Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Cornelia Saunders oral history interview, 1968
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Saunders, Cornelia
- Title
- Cornelia Saunders oral history interview
- Dates
- 1968 (inclusive)19681968
- Quantity
- 1 sound cassette
- Collection Number
- 4879 (Accession No. 4879-001)
- Summary
- Tape recorded interview discussing the life of black miners around 1889, and farming life in Yakima Valley, where there were black homesteaders
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Miss Saunders' grandfather came west to work construction in the 1800s. Then he worked in coal mines in Franklin, Washinton. Cornelia Saunders studied at the UW to be a nurse and worked at Franklin hospital from 1934-38.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Tape recorded interview conducted by Larry Gossett on 3 May 1968.
Miss Saunders discusses the life of black miners around 1889, and farming life in Yakima Valley, where there were black homesteaders. Her grandfather went with Jim Shepperson to work as a strike breaker. There were gun battles, especially in Renton because white settlers didn't want the blacks. Saunders' mother and father came to Seattle in the very early 1900s after a mining explosion. Her father was a laborer for the city and then at the Gas Company for 37 years. The family lived on 26th and E. Madison since 1914. She stressed that blacks were free to get an education or learn a trade but couldn't get jobs at their trades. She mentions the black influx during World War II. Before the war there were 3,200 blacks in Seattle, and now there are 50,000.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Listen to the audio recording of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.
Restrictions on Use
Informant's/creator's rights dedicated to the public. May be used for research, instruction, publication or similar purposes.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Personal Names
- Saunders, Cornelia--Archives
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
