COLLECTION NAME:
Oral Histories - Ohio River Portrait
Record
Filename:
FA 656 OH0052LA Betha Wenzel 2.mp3
Identifier:
FA656 OH0052LA
Title:
Bertha Wenzel
Creator:
Bertha Wenzel
Subject:
History -- McCracken County (KY)
Subject:
Societies
Subject:
Music
Subject:
Rivers -- Ohio River
Subject:
Steamboats
Description:
Bertha Wenzel continues her discussion on her aunt Mary Wheelers studies of Roustabout Songs. She also discusses her family history and life growing up in Paducah.
Publisher:
Western Kentucky University
Contributor:
Linda Kinsey Adams
Date:
7/26/1990
Type:
Oral History
Format:
audio/mpeg
Source:
Ohio River Folk Life Project
Language:
English
Coverage:
McCracken County
Rights:
Permission must be obtained from Western Kentucky University, Manuscripts and Folklife Archives, prior to reuse of these recordings
Biographical Sketch:
Bertha Wenzel was born on October 24, 1923 in Paducah, KY to James Guthrie Wheeler and Bertha Eliza Fergusonr and at their home on 25th and Jefferson St. She attended public schools until her sophomore year when she attended to Rosemary Hall in Greenwich, Conneticut where she graduated in 1942. She returned to Paducah Junior College where she finished before singing in the Louisville Chorus. She studied music at Universtiy of Louisville where she met her husband, Robert Wenzel. The two married in 1946. They lived in Oak Ridge for a number of years before returning to Paducah, KY. They had 4 children, Julie Wenzel Harrison (1947), Charlotte Wenzel Fisher (1949), James Wenzel (1957), Carl Wenzel (1960). Bertha spent much of her life studing Paducah history and music. She devoted many years of her life to carrying on the studys of her aunt Mary Wheeler in regards to the Roustabouts of the Ohio River Valley.
Duration:
55:16 minutes
Bit Rate/Frequency:
64 kbps