Agnese Nelms HauryFeatured on the December 10th, 2020 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:
In this special episode, listen to an oral history of a true "Tucson Original", Agnese Nelms Haury. She was what some would call “an eccentric millionaire”, with a flair for finding out what made things tick. Throughout her life, she found ways to positively impact a great number of people, a legacy that continues to this day. Digital producer & oral historian Aengus Anderson of the University of Arizona Libraries talked to many people who knew and loved Agnese Haury to assemble an audio portrait.
December 10, 2020
Agnese and her twin sister Nancy were born in Houston, Texas in 1923.Agnese Nelms Haury was just known as Aggie to most people. She was born in Houston, Texas in 1923, and that is just about the only precise year you will hear mentioned in this recording, because it’s not a traditional biography. It’s an oral history, built from the recollections of some who knew 'Aggie'. As such, there will be omissions and contradictions and doubtless, some misperceptions, because as most of us know -- memory can be a truly funny thing.
Agnese Nelms Haury and Emil Haury teaching at the University of Arizona. Most of these interviews were recorded during the time of COVID-19, on cell phones and via computer apps, so the sound quality will vary. Agnese Haury died in 2014, and early in 2020 Aengus Anderson was hired to produce this history. Anderson found that Haury’s lifelong preference to stay out of the limelight and avoid public attention made finding material about her difficult.
The best resource ended up being the voices you will hear, including Leon Botstein, Tony Hiss, Stephen Oertle, Heidi Oertle, Suzy Fish, Paul Fish, Diane Bret Harte, Tammy Barnett, Nan Rollings, Mary Grier, Tom Swetnam, Greg Gadarian, Roseann Gonzalez and David Yetman.
Agnese Nelms HauryThanks to Aengus Anderson for creating this oral history of a true "Tucson Original".
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