Oral history with Dr. Isaac Thomas

              Oral history with Dr. Isaac Thomas
F341.5 . M57 vol. 733
Funding for this project provided by The Mississippi State Legislature, The Mississippi Humanities Council, The Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Southern Mississippi.
This transcription of an oral history by the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage of The University of Southern Mississippi may not be reproduced or published in any form except that quotation of short excerpts of unrestricted transcripts and the associated tape recordings is permissible providing written consent is obtained from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. When literary rights have been retained by the interviewee, written permission to use the material must be obtained from both the interviewee and the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
The family of Dr. Isaac Thomas moved to Hattiesburg from Beaumont, Perry County, Mississippi, in 1935. He entered Eureka High School that year, graduating in 1938, one of a class of thirty- three. Dr. Thomas stresses how important attending Eureka was to the continuation of his studies. He believes he benefitted from the encouragement he received from his teachers, and he is grateful that he could attend one of the few black high schools in Mississippi at that time.
Dr. Thomas' decision to study pharmacy was influenced by two prominent black professionals, Dr. J. S. Love and Dr. Hammond Smith, owner of a drugstore in Hattiesburg. He attended Alcorn College and Tennessee State University and received his degree in pharmacy from Xavier College in New Orleans, Louisiana. Military service during World War 11 interrupted Dr. Thomas' studies.
Table of Contents
I. Family's arrival in Hattiesburg; Eureka High School's faculty in 1938
II. Outstanding football players
III. Outstanding basketball players; teachers
IV. Size of graduating class of 1938
V. Athletic ranking in Thomas' days; community support for Eureka's athletes; coaches
VI. Basketball; baseball; music education; Smith Drug Store; doctors ( Randall and Brown)
VII. Hall's Funeral Home; Square Deal Cafe; Dr. Love's association with Alcorn College
VIII. Black movie theater; Dove Cafe; Hotel Hattiesburg
IX. Dr. Booth; the Harpers, watchmakers and printers
X. Where Eureka students lived; lack of transportation for blacks; principals; first housing projects
XI. " Baptist Bottom"; Webster's Funeral Home; doctors Hammond and Charles Smith; Dr. J. S. Love; Dr. Randall
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