Wheeler Parker oral history interview conducted by Joseph Mosnier in Chicago, Illinois, 2011-05-23.

Wheeler Parker, Jr., discusses his visit to Mississippi with his cousin, Emmett Till. He recalls the incident at Bryant's store and the night that Till was kidnapped, and Till's funeral in Chicago. He remembers how the murder and publicity affected his family, the reopening of the case in 2004, and efforts to memorialize Till.
Summary: Wheeler Parker, Jr., discusses his visit to Mississippi with his cousin, Emmett Till. He recalls the incident at Bryant's store and the night that Till was kidnapped, and Till's funeral in Chicago. He remembers how the murder and publicity affected his family, the reopening of the case in 2004, and efforts to memorialize Till.
Biographical History: Wheeler Parker was born in 1939 in Schlater, Mississippi, grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and married Marvel McCain in 1967. He worked as a barber, photographer, and pastor. At age 16, he traveled from Chicago to Mississippi with his cousin Emmett Till and witnessed his kidnapping.
Acquisition Note: The Civil Rights History Project is a joint project of the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of individuals who participated in the Civil Rights movement.
Existence and Location of Copies: Copies of items are also held at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (U.S.).
Conditions Governing Access: Collection is open for research. Access to recordings may be restricted. To request materials, please contact the Folklife Reading Room at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.contact.
Related Archival Materials: Artifacts associated with the interview are at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.