OH101 Cletus Copeland Oral History
Collection Title
Jackson Purchase Oral History Project - Lifestyles
Series Number
OH101
Interviewee
Copeland, Cletus
Interviewer
Pasco, Kathryn
Date Interviewed
November 12th, 1979
Processed by
Tara Marcum
Date Processed
May 17th, 2011
Description
1 sound disc (30 minutes)
Abstract
Cletus Copeland discusses his life in Western Kentucky during the early half of the 20th century. He describes attending school and church, working on the family farm and attending social and community activities during his childhood. He recalls attending church, the effects of the Great Depression and the increase of food and land prices during the Second World War. Copeland states that most African Americans in the area that could not find employment moved to places like Detroit, Michigan with hopes to find work. He also mentions the various jobs that he held, including farming, running a general store and road construction.
Biographical/Historical Note
Cletus Copeland was born in Calloway County, Kentucky on July 29, 1903. His parents moved to Marshall County, Kentucky just prior to his first birthday. His father was a farmer that grew tobacco and corn and raised livestock. He attended the Darnell School and was a member of the Uson Baptist Church. He worked in road construction for Marshall County, managed a general store at Benton and sold feed and mulch.
General Information
No user access to original recordings. Use audio user copies, digital derivatives, transcripts, and/or tape indexes. This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Permission for reproduction must be requested from Murray State University.
Subject Headings/Descriptors
Copeland, Cletus
Calloway County (Ky.) – History.
Marshall County (Ky.) – History.
Benton (Ky.) – History.
Darnell School (Benton, Ky.)
Uson Baptist Church (Benton, Ky.)
Recommended Citation
Pasco, Kathryn, "OH101 Cletus Copeland Oral History" (2025). Lifestyles. 12.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/oh-lifestyles/12
Audio Transcript
