Guide to the Robert LeBaron Interviews and Collection,
Veterans History Project Collection,
Record Group 024
Accession 024-03-0616

Date processed: 
Processed By: M. Olliff

Repository Information

Archives of Wiregrass History & Culture

Troy University--Dothan Campus
P.O. Box 8368
Dothan, AL  36304

Ph:  334-983-6556 x-327
E-mail:  Archivist Dr. Martin T. Olliff  <molliff@troy.edu>

Collection Information

Date Span              1965-2003

Perm Acc Size       0.1 cu ft

Perm Phy Desc      9 @ 1-hour audiocassette tapes + 90 scanned images (on CD-Rom)

Historical Note concerning the Veterans History Project:  In 2000, Congress, recognizing that 1500 veterans died per day, directed the Library of Congress to initiate a nationwide project to collect the stories of veterans, family members, defense-industry workers, and similar individuals who had participated in conjunction with the United State's military in the 20th century.  The Library of Congress assigned this task to its American Folklife Center, which dubbed the resulting program the "Veterans History Project" (VHP).

The Archives of Wiregrass History and Culture (AWHC) became an official partner in the VHP in 2002, collecting oral history interviews, artifacts, documents, and photographs from veterans and others in the Wiregrass Region.  This is a long-term, ongoing project of the AWHC.  A variety of interviewers have contributed to the VHP Collection:  Archives Director Dr. Martin Olliff has conducted many of the interviews; some veterans have turned in self-interviews, and Troy University--Dothan Campus students have participated.

Biographical Note:  Robert LeBaron was a member of the US Navy Submarine Service between 1964 and 1972.  He was a machinist's mate in the nuclear engine room aboard the USS Henry Clay then the USS Thomas Jefferson stationed in Holy Lock, Scotland, and Rota, Spain.  After his enlistment, LeBaron found employment at Alabama Power Company's Farley Nuclear Plant in Houston County, Alabama.

Scope/Content:  LeBaron gave 6 hours of detailed interviews about his time in the US Navy and 3 hours about his post-service career at Farley Nuclear Plant in Houston County, Alabama.  In addition, he allowed AWHC staff to digitally copy 90 of the slides he made at the time.

Organization:  Organized into two series:  1. Interviews; 2. Photographs.

Provenance:  Photographs are part of a very large slide image collection created by Mr. LeBaron or by friends using Mr. LeBaron's camera (when Mr. LeBaron appears in a photograph).  Dr. Olliff conducted interviews with Mr. LeBaron in 2003 as part of the AWHC's participation in the Veterans History Project.

Processing:  Students in Dr. Olliff's class, HIS 4470, Oral History, have indexed some of Mr. LeBaron's interview tapes.  When indices are complete, AWHC will post include them as in Series 1.  Interviews.

Preferred Citation:  Robert LeBaron Interview, Veterans History Project Collection, RG024.  Archives of Wiregrass History and Culture, Troy University Dothan Campus, Dothan, AL.

INVENTORY

Series 1:  Interviews

Interview Date:  June 16, 2003

Number of Tapes:  3 one-hour audiocassettes

Topics:  LeBaron’s service in the US Navy.  He also discusses some of the scanned photographs which tell the story of life aboard nuclear submarines.

Indices to Tapes:  061603 Tape 1 of 3        061603 Tape 2 of 3        061603 Tape 3 of 3

 

Interview Date:  June 23, 2003

Number of Tapes:  3 one-hour audiocassettes

Topics:  LeBaron’s service in the US Navy.  He continues to discuss the scanned photographs through which he tells the story of life aboard submarines, his attitude and memories of service during the cold war, and the end of his enlistment.

Indices to Tapes:  062303 Tape 1 of 3        062303 Tape 2 of 3        062303 Tape 3 of 3

 

Interview Date:  July 7, 2003

Number of Tapes:  3 one-hour audiocassettes

Topics:  LeBaron’s search for work after his service, and his career at the newly-built Farley Nuclear Plant in Houston County, AL.

Indices to Tapes:  070703  Tape 1 of 3        070703 Tape 2 of 3        070703 Tape 3 of 3

 

Series 2:  Photographs

Thumbnails File I.D. File Label
024 03-0616 001 003 Hollylock
024 03-0616 001 007 Topside, loaded
024 03-0616 001 009 LeBaron
024 03-0616 001 018 Fueling
024 03-0616 001 024 Bullring
024 03-0616 001 026 Fueling
024 03-0616 001 027 LeBaron
024 03-0616 001 028 Stores Loading
024 03-0616 001 042 Mess Deck
024 03-0616 001 044 Officer & Cooks
024 03-0616 001 045 Officer & Cooks
024 03-0616 001 046 Officer & Cooks
024 03-0616 001 051 LeBaron topside
024 03-0616 001 052 LeBaron topside
024 03-0616 001 054 Torpedo Loading
024 03-0616 001 056 (L-to-R) ?, ?, LeBaron
024 03-0616 001 061 USS Casimir Pulaski
024 03-0616 001 064 USS Casimir Pulaski
024 03-0616 001 067 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson
024 03-0616 001 068 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson
024 03-0616 001 069 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson
024 03-0616 001 070 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson
024 03-0616 001 071 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson
024 03-0616 001 072 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson
024 03-0616 001 075 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson--John Menne
024 03-0616 001 076 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson--John Menne
024 03-0616 001 077 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson--John Menne
024 03-0616 002 018 John Memme topside
024 03-0616 002 019 John Menne and Robert LeBaron resting topside
024 03-0616 002 021 Bullring
024 03-0616 002 022 John Menne through the Bullring
024 03-0616 002 023 Robert LeBaron through the Bullring
024 03-0616 002 024 Robert LeBaron through the Bullring
024 03-0616 002 029 Fishing from the deck
024 03-0616 002 029 Blue Nose Ceremony on USS Thomas Jefferson
024 03-0616 002 030 Blue Nose Ceremony
024 03-0616 002 031 Blue Nose Ceremony
024 03-0616 002 032 Blue Nose Ceremony
024 03-0616 002 033 Blue Nose Ceremony
024 03-0616 002 034 Blue Nose Ceremony
024 03-0616 002 035 Blue Nose Ceremony
024 03-0616 002 037 Swim Call
024 03-0616 002 038 Swim Call
024 03-0616 002 039 Swim Call
024 03-0616 002 040 Swim Call
024 03-0616 002 044 Swim Call
024 03-0616 002 045 LeBaron topside
024 03-0616 002 051 Berthing compartment
024 03-0616 002 052 Berthing compartment (LeBaron)
024 03-0616 002 056 Loading Stores
024 03-0616 002 057 Loading Stores
024 03-0616 002 059 LeBaron topside
024 03-0616 002 061 Topside 
024 03-0616 002 062 Topside
024 03-0616 002 066 Robert Brown resting topside, on lines
024 03-0616 002 067 Robert Brown resting topside, on lines
024 03-0616 002 068 "Gear In The Sky"--a view through the conning tower
024 03-0616 002 069 Three members of the crew with broken limbs
024 03-0616 002 071 Swim Call
024 03-0616 002 077 LeBaron topside
024 03-0616 002 080 LeBaron in Engine Room
024 03-0616 003 001 LeBaron
024 03-0616 003 003 Halfway Night Celebration
024 03-0616 003 005 Halfway Night Celebration
024 03-0616 003 008 Halfway Night Celebration
024 03-0616 003 009 Halfway Night Celebration
024 03-0616 003 010 Berthing Compartment
024 03-0616 003 011 Berthing Compartment
024 03-0616 003 013 Berthing Compartment
024 03-0616 003 016 Torpedo Loading
024 03-0616 003 019 Torpedo Loading
024 03-0616 003 020 Torpedo Loading
024 03-0616 003 031 Groundhog Day Celebration
024 03-0616 003 033 Groundhog Day Celebration
024 03-0616 003 034 Groundhog Day Celebration
024 03-0616 003 037 Halfway Night Celebration
024 03-0616 003 038 Halfway Night Celebration
024 03-0616 003 040 Halfway Night Celebration
024 03-0616 003 050 Berthing Compartment--Andy ?
024 03-0616 003 053 Head
024 03-0616 003 055 LeBaron and Menne going home
024 03-0616 003 058 Crew at Home Port
024 03-0616 003 063 Sub Base
024 03-0616 003 064 Sub Base
024 03-0616 003 067 Sub Base
024 03-0616 003 068 Sub Base
024 03-0616 003 069 Sub Base
024 03-0616 003 070 Sub Base
024 03-0616 003 072 LeBaron Medals
024 03-0616 003 073 LeBaron Medals

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