Oral history interview with Ann T., 1982

Biographical Note

Ann T. married famous entertainer, Freddy "Snake Hips" Taylor in 1948. Through him, she was introduced to opium, and began using it in the 1940s. Due to Taylor's career as a performer, the pair traveled back and forth between their permanent residence in New York City and various cities in Europe and Asia throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Destinations included Paris, London, and Hong Kong. In 1952, Ann and her husband began using heroin. In the early 1950s, Ann modeled with True Confessions and Harper's Bazaar. Later on that decade, she became a sex worker, with clientele comprised of elite figures, including members of former President Harry Truman's cabinet. In the 1960s, when heroin became difficult to obtain, Ann began seeking out Dolophine prescriptions from doctors. Eventually she detoxed at Bernstein Hospital, and joined the methadone program in 1970. Ann T. was interviewed for the project that led to the book Addicts Who Survived. The name is likely a pseudonym for the project. In the book, Ann T. was referred to by the pseudonym "Ann"

Scope and Contents

Ann T. discusses her life in New York City and abroad, with a focus on her drug use. She recalls being introduced to opium through her husband, Freddy "Snake Hips" Taylor, in the 1940s, and discusses how she gradually became addicted. She describes in depth many facets of opium: how to prepare a brick of raw opium for smoking, how to treat the ashes of smoked opium (called yen-shee) so that they could be re-smoked, equipment required for opium smoking, and how to fashion a makeshift opium pipe out of a glass bottle. She explains how she transitioned from using opium to heroin in 1952. She discusses her personal life at length, and how her drug use affected her relationships, especially with her husband. She discusses her travels to Europe and Asia with her husband, who worked as an entertainer. She discusses noteworthy jazz musicians whom she met. Ann describes the various cliques of opium smokers that existed in New York City in the mid 1940s, her drug connections in New York City, and how she was able to obtain drugs while traveling abroad. She recalls modeling with True Confessions and Harper's Bazaar in the 1950s, as well as engaging in sex work with a clientele of elite figures, including members of former President Harry Truman's cabinet. Ann discusses how she sought out Dolophine prescriptions from doctors when heroin became scarce in the 1960s. She describes detoxing at Bernstein Hospital and joining the methadone program in 1970. She discusses her opinion of the counseling she receives at the methadone clinic. Ann compares the effects of opium, heroin, and methadone

Subjects

• Drug abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Drug addicts--Rehabilitation--United States.
• Drug addicts--United States.
• Drugs--Prescribing.
• Heroin abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Interviews.
• Jazz musicians.
• Joseph, Herman, 1931- interviewer.
• Opium abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• T., Ann--Interviews.

Access Conditions

Copyright by David Courtwright