Ernest White oral history interview

Overview of the Collection

Creator
White, Ernest
Title
Ernest White oral history interview
Quantity
2 sound cassettes (1.5 hours)
Collection Number
4965 (Accession No. 4965-001)
Summary
Tape-recorded interview of an African-American Seattle community member
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.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

African-American Seattle community member.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Tape-recorded interviews conducted by Larry Gosset on April 1, 1968.

White's father came to Spokane in 1894 and became a gold miner, forming an all-black company called the Gold Hump Mining Company. Ernest White was born in West Virginia. He attended high school in Spokane and although he was the only black in the high school, he was well accepted. He noticed discriminatory treatment when he left school in 1917 to support his mother and sister after his father's death. He came to Seattle after being drafted in 1918. Army conditions were discriminatory and later when he returned to Seattle, employers discriminated. In 1921 White became a mail carrier, a job he held for 39 years until 1960 when he retired. Housing, theatres, restaurants and stores were discriminatory. White tells of some incidents throught the country when he and his family went on vacation. White feels the blacks of the 1960s were becoming militant and change was necessary to preserve America.

Complete summary of interview attached to Basic Data Sheet.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

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

Acquisition Information

Donated by Ernest White, 4/1/1968.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • African Americans--Washington (State) eattle
  • African Americans--Washington (State) eattle--Interviews

Personal Names

  • White, Ernest--Archives

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)