Archives West Finding Aid
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Black Heritage Society Oral History Project, 1997-2001
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Black Heritage Society of Washington State
- Title
- Black Heritage Society Oral History Project
- Dates
- 1997-2001 (inclusive)19972001
- Quantity
- 0.21 cubic feet (1 box)
- Collection Number
- 5686 (Accession No. 5686-001)
- Summary
- Interview transcripts of individuals who had attended Washington State high schools in the 1930's and 1940's
- 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.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The first meeting of the committee that was to become the Black Heritage Society of Washington state was held in 1977, for the purpose of preserving the history and art of Black people of Washington State. The Society was officially incorporated in 1982.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Oral history transcripts of taped interviews with African Americans who attended Washington State high schools during the 1930's and 1940's. 17 transcripts of interviews with 20 individuals. Interviewees include: Rilla Bell Allen, Leona Mae Fletcher Brown with Muriel Fletcher Minnis, Juanita Alexander Davis, Francis Teal Fair, Clem L. Gallerson (Sr.), Jeanne McIver Harris, Izetta Spearman Hatcher, Maxine Pitter Davis Haynes, Charlena Cephas Mace with William Anderson, Julia Elizabeth Brown Ruffin, Albert J. Smith (Sr.), Marjorie Polk Sotero, Alice Geneva Dhue Tibbs, Dorothy E. Vickers, Fred E. Wingo, Melvin Phillip Winston (Sr.) with Klara Mae Winston, Charles Arthur Wright.
Interviews were conducted by members of the Black Heritage Society Oral History Committee in compliance with a grant awarded by the King County Cultural Heritage Commission in 2000.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The creators' literary rights have not been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Allen, Rilla Bell Allen was born in Chicago, Illinois ion March 8, 1915, and moved
to Seattle in 1923. She discusses living in the Douglass apartments, Attucks
Realtors, buying property, Pantages Theater, grandparents' visit, friendship
with the Chandler family and others, Lake Holmes, Holman's Grove, the Lincoln
Industrial Fair, the red-light district and flappers in Seattle in the 1920's,
Hooverville in the 1930's, World War II, Gertrude Jackson. Interviewer:
Jacqueline E.A. Lawson
|
March 15, 1997 |
1/2 | Brown, Leona Mae Fletcher and Minnis, Muriel
Fletcher Sisters Leona Mae and Muriel Fletcher were born in Seattle,
Washington in 1915 and 1916, respectively. At the time of interview, Leona was
visiting her sister from California. They discussed their family history,
spouses, Garfield High School, school sports, Vespers, YWCA, tap dancing,
Anzier Theater, Copper Kettle, Edison school, working at the Urban League, Sand
Point USO clubs, working in California, Madrona Beach. Interviewer: Jacqueline
E.A. Lawson
|
September 3, 1997 |
1/3 | Davis, Juanita Alexander Davis was born in Seattle, Washington on June 29, 1919. She
discusses her father's WWI naval career, a road trip to Detroit and New York,
nurse training in St. Louis, racial makeup of neighborhood past and present,
Arizona, Woodland Park picnic, First AME, Girls Advisory Board and Funfest at
Garfield High School, nursing education, Elizabeth Soul (Dean of UW Nursing),
University of Washington discrimination, Maxine Pitter, working as a nurse for
Seattle/King County Health Department, Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses
Organization, husband's career in Civil Service. Interviewer: Avril Madison
|
January 22, 2000 |
1/4 | Fair, Francis Teal Fair was born in Portland, Oregon on August 5, 1909. He discusses
his father, siblings, growing up in Portland, Oregon, moving to Seattle in
1927, writing for Enterprise newspaper, Mary Henry, working on boats during the
summers, the Tennis Club, Evelyn Bundy band, partying in the 1930's, army
service during World War II, Frank Jenkins, union waterfront work in Seattle,
his grown children and grandchildren, Hurricane Lenny, Philadelphia Foundation,
Seattle's red-light district, Noodles Smith, Black professionals and
businesses. Interviewer: Jacqueline E.A. Lawson
|
November 24, 1999 |
1/5 | Gallerson, Clem L., Sr. Gallerson was born in Beaumont, Texas in 1916. He discusses moving
to Seattle in 1933, family reunions, shifting racial demographics, Mt. Zion
Church, Masonic Order, singing in choirs, Garfield High School, Frank Raines,
Washington Social and Educational Club, working for the postal service, World
War II, Communism. Interviewer: Gwen Howard
|
May 6, 2000 |
1/6 | Harris, Jeanne McIver Harris was born in Seattle, Washington on April 7, 1923 and talks
about Rainier Valley, Franklin High school, University of Washington, Girl
Reserves at YWCA, Swedish Tabernacle, working as a riveter at Sand Point,
church life, commuting from Kirkland to Sand Point, moving to Washington D.C.,
returning to Seattle in 1963, life as a widow. Interviewers: Jacqueline E.A.
Lawson and Ruth Starke
|
November 13, 1997 |
1/7 | Hatcher, Izetta Spearman Hatcher discusses Ballard High School, Ballard Free Methodist
Church, Emmanuel Tabernacle, family history, Bon Marche, traveling with her
military husband, Shoreline Community College, nursing career, learning to
swim, Phyllis Wheatly YMCA, Chinese discrimination, colorism, University of
Washington law school, Depression Era childhood, Children's Orthopedic,
attitudes towards medicine. Interviewer: Islamah Rashid
|
April 28, 2001 |
1/8 | Haynes, Maxine Pitter Davis Haynes was born in Seattle on February 6, 1919 to Marjorie Marian
Allen of New Jersey, and Edward Alexander Pitter, of the British West Indies.
Her father came up to Seattle for the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition. Haynes
gives her family history, then discusses growing up in Seattle's Central
District, Sojourner Truth Home, Flossie Gulliford, Tennis Club, "Dinky
Theater," Don Phelps, Coon Chicken Inn, Charlie Russell, Gayton family, summer
picnics, older sister Constance, nephew Kenneth, Marjorie Edwina King, Tres
Hermanez (printing business), Potlatch Parade, husband Edward Davis, working at
Providence Hospital, moving to California, UCLA graduate school, promotion to
Education Director at Visiting Nurses Association, remarrying Lionel Haynes,
returning to Seattle, teaching and counseling at the University of Washington,
leading the public health program at Seattle Pacific University, studying
nursing at Lincoln Hospital (New York), working at Bellevue Hospital, and her
son, Eddie. Interviewer: Jacqueline E.A. Lawson
|
March 28, 2001 |
1/9 | Mace, Charlena Cephas and Anderson, William Mace was born in Seattle on July 7, 1923. William Anderson was
born in Platte City, Missouri on April 5, 1923, and moved to Seattle as a child
to live with his grandmother. Mace discusses being on the Girls' Drill Team,
attending Garfield High School, the history of the YWCA, train travel. Anderson
attended Washington Grade School, Horace Mann Grade School, then Garfield High
School, worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps, Pullman Company, traveled to
New Guinea as a seaman, and longshoreman. Anderson discusses businesses and
people in the neighborhood, Savoy Boys, local music scene, racial makeup of
Seattle neighborhoods, bootleg gas. Interviewer: Islamah Rashid
|
April 21, 2001 |
1/10 | Ruffin, Julia Elizabeth Brown Ruffin was born in Seattle in 1921 to Orsova Gilfred and Augustus
Alfred Brown. She discusses wearing leg braces, Dr. Calhoun, neighborhood
families, attending Longfellow Elementary, sewing a quilt, skipping school,
Garfield High School, marrying and having children, African Methodist Church,
Presbyterian Church, Mount Zion, run-in with a high school teacher, her
mother's storefront, "stomps," courtship and marriage, barbershops.
Interviewer: S. Islamah Rashid
|
September 17, 2000 |
1/11 | Smith, Albert Joseph, Sr. Smith was born on April 4, 1916 in Seattle, Washington to Claude
Percival and Inez Smith, both of Kingston, Jamaica. He discusses his
"grandmother, " Sarah M. Whitley, sister Vera Smith, Immaculate Conception
Grade School, O'Dea High School, Our Lady of the Lake Church, working for the
post office and Seattle First National bank, John Irish, neighborhood families,
changing racial demographics, wife Isabelle Donaldson Smith and Children,
Albert and Cheryl, differences between White and Black childhood friends,
Venetian Theater, working on the President Grant (passenger ship), being
light-skinned, "hobo-ing" to Denver, Eugene Moszee, working in the Bremerton
Navy yard, Japanese Camera Club, photographing Duke Ellington and Dizzy
Gillespie, NAACP, Boy Scouts, Marine Cooks and Stewards Association,
churchgoing, donating blood. Interviewer: Avril Madison
|
February 8, 2000 |
1/12 | Sotero, Marjorie Polk Sotero was born on March 24, 1917 in Anaconda Montana to Claude
and Sophia Polk. She discussed her siblings and grandfather, Samuel
Bridgewater, a Buffalo Soldier, attending Lincoln High School in Tacoma and the
University of Washington, working in Army service clubs at Fort Lewis, Camp
Jordan and Fort Lawton, working at First Bank, Relatives of Old Timers (ROOTS)
picnics. Interviewer: Jacqueline E.A. Lawson
|
August 28, 1997 |
1/13 | Tibbs, Alice Geneva Dhue Tibbs was born on December 23, 1919 to Joseph and Geneva Dhue and
married and divorced Jimmy Graves and later remarried a Mr. Tibbs in 1949. She
discusses Grace/Mt. Baker Park Presbyterian Church, her parents, Longfellow
School, Meany Junior High, Garfield High School, Girl Reserves at YWCA,
"stomps," Gala Theater, lack of job opportunities, church socials at Woodland
Park, working as a teletypist for Western Union, living in San Francisco, Mrs.
Welfare Carter, working for the Seattle Police Department, John Dore, World War
II, being light-skinned, the Tennis Club, Broadmoor golf course, Eastern Star,
NAACP, the Black Panthers. Interviewer: Avril Madison
|
November 21 and 28, 1999 |
1/14 | Vickers, Dorothy Ernestine Vickers was born in Seattle, Washington on March 6, 1917 to Irene
Eva Harvey and Ernest Alexander. She discusses her family history, siblings,
husband (Thomas Rudolph Vickers) and daughter, Sharon, Harrison and Madrona
Elementary schools, Garfield High School, Murphy Business College, Communism,
Girl Reserves, YWCA, Fort Vancouver, "stomps," Baptist Church, Methodist
Church, Vesper, racism in Portland vs. Seattle. Interviewer: Jacqueline E.A.
Lawson
|
March 6, 1917 |
1/15 | Wingo, Fred E. Wingo was born in Platte City, Missouri on November 16, 1920 to
Fred and Rosie Wingo and moved to Washington in 1930. He discussed his wife,
Florence Anderson and three children, living in the Central District in
Seattle, attending Longfellow Elementary, Garfield High School, University of
Washington, Mount Zion, Black-owned businesses, enlisting in the Army during
World War II. Interviewer: Ruth Starke
|
December 15, 1999 |
1/16 | Winston, Melvin Philip, Sr., and Winston, Klara
Mae Melvin Winston was born in Yakima, Washington to Harry Winston and
Louise Waggener and moved to Seattle with his parents and siblings in 1932.
Klara Mae Winston was born to Clarence Townsend and Lucille Clark. They talked
about Mount Zion Baptist Church, their children, family gatherings, Masons and
Shriners, Garfield High School, neighborhood children, Longfellow Elementary,
Horace Mann High School, school sports, Girls Reserve at YWCA, working at
Burlington Northern Railroad, tailoring, attending church, Baptist Young
People's Union, skating rink, Noodle Smith, Black professionals and businesses,
Pearl Harbor Day and World War II, Japanese removal. Interviewer: Ruth
Starke
|
January 19, 2000 |
1/17 | Wright, Charles Arthur Wright was born in Seattle, Washington on October 24, 1918. Wright
discusses his family's history, racial makeup of childhood neighborhood,
Longfellow Elementary, Garfield High School, Black social and political
leaders, siblings, holiday traditions, Armistice Day, homemade wine, various
jobs, military service in World War II, wife (interviewer), and children,
neighborhood families. Interviewer: Margaret Wright
|
April 1997 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Corporate Names
- Black Heritage Society of Washington State--Archives