Rev. Bill McElvaney Oral History

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Videotaped oral history interview with Rev. Bill McElvaney. The founding pastor of St. Stephen Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas, McElvaney was involved in the 1960s desegregation of the Mesquite Independent School District in Dallas County. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he was a vocal peace activist and participated in silent protests in Dealey Plaza and other local sites.Interview conducted at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza on February 10, 2006 by Stephen Fagin. The interview is thirty-nine minutes long.

Object Details

Object title:

Rev. Bill McElvaney Oral History

Date:

02/10/2006

Terms:

Religion

Segregation

Desegregation

Protests

Peace

Dealey Plaza

Methodist Church

Oral histories

McElvaney, Rev. Bill

Mesquite Independent School District

St. Stephen Methodist Church

Dallas

Mesquite

Civil Rights and Social Activism (OHC)

Community Leaders (OHC)

Dallas and 1960s History and Culture (OHC)

Medium:

Hi-8 videotape

Dimensions:

39 Minutes

Credit line:

Oral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Object number:

2006.001.0008

Curatorial Note:

Fascinated by the personal story of Reverend McElvaney, I wrote an article about his life and career, "Rev. McElvaney's Unjust War: Vietnam," that was published in the Fall 2008 issue of Legacies Dallas History Journal (Volume 20, Number 2). http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth46806/m1/3/?q=mcelvaney Subsequently, this paper was adapted into an educational program for school groups at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. - Stephen Fagin, Associate Curator

Reverend McElvaney passed away on August 24, 2014. - Stephen Fagin, Associate Curator