University of North Carolina at Asheville
D. Hiden Ramsey Library
Special Collections/University Archives

Oral History Register
for

Charles G. "Buzz" Tennent



Jessie and "Buzz" Tennent, 217 Westover Drive, balln5876
Ewart M. Ball Photographic Collection
D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
 

Title

 Charles G. "Buzz" Tennent Oral History

Creator

 Charles G. "Buzz" Tennent
Alt. Creator Interviewer: Dr. Louis D. Silveri

Subject
LCSH:

 World War, 1914-1918
Wolfe, Thomas, 1900-1938
Real estate investment 
Landscape design
School integration -- Asheville, NC

Subject
Keyword:

Wolfe, Thomas ; Real estate ; The Tarheel ; Banking ; Rotary International ; Landscape architecture ; Landscaping ; WWI ; Asheville City School Board ; The Asheville Times ; Integration ; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Description

This interview deals with Mr. Tennent's years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was appointed in his junior year to serve as advisor to freshman Thomas Wolfe. As editor of The Tarheel, the student newspaper, Mr. Tennent persuaded Wolfe to join the staff, and arranged his entry into other campus activities. Mr. Tennent's leadership qualities were recognized during his first year at the University, when he was elected President of his Freshman Class. Other honors followed.

He tells of his service in World War I, and of becoming a reporter for The Asheville Times upon his return to Asheville. His recollections include the real estate boom and bank failures, and he tells of entering the landscape business, which supported him during the Depression years and became his primary business interest for the remainder of his life.

Mr. Tennent also tells of his experience as a member of the Asheville City School Board following the Supreme Court decision on the integration of public schools.

Publisher

D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC, 28804

Contributor

 Charles G. "Buzz" Tennent

Date

Electronic Record Issued: 2001-07-26

Type

Text

Format

 69 double-spaced pages TRANSCRIPT

Identifier

 http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/oralhistory/SHRC/tennent.html

Source

Louis D. Silveri Oral History Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville 28804

Language

English

Relation

 World War I http://toto.lib.unca.edu/collections/subjects/world_war_I.htm ; Thomas Wolfe remembrance http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/oralhistory/VOA/A_C/Bunn_R.html ; Integration of Asheville public schools http://www.heritagewnc.org/WNC_education_and_schools/asheville_high_school.htm ;

Coverage

 c1900's-1977 ; Asheville, NC
Rights No restrictions ;  Any display, publication, or public use must credit the D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville. Copyright retained by the authors of certain items in the collection, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Acquisition

Donor number: 23 ;  Date of acquisition: August, 1977

Processed By

 Southern Highlands Research Center staff , 1978 ; Special Collections staff, 2001

Interview Date

 1977-08

Biography

Charles G. "Buzz" Tennent, an Asheville native, was distinguished as President of Rotary International, an office which required world-wide travel in the interests of that organization. His Rotary Service also includes an impressive list of committee memberships.

A landscape architect by profession, Mr. Tennent will be remembered for designing and supervising the planting of flowers and shrubbery on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Active in Asheville civic affairs, Tennent served as chair of the Asheville City School Board.  Mr. Tennent lived from 1894-1979.

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