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Reminiscence, "Memoirs of the Hippy Era.", ca. 2017

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 1

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection contains a four-page (typed) reminiscence entitled "Memoirs of the Hippy Era" written by Leeman Hackworth about his experiences with the Ferguson, Missouri, police department in the late 1960s and 1970s. The memoir focuses on teen activities centered around Wabash Park during the hippy/anti-war era, circa 1969. Hackworth remembers teens and pre-teens using marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs in the area. Some runaways explained that Ferguson’s Wabash Park was mentioned as a destination point for drugs in underground newspapers that targeted teens. One night, Hackworth found a 1967 booklet entitled The Hippy’s Handbook in a vacant building near the park and saw a few more copies in the possession of teens. City officials downplayed the drug traffic in Ferguson while the police realized that the problem was getting bigger. During this time, a belt buckle was designed for policemen that used the word “PIG” coupled with the words “pride,” “integrity,” and “guts.”

Dates

  • ca. 2017

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.03 Cubic Feet ( (1 folder))

Language of Materials

English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository

Contact:
225 S. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63105 United States
314-746-4510