Historians tell us that history is gathered from documents, artifacts and memory. Of these three elements, memory is the one that serves best when the subject is childhood. When I Was Just Your Age gathers the memories of thirteen oldtimers of various racial backgrounds and occupations, to chronicle what it was like to grow up in a profoundly different era.

This reconstruction of the childhood lives of the famous and the not-so-famous reveals not only everyday life but also the beliefs of the time, the responses to the land, the sense of community, and the impact of these things over a lifetime.

These stories speak eloquently for a value structure that has all but vanished throughout this country. They reflect both the landscape and the "mindscape" prevalent during the early part of this century. For children, these remembrances will build bridges to understanding and set models of service and commitment. For adults, they will be of interest and guidance to reassess contemporary values.

Includes a how-to guide for collecting oral history and an activity section for use in the classroom.
About the Author: Robert Flynn, a native of Chillicothe, Texas, is the author of seven novels, among them North To Yesterday, (winner of awards from the Texas Institute of Letters and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and named one of the Best Books of the Year by the New York Times ) and Wanderer Springs (winner of a Spur Award from Western Writers of America). Most recently, he coauthored with the late Dan Klepper a new novel, The Devils Tiger. He is also the author of a nonfiction narrative, A Personal War in Vietnam. His two story collections are both recipients of awards: Seasonal Rain, co-winner of the Texas Literary Festival Award, and Living with the Hyenas, winner of a Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. He also coauthored When I Was Just Your Age, published by the University of North Texas Press. In 1998, Flynn received the "Distinguished Achievement Award" from the Texas Institute of Letters. Retired as writer-in-residence at Trinity University, he lives in San Antonio with his wife, Jean

Susan Russell, co-founder of Learning About Learning Educational Foundation, designs children's educational programs and products.