Ophelia and Walter Stokes oral history interview, 29 Aug. 1976.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Detailed list of holdings including multiple copies and formats for staff access only is provided in staff mode.

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Digital identifier: HNITCPStokes.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: Oral history interview with Ophelia and Walter Stokes, conducted on 29 Aug. 1976 by Ophelia Paine as part of the Historic Nashville, Inc. Tennessee Centennial Oral History Project. During the 32 minute interview, the Stokeses discuss their experiences at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. They also discuss how the Exposition benefited the railroads because so many people travelled to Nashville for the event.

Index available (based upon original analog audiocassette recording), filed separately. Brief excerpts are available through the Digitial Collections portal of the Nashville Public Library website.

Cite as: Ophelia and Walter Stokes Oral History Interview, Historic Nashville Inc. Tennessee Centennial Oral History Project, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library.

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code). Copyright status is undetermined.

Unless otherwise restricted, interviewees donated to HNI "for such scholarly and educational purposes as Historic Nashville Inc. shall determine, the use of my taped interview," and consented that "portions of the taped interview may be used in publication."

Historic Nashville, Inc.;,Gift;,circa 1976.,Acc. RT-384.

Other materials created by Historic Nashville, Inc. are also in the holdings of the Special Collections Division of the Nashville Public Library.

Ophelia Palmer Stokes was born on 1 Oct. 1891. On 13 May 1916, she married Walter Stokes, Jr. She died on 5 Jan. 1984 and was interred in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Walter Stokes, Jr., was born on 12 November 1891 in Nashville to Walter and Nellie Treanor Stokes. He attended Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tenn., and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an AB in 1913. On 13 May 1916, he married Ophelia Palmer. Stokes worked as an agent for the New York Life Insurance Company from 1914 to 1915. He founded in 1935 and served as president of the Stokes-Bandy Co., Inc., a general insurance company that was sold during the 1970s. He served as vice-president (1935-1939) and president(1939-1976) of the Arcade Co. Stokes also held a variety of other positions, including: director, Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, Bransford Realty Co., and Nashville Breeko Block & Tile Co.; Commissioner of Finance and Taxation, State of Tenn., 1937-1939; member, State Funding Board and State Board of Equilization, 1937-1939; member, Executive Committee, Tennessee Tax Payers' Association; member, State of Tenn. Memorial Commission; chairman, Community Chest, 1940; member, Board of Governors, Chamber of Commerce; chairman, Local Defense Committee, Local Draft Board, 1941; and trustee, George Peabody College for Teachers. Stokes was a U.S. Army veteran, having served as 1st Lieutenant and Captain, F.A., 1917-1918. He was a member of the American Legion, Vetrans of Foreign Wars, the Hermitage Association, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Coffee House Club, Belle Meade Country Club, and Kiwanis. Stokes was also a member of Christ Episcopal Church. He died in Jan. 1981.

In English.

Forms part of Historic Nashville, Inc. Tennessee Centennial Oral History Project.