John Randall Peavey Oral History, 1981

File

Scope and Contents

John Randall Peavey (b. 12 Aug 1892, d. 3 Mar 1985), lawman and author of Echoes from the Rio Grande, was interviewed by Dr. Hubert J. Miller for the Pan American University Oral History Program.

Part 1. Over the course of two days, December 22-23, 1981, Peavey provides a brief history of his family, describes their relocation to the Valley from St. Louis, and discusses early agricultural and economic development, including farming, ranching, staple crops and Mexican labor.

Part 2. John Randall Peavey discusses his young adult days—his work as a cowhand, his eyewitness account of Joe Crixell’s murder, and the general atmosphere regarding politics and law and order in the valley in the early 1900s. He talks about the covert movement of the Hidalgo County seat, and instances of racial violence and unrest in Brownsville. Also discusses various instances of election fraud. Covers the 1905-1915 period and the coming of Mexican Revolution 1910-1916. WARNING: Repeated use of racial slur 00:31:00-00:38:00.

Part 3. In this interview Mr. Peavey discusses his experiences as a sheriff’s deputy and US army scout, as well as his impressions of the Mexican Revolution, the Plan de Santiago, and the various activities and motives of bandits on the border in the early 1900s. WARNING: Racial slurs at 00:36:27. Audio skip at 00:46:35.

Parts 4 - 9 (description pending)

Dates

1981

Creator

John Randall Peavey, 1892-1985 (Person)
Hubert J. Miller (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley assumes no responsibility.

Extent

9 Items (This is a 9-part oral history interview.)

Language of Materials

English

Subjects

Agricultural laborers Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Agriculture--farm produce Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Agriculture--farms Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Agriculture--ranches Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Brownsville (Tex.)--History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Cameron County, Texas Subject Source: Local sources
Corruption--police Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Corruption--political Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Discrimination against Mexican Americans Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Lower Rio Grande Valley (Tex.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
Lower Rio Grande Valley (Tex.) -- History. Subject Source: Library Of Congress Subject Headings
Politics and culture--Texas--Cameron County Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Race relations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Racism--Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Ranches--Texas, South--History. Subject Source: Tgm
Segregation Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Transportation--Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings