Federation of Southern Cooperatives Oral History Project collection

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives Oral History Project collection encompasses three transcripts of interviews with Executive Directors, Charles O. Prejean, Sr.; Ralph Paige; and Cornelius Blanding conducted by public historian, Michael J. O’Brien for his work on the 50th anniversary history of the organization, 50 Years of Courage, Cooperation, Commitment and Community – A Brief History of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land assistance Fund---1967-2017.

The project began as a means to capture the recollections of the Federation’s second Executive Director, Ralph Paige, and his long tenure of leadership of the organization. Initially, thought to be the start of a possible memoir of Paige, with his untimely death, the project memorializes Paige’s efforts to ensure the survival of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives.

This volume includes a foreword by Charles O. Prejean, Sr.’s of his remarks at the 50th Anniversary Celebration on August 18, 2017; one interview transcript with Charles O Prejean, Sr. (2017); and Cornelius Blanding (2017); and three interview transcripts with Ralph Paige dating 2016 to 2018.