Collection Title: Forrest C. Pogue Audio Collection
Series Number: OH189 (Session 2)
Interviewee: Pogue, Forrest C.
Interviewer: Recorded by the Forrest C. Pogue Oral History Institute at Murray State University by Dr. James W. Hammack, Jr.
Date interviewed: May 24–25, 1974
Processed by: Processed by Benjamin J. Drake in October or 2012.
Date processed: October 17, 2012
Description: 7 sound disks (5 Hours, 24 Minutes)
Abstract: Session includes recordings of numerous presentations made during the events of "Pogue Day," a bicentennial event in Lyon County, Kentucky which honored Forrest C. Pogue on May 24th and May 25th, 1974. The recordings captured the two day event in its entirely, including the opening ceremonies and banquet at Lyon County High School, the brunch at Kuttawa Methodist Church and the portrait presentation at Lyon County Public Library. Topics discussed during the event range from biographical sketches of Pogue's life, anecdotal stories from friends, family and dignitaries and personal recollections from Pogue on his childhood days in Lyon County and professional career as an historian. He also describes attending and teaching at Murray State Teachers College, his experiences during the Second World War and his research on General George C. Marshall.
Biographical / Historical note: Forrest C. Pogue was born on September 17, 1912, in Crittenden County, Kentucky. He received his Bachelor's degree from Murray State Teachers College in 1931, his Masters from the University of Kentucky in 1932 and his doctorate from Clark University in 1936. From 1937 to 1938, he studied at the University of Paris, France. Upon his return to the United States, he taught at Western Kentucky College and later at Murray State Teachers College. He was drafted in 1942 into the United States Army and in spring of 1943 was transferred to the Historical Division of the War Department. In 1944, he landed with the American troops at Normandy, France. He conducted interviews with the soldiers and officers until the war's conclusion. After the war, he served as a civilian historian for the Department of the Army from 1945 to 1952. He briefly returned to teaching at Murray State College in 1954 and 1955. The following year he became the director of the newly established George C. Marshall Research Foundation. In 1974 he became the Director of the Eisenhower Institute for Historical Research at the Smithsonian and held that position until his retirement. He is best remembered for his four volume biography of George C. Marshall and published works on the European theater of the Second World War. He died on October 6, 1996 at Murray, Kentucky.
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:
Pogue, Forrest C., 1912-1996.
Pogue family.
Lyon County (Ky.) – History.
Murray State University – History.
World War, 1939-1945 – Personal narratives, American.
Oral history.
