memorial Service was available on two audio cassettes which I digitized.  In addition to being the Director of Mississippi College, Dr. McLemore also served as the Director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MBHC, 1976).  The memorial service took place on September 2nd 1976.  Dr. McLemore passed away on August 31st, 1976.  I took a break for lunch at 12:43 p.m. and returned at 1:13 p.m.The next audio cassette was of an oral history by a Mississippi College alumnus which took place on January 27th, 1975.  Another oral history taken with Dr. Charles Martin gave much insight into the early mission and goals of Mississippi College.  Evidently, the college was originally founded for the purpose of preparing people for the ministry (MBHC, 1975).  However, that would evolve into a more academic role.  The final oral history I digitized was conducted by the aforementioned Dr. R.A. McLemore in 1972 with Mrs. Lulie Baley concerning the very history of the First Baptist Church of Jackson.  I left the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday February 6th, 2018

Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission.  (1975).  Dr. McLemore Speech to D.A.R. on Mississippi during the American Revolution.

I arrived at the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 8:00 a.m.  I once again assumed digitizing the box of oral histories.  I came across some very interesting oral histories.  Many of them were of some of the early heads of departments of Mississippi College.  Dr. Phillips Meaty was the original director of Religious Education at Mississippi College.  Dr. Francess McGuffie had an inspiring oral history as well.  Both of these oral histories took place in 1975.  I am still adhering to the standards of the software whereby I make sure both my recording and playback levels are adequate.  After the recording of the oral history has been recorded, I save as MP3 file and as work project.  Of course, before saving I edit out the spaces between the sound bytes that are caused by the sides of the tape stopping and dead air.  I took a break for lunch at 12:25 p.m. and returned at 12:55 p.m.  Perhaps the most insightful of the recordings I digitized were those of former Mississippi College President Dr. Richard McLemore. The first tape involving Dr. McLemore is of a  speech given to the Daughters of the American Revolution concerning Mississippi during the American Revolution.  This reinforced some of my previous knowledge concerning Mississippi during this period in history.  Evidently, Founding Father and President George Washington "was well aware of the riches of the lands of the lower Mississippi Valley" (MBHC).  The next recording from Dr. McLemore is of a speech concerning the history of the Mississippi Baptist Commission.  Dr. McLemore touches a lot on the issues of segregation and Baptist Churches in Mississippi.  I left the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 4:30 p.m.

Thursday Feburary 1st, 2018

I arrived at the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 8:00 a.m.  I resumed digitizing oral histories from the cassette tapes.  I feel like I have found a balance in getting the best recording and playback levels.  I completed the digitization of two oral histories before I took a break for lunch at 12:45 p.m.  I returned from lunch at 1:15 p.m. and resumed digitizing the oral histories.  I was able to complete the digitization of two more oral histories before the day was over.  I am continuing the process of recording metadata after each digitization is completed.  Usually, this includes the title and track number. However, sometimes dates are listed on the cassette or mentioned by the interviewer at the beginning of the oral history.  The majority of the oral histories that I have digitized took place in the 1970s.  It's amazing learning hearing how far back the lives of the interviewees go.  One man stated in the interview that he was born in 1805.  The oral histories that I have digitized have consisted of professionals associated with Mississippi Baptist history and Mississippi College.   In saving the digitized files, I export it to an MP3 file and save it under a folder for MP3s.  I also save it into a separate folder for projects which instead of saving it as an MP3 file keeps all data records of the recording.  I left the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at 4:30 p.m.