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Cassette Tape Collection 2
Black Oral History Interviews, 1972-1974
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| Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA (509) 335-6691 Inquiries |
Cassette Tape Collection 2
Black Oral History Interviews, 1972-1974
To listen to these interviews, please click here
The black oral history interviews conducted by Quintard Taylor and his associates from 1972-1974 were transferred to the Archives from the AudioVisual Listening Lab in January and May, 1978. (78-3). They were abstracted in June of 1979 by Margot H. Knight. They consist of fifty cassette tapes.
PROJECT HISTORY
The Black Studies Department was provided with $1500 in university funds in the summer of 1972 to begin preliminary research on sources of black history in the Pacific Northwest. Since it seemed that few blacks left a written record of themselves, important information was passed on from one generation to the next by word of mouth. Quintard Taylor, with associates Charles Ramsay and John Dawkins, began to interview black pioneers and their descendents throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
The information obtained was used as source material for KWSU-TV's documentary series South by Northwest and also served as primary source material for Taylor's doctoral dissertation, "A History of Blacks in the Pacific Northwest, 1788-1970," completed at the University of Minnesota in 1977.
ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION
The tapes are arranged alphabetically by interviewee. An exception occurs where two interviewees were recorded on the same cassette (No.s 3 & 4), making 51 interviews on 50 tapes. Topics include early black settlers, job opportunities, living patterns, black churches, and black political involvement from the late 1800s through 1974. Most of the interviews follow a standard set of questions.
ALTERNATIVE FORMATS
The audio recordings for many of these interviews can be found through MASC's Digital Collections: the Black Oral History Collection.
INTERVIEW ABSTRACTS
1-2 Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Banks, Helena, MT
3 Mabel and Myrtle Flowers, Portland, OR
4 Kathelyn Bogle, Portland, OR
5 Mr. and Mrs. Claude Buckner, Boise, ID
6 Mr. and Mrs. James Chase, Spokane, WA
7 Mrs. James Clow, Portland, OR
8 Mrs. Margaret Cogwell, Seattle, WA
9-10 Reverend and Mrs. Sam Coleman, Pasco, WA
11 Mrs. Thelma DeWittig, Seattle, WA
12 Mrs. Armeta Duncan, Butte, MT
13 Dr. Walter Duncan, Butte, MT
14 Verron Dunning, Centralia, WA
15-16 Lawrence Freeman, Clarkston, WA
17 Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Frye, Yakima, WA
18 Carver Gayton, Seattle, WA
19 Virginia Gayton, Seattle, WA
20 Mr. and Mrs. Levi Harris, Portland, OR
21 Ray Henry, Pasco, WA
22-23 Mr. and Mrs. Franklin James, Yakima, WA
24 Raymond Johnson, Missoula, MT
25 Frank King, Tensed, ID
26 Mr. and Mrs. Randolph King, Twin Falls, ID
27-28 Mr. and Mrs. William King, Tensed, ID
29 William Knott, Great Falls, MT
30 James Lee, Portland, OR
31 Reverend and Mrs. Greenwood Luster, Hermiston, OR
32 Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Maney, Portland, OR
33 Ethel Monroe, Missoula, MT
34 Sandy Moss, Seattle, WA
35 Mr. and Mrs. George Nelson, Pendleton, OR
36 Flexan Pierce, Spokane, WA
37-38 Edward Pitter, Seattle, WA
39 Mrs. Ollie Rucker, Yakima, WA
40 Sam Smith, Seattle, WA
41 Mrs. Virgil Stewart, Boise, ID
42 Mrs. Henry Strong, Roslyn, WA
43-44 Jack Tanner, Tacoma, WA
45 Mr. and Mrs. Warner Terrell, Boise, ID
46 Paul Thomas, Seattle, WA
47 Mrs. Tracy Thompson, Pocatello, ID
48 Thomas and Ophelia Walker, Anaconda, MT
49 Mr. and Mrs. John Woods, Yakima, WA
50 Charles Warren, Boise, ID
51 C.A. White, Portland, OR
Location Number: CT 2/1 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. A.E. Banks
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 7/21/73 Length of Interview: l hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Helena, Montana
Birthdate/Interviewee: Mrs. Banks--1894 Release: Yes___ No_X
Mr. Banks---1895
Occupation/Interviewee: Mr. Banks--porter, Restrictions: Yes_____No____
post office; Mrs. Banks--coat checker Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Helena
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 6 Mr. Banks came to Helena in 1917 from Alabama.
Father a mechanic. Family background. Why he moved to Montana.
Cousin in the calvary at Ft. Harrison, Montana. He planned to
attend Carroll College but didn't.
6 - 8 Lived in Billings for a while. Also stayed in Missoula
for a while but there was no social life.
8 - 10 Attended the Southern Christian Institute in Edwards,
Mississippi. Talks about playing baseball for them.
10 - 11 He worked at the post office with his cousin for a
while and then worked for the Union Bank and Trust Company.
11 - 17 There were quite a few blacks in Helena when he arrived
--many were from the Army. Two black churches in Helena. Many
other towns in Montana had black residents. Other forts in Montana.
Ft. Harrison was mostly black soldiers.
17 - 22 Recollections of black social clubs in the area.
Al Walton was a black U.S. Marshall from Oklahoma.
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/1
SIDE B
0 - 3 The Powers family of Helena were quite powerful. He
doesn't remember any outstanding black families.
Generally the blacks stuck to themselves.
3 - 4 He has one daughter who lives in Portlad. He doesn't
communicate with any other relatives. Other families
in Helena.
4-5 1/2 Not very much in the way of black social activities.
5 1/2-8 Worked as a porter in a hotel. No blacks owned or
operated hotels that he knew of. Mrs. Banks thinks
the cold weather prevented many blacks from settling.
8 - 11 Mrs. Banks was born in Montana--her father was born
in Germany and was brought back to Montana by a
Montana family. Her mother was French. Her family
background.
11 - 13 Most blacks in Helena were brought as servants by
white families. Many blacks left during winter.
There was no difference in social life between blacks
and whites. Black businesses in town. One black
newspaper called The Plain Dealer.
13 - 15 Joe Clark's Tonsorial Parlor and also did charocaty
(dentist) work and massage work. More about Al
Walton, the marshall.
16 - 17 Prominent blacks in Helena--she remembers the C.W.
Dorseys; Gladys Alexander became an opera singer.
Taylor Gordon, a black singer from White Sulphur
Springs.
17 - 20 She worked checking wraps at the Montana Club. How
they met. Black churches in Helena.
20 - 22 She thinks most blacks in Helena now work as bartenders.
There is also janitorial work available although there
are not many blacks left in Helena.
22 - 26 Generally the blacks voted for whoever they thought
the best man was. Doesn't recall any blacks running
for office.
26 - 30 Many blacks moved away from Montana. Job opportunities
for blacks.
END OF TAPE
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/23/79 Time: 45 min. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/2 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. A.E. Banks
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 7/21/73 (See CT 2/1) Length of Interview: 16 min.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Helena, Montana
Birthdate/Interviewee: Mrs. Banks--1894 Release: Yes___ No_X
Mr. Banks---1895
Occupation/Interviewee: Mr. Banks--porter, Restrictions: Yes_____No____
post office; Mrs. Banks--coat checker Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Helena
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 2 His work for the highway department.
2 - 5 They don't know any blacks in nearby towns. She
talks about why blacks don't seem to settle in the
area. They knew some of the calvarymen in Billings.
No segregation of schools.
5 - 8 Limited contact with Indians. Legend of York, a
black settler who came with Lewis and Clark.
Pompey's Pillar.
8 - 16 They talk about their feelings about Montana and
what their lives have been like. She likes the
freedom of the West. He talks about his work at the
Capitol Post Office. Cold weather.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/24/79 Time: 10 min. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/3 Interviewee: Flowers Sisters
(Mabel, Myrtle)
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: September, 1974 Length of Interview: 30 min.
Interviewer: ? Location: Portland, Oregon
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: nurse, actress Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Portland area
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 4 Interview with an older woman about going to Jamaica
for sugarcane. Talks about her mother and her
marriage to a Portuguese man who was killed.
4 - 10 Her father owned an oyster house in Astoria. His
name was Roscoe Lee Dixon. Father's background.
One of the sisters was born in 1894. She attended
the Pacific School. The other sister attended the
Ranier School. Other schooling.
10 - 15 One became a nurse and tells how she got interested
in it. Attended nursing school in San Francisco,
graduating in 1915. Trouble getting work.
15 - 19 The other sister talks about getting into the theatre
at the age of 17 as a singer and dancer. She traveled
for three years on the Orpheum circuit. Story about
Mrs. Walker, her boss and Oscar Hammerstein.
19 - 26 Other sister talks about getting nursing work. Their
parents. Attending Catholic school in Seattle.
26 - 30 A third sister talks about attending nursing school
in Washington, D.C. Myrtle worked as a lab technician
at Aberdeen Hospital.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/24/79 Time: 22 min. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/4 Interviewee: Kathelyn Bogle
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews-
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 9/10/74 Length of Interview: 6 min.
Interviewer: ( 2 monologue) Location: Portland, Oregon
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered:
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE B
0 - 5 She tells the story of her husband's grandfather
Richard W. Bogle who came to the Northwest in 1835
or so. Ran away from Jamaica at age twelve to New
York. Wagon train West. Story of the Waldo family.
5 - 6 Richard W. Bogle married America Waldo, a slave of
the Waldo's. She talks about their children and
their accomplishments.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/24/79 Time: 7 min. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/5 Interviewee: Mr.& Mrs.Claude Buckner
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 6/5/73 Length of Interview: 54 min.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Boise, Idaho
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Mr. Buckner-janitor Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Mrs. Buckner-housewife Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered:
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 She has been in Boise since 1909. Born in Pueblo,
Colorado. He came to Idaho in 1923. Family back--
grounds. How his family came out west from Missouri.
5 - 11 How her folks came out west from Georgia and Tennessee.
Her father was a Baptist minister. Church activities
in the Boise area. Her father's home became a Negro
church. Eventually a church was built. Talks about
the various churches in town.
11 - 14 There were no social clubs in the area that she
remembers. Blacks lived throughout Boise. Many blacks
owned their own places. There was not much social life
except for visiting.
14 - 18 Black businesses in Boise. She talks about the schools
she attended. Talks about Jimmy Terrell who has
done real well for himself.
18 - 22 They have no contact with relatives in the South.
Other contacts with relatives. Recollections of other
black families they knew in Boise.
22 - 27 Entertainment. Barbecues. She talks about chataquas
that came through. Clothing styles.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/24/79 Time: 45 min. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/5
SIDE B
0 - 3 He talks about his work as a janitor for the Boise
Overland Auto agency. Other janitorial jobs. Many
blacks worked as waiters. Tom Brown owned a cleaning
store in 1910 or so.
3 - 6 He says blacks were generally Republican until
recently. Their son ran for City Council but lost.
She is a board member of the YWCA.
6 - 10 Where blacks have moved to from Boise. Blacks in
surrounding towns.
10 - 13 Blacks had some contact with Mexicans, Chinese and
Indians in the area. Many black soldiers around during
World War II.
13 - 14 They read the Chicago Defender and the Jet. They
don't recall any black newspapers in the area.
14 - 24 They talk about their feelings about their lives in
Boise. He thinks feelings have changed towards the
blacks. The Chinese restaurants wouldn't serve
blacks. Talk about some of the younger blacks.
She's tired of Boise a little; it's hard to get
music for church.
Location Number: CT 2/6 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. James Chase
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 11/2/72 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Spokane, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Spokane
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 7 Family background--her father came from Mississippi
to Spokane in 1890. He worked as a printer. Her
uncle printed The Citizen. Her grandfather established
the Calvary Baptist Church in Spokane. Several of her
relatives were involved in owning and operating an
orchard company. Darryl's Landing on Deer Lake.
7 - 10 More about her father and the newspaper business. He
was active in Masonic affairs, also.
10 - 14 Social conditions for blacks during her father's
lifetime. Many blacks worked at the railroad station,
the hotels, and the Spokane Club, a men's social club.
Many had to work two jobs.
14 - 16 Her mother's family came from Maryland. Her grandfather
was a barber in Spokane.
16 - 25 Black politicians in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Chase
talks about why he came out to Spokane in 1934--there
was more opportunity than in Texas. Change in attitude
towards blacks and blacks themselves over the past
10 years. Hotel and restaurant accommodations.
25 - 27 Planning for the conditions of blacks in the city.
They would record how they were treated at various
places in town.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: Time: 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/6
27 - 30 He owns and operates a body and fender company.
Other Negro businesses in town.
SIDE B
0 - 2 Church work. She was involved with many of the churches
in town.
2 - 3 Black organizations in town. Federation of Colored
Women's Club.
3 - 8 They do not maintain much contact with relatives.
Recollections of famous blacks from Spokane. Touring
church singers.
8 - 10 The Seattle Enterprise. The NAACP started in 1918
in Spokane.
10 - 11 Discussion about black Episcopalian colleges in the
East.
11 - 19 He talks about his decision to run for City Council
in 1969. Spokane is very conservative and he advocated
getting Federal aid. Talks about the campaign. He
thinks he indirectly helped the City Council to
establish the Housing Authority.
19 - 27 More about black businesses in town. The Civil Rights
movement has really helped blacks. Discussion about
the distinction that many whites make between black
pioneers and blacks that have come out more recently.
There are many more opportunities for blacks now.
28 - 30 Not many social outlets for blacks in Spokane. Many
activities were integrated.
Location Number: CT 2/7 Interviewee: Mrs. James Clow
Collection Title: Black oral History Interviews
Black Studies/ Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 7/20/73 Length of Interview: 25 min.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Portland, Oregon
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1895 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: housewife Restrictions: Yes___ No X
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Portland
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
0 - 3 She came to Portland in 1936 when she was married,
from Richmond, Virginia. Talks about her husband's
family from Texas. Courtship and marriage.
3 - 5 Mount Olivet Baptist Church, the largest black
church in Portland.
5 - 7 Blacks were scattered throughout the town although
all the black churches were in Montibelo. Many
owned their own homes.
7 - 10 Attended University of Oregon from 1937-1941. Active
blacks in the community. Civil rights workers,
Her husband's involvement in the NAACP.
10 - 14 She hasn't maintained many contacts with relatives.
Other black families in Portland. Recreation. Politics.
14 - 18 More on residential patterns of blacks in Portland.
Albina. Read the Chicago Defender, Black newspapers
in Portland.
18 - 19 Feelings about living in Portland-its advantages
and disadvantages.
19 - 25 Husband's involvement with the Urban League. The
church women organized a club to help blacks get
served in restaurants.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/28/79 Time: 20 mins.
Location Number: CT 2/8 Interviewee: Mrs. Margaret Cogwell
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 9/29/72 Length of Interview: 30 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Seattle, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: restaurant owner, Restrictions: Yes___ No X
farm wife Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Seattle
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 She came from Newton, Kansas in 1910. Family back--
ground. How she came to Seattle. She ran a little
restaurant on Seneca for a couple of years.
5 - 7 Moved south of Olympia to Rochester in 1919--they
raised strawberries, turkeys, and cucumbers. They
farmed there until 1953 when she returned to Seattle.
7 - 12 Black churches in Seattle. Her husband's family
background. Work on the farm. She talks about her
children.
12 - 16 Most of the blacks lived in East Madison in Seattle
in 1910. Most owned their homes. Well-known black
families in Seattle. Black businesses. Visited- with
relatives in Texas often.
16 - 21 Entertainment--dances, church, picnics. Lodges in town.
21 - 26 Her husband worked on the roads for the city. Blacks
in Olympia. Mr. Barnette, who had a band, has a local
park named after him.
26 - 30 Her feelings about how children are raised differently
nowadays.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/28/79 Time: 20 mins.
Location Number: CT 2/9 Interviewee: Reverend & Mrs. Sam Coleman
Collection Title: Black oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 12/8/72 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Pasco, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Mrs. Coleman--1903 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Mr. Coleman--minister; Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Mrs. Coleman--schoolteacher Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered:
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 10 Her family background, From Mississippi and came to
Washington in 1916. Her father worked for the rail--
road. Other blacks in Pasco. Most lived in railroad
cars on the east side of town. Then they went to
California and Chicago. Life in Chicago. They
returned to, Pasco. He died after being run over by a
train while working.
10 - 14 They married in 1927. She was the first colored girl
to graduate from Pasco High School (1924). She almost
married a foot doctor. Her experiences teaching school.
14 - 21 There were no black farmers in the area. Other black
families in the area. He was from Chicago and came
out to Pasco in 1944. He worked as a cook for the
railroad in 1915 or s-o. The Great Northern paid more
than the Pullman Company. He then went into the taxi
business in 1916.
21 - 30 He bought property in Pasco in the 30's but didn't
move there. He talks about his businesses in Seattle-
he was the first Negro general contractor in Washington.
Experiences working in Denver in 1920--there was trouble
working with whites.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/281/79 Time: 37 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACTS, page 2 CT 2/9
SIDE B
0 - 6 Their marriage. She had attended Whitman College.
More about his businesses in Seattle and his associates.
How he got his hardware business. Two colored
lawyers in Seattle. He lost a lot of money on the
hardware store.
6 - 8 Working as a contractor. The unions didn't like
coloreds working in certain areas of town.
8 - 12 They returned to Pasco in 1944. He had pastored a
rescue mission in Olympia until 1938 when the Lord
told him he was evangelistic. They traveled contin--
uously until the gas rationing. Then he worked in
order to get gas stamps.
12 - 18 They built a home on their property in Pasco in 1943.
He established the first black church in 1944 on the
request of white ministers in town. Many were coming
into town for the Hanford project. Problems with
building the church because he wanted to build it on
his own property.
18 - 22 His activities with the Missionary Pentecostal Asso--
ciation until 1944. They worked more with white
people than with colored when they were travelling
evangelists. Black churches throughout the West.
22 - 26 More about his church and other churches in Pasco.
He ran his church until 1949. In 1944 through the
NAACP and the Urban League they tried to get restaurants
to serve blacks.
Location Number: CT 2/10 Interviewee: Rev. & Mrs. Sam Coleman
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews-
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 12/7/72 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Pasco, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Pasco, WA
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 10 More about the NAACP. The whites in town wanted all
the minorities on the east side of the RR tracks.
The problems he had trying to build on the west side.
Troubles with his lawyers.
10 - 13 Talks about the land he owned and who he sold it to.
Talks about his relatives.
13 - 23 He has never been involved with politics. A rich
man and a politician have no place in heaven. More
about problems building in Pasco. He had a cafe in
town, too, and fed some of the black workers on the
Hanford project. Problems getting paid. Other
property problems.
23 - 26 Selling his property after the war. He refused to buy
property on the east side of the tracks on principle.
SIDE B
0 - 3 Talks about the railroad and working with Turner, a
redcap. Other families in the area. Her parents owned
property in Pasco, too.
3 - 29 More about their evangelism in mostly white churches. Black
churches in Seattle. Growth of black churches in the
Northwest. Black evangelists. The Pentecostals often
criticized other religions. He talks about his own
religious ideas.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/29/79 Time: 30 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/11 Interviewee: Mrs. Thelma
DeWittig
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 1/18/73 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Charles Ramsay Location: Seattle, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No_X
Occupation/Interviewee: first black public Restrictions: Yes___ No___
schoolteacher in Washington Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Seattle area
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 4 She came to Seattle from Texas in 1947 to do graduate
work at University of Washington. She was an only child.
Schooling in Texas. Family background. Talks about
her teaching in Texas.
4 - 7 The black church in Seattle. Communists organizations.
NAACP and the Urban League were connected with the church.
7 - 10 Travelling on the train first-class from Dallas.
Problems with discrimination.
10 - 14 Other black organizations she worked with. Clubs in
the area. More blacks lived in the central area. Not
many owned property; most blacks weren't born in Seattle.
14 - 17 Black businesses in Seattle. Black undertaker did a
good job. She and her husband lived in a large mansion
in Seattle that another woman owned. Church club
meetings in the house.
17 - 21 Problem with a woman who thought the first black teacher
in the area should have been from Seattle.
21 - 24 Teaching in the Seattle area. Not many blacks went
on to college.
24 - 30 Discrimination towards her while at the University of
Washington. A black had never taught a white child
in Seattle. Recommendations for her first job.
SIDE B
0 - 3 More about teaching. Clothing styles in the 401s.
She was always "smartly dressed." other blacks who
dressed well.
3 - 6 Sports activities that blacks participated in. Enter--
tainment included private parties and dances. Blackwell
was a famous black-musician from the area. Other black
singers and dancers.
6 - 11 Teaching union. Trouble with discrimination when going
on conventions. Other black teachers hired after her.
11 - 14 Political persuasion was generally Republican among
blacks. She was a delegate to several Democratic
conventions, Black politicians.
14 - 21 She generally kept up with what other blacks in the
area were doing. She feels communication among blacks
is better now. She tried to keep up with the black
journals and newspapers. She maintained contacts with
people she worked with in the South.
21 - 25 Negroes feelings towards other minorities and vice
versa. Organizations she has worked for.
25 - 29 Her feelings about living in Seattle and the cooperation
blacks have received. Discipline in the schools has
been a problem.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/30/79 Time: 45 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/12 Interviewee: Mrs. Armeta Duncan
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No. 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 4/4/74 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Butte, Montana
Birthdate/Interviewee: 4/12/85 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Butte, Montana
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
1 - 4 Born in Virginia near where Lee surrendered. Story of
her aunt being visited by Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S.
Grant. Family background.
4 - 7 She traveled from Philadelphia with a couple as a
servant in 1905. She stayed in Butte because she met
her future husband.
7 - 10 She worked at the Four Jacks Club as a waitress.
Other jobs. Two black churches when she moved to
Butte, a Methodist and a Baptist. Other Negro social
clubs.
10 - 14 Black businesses. Blacks were employed throughout the
city. Frank Castle, the black policeman.
14 - 20 Well-known blacks in Butte. Her family and their
accomplishments. She maintains contact with relatives
in Virginia.
21 - 27 Other black families in Butte. Sports activities.
Black baseball team. Black musicians. Charlie Pride
is from Montana.
27 - 29 NAACP Chapter in town.
29 - 30 Her husband was a foot specialist.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/31/79 Time: 45 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/12
SIDE B
0 - 2 She talks about her husband's work. She reads from
an article about him.
2 - 5 Jobs other blacks had in town--janitors, waiters,
porters. Many were personal servants of wealthy mine
owners.
5 - 10 The black servants were generally well-treated by
their white employers. Names of some of the rich
families. Blacks who worked in local government.
10 - 12 Why black people moved out of Butte. Many went to
work in the shipping yards in WW II.
12 - 14 Blacks in surrounding areas. Publications they read
to keep up with black activities in other places. Her
daughter talks a bit about working for the Amsterdam
News.
14 - 19 Blacks interactions with other minorities in Butte.
Other black newspapers.
19 - 23 Feelings about living in Butte. Her daughter also
talks about life in Butte.
END OF TAPE
Location Number: CT 2/13 Interviewee: Dr. Walter Duncan
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 4/3/74 Length of Interview: 50 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Butte, Montana
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1909 Release: Yes___ No_X
Occupation/Interviewee: podiatrist Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Butte
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 Family background. How his parents came to Butte.
His father was a podiatrist.
5 - 7 Two black churches in Butte until 1928 when many
blacks moved away from Butte.
7 - 10 Black Mason organization. Other black social clubs.
Most of the blacks lived in the central part of town.
Many owned their own property.
10 - 14 Black businesses in Butte. His father owned a
barbershop for a while.
14 - 17 His schooling in Butte. Schoolmates and their
accomplishments. His children and their accomplish--
ments. Maintains contacts with relatives in Wash--
ington, D.C.
17 - 24 Black sports activities and well-known athletes.
Black baseball teams in the late 20's and early 30's.
Other entertainment for blacks. Musicians, singers,
and dancers.
24 - 30 More about his father's education and professions.
National organization for podiatrists.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 5/31/79 Time: 30 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/13
SIDE B
0 - 4 Organizations he belongs to. He remembers most
blacks as Democrats. Not many black politicians.
Other jobs blacks did.
4 - 8 Talks about why the black population has decreased
in Butte. He feels it is partly due to prejudice.
Not many black miners until WW II. Pit mining.
Places blacks moved--many went to the shipyards in
Seattle.
8 - 13 Blacks in surrounding towns. He thought about passing
his race by. His mother kept him up with black acti--
vities in other places. Talks about his schooling.
13 - 18 He was impressed by Jelly Roll Morton and Louis
Armstrong as a child. Associations with other minorities;
underworld Chinese.
18 - 21 His feelings about living in Butte. Several factions
of blacks in Butte.
END OF TAPE
Location Number: CT 2/14 Interviewee: Verron Dunning
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 8/24/72 Length of Interview: 30 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor and ? Location: Centralia, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: February, 1882 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: postman Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Centralia
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 Talks about George Washington, a local pioneer. He
was raised by a black woman in Michigan. Other blacks
in Centralia; Stacy Kunos.
3 - 5 Talks about William Bryan and his wife who were early
pioneers. Other blacks in his neighborhood.
5 - 7 Talks about coming West. The railroad started in
1889. Immigrant trains. His schooling.
7 - 12 George Washington's wife was white. Stories of
Washington's early life. The story is that he was
poisoned by whites. Washington was involved with the
church but not in politics. He was the richest man
in town.
12 - 15 George Bush, another pioneer in the area. Washington
died in 1935. More about George Washington and his
children.
15 - 18 Talks about Centralia-The First 50 Years. Other
blacks in Centralia; there are none in Centralia now.
18 - 21 How George Washington saved the town. He was very
generaous in selling the land he owned. He was part
Jewish. Talks about some of the pictures he has.
Abstractor: MARGOT H. KNIGHT Date: 5/31/79 Time: 15 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/14
SIDE A (cont)
21 - 28 George Washington didn't keep much contacts back East
although he did take a trip back there once. The town
was started in 1890.
Location Number: CT 2/15 Interviewee: Lawrence Freeman
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 6/12/74 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Clarkston, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Jan. 7, 1897 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: horsetrainer Restrictions: Yes___No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Clarkston, WA;
Montana
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 4 Has lived in Clarkston since 1919. Family background.
How his parents met and moved to Montana. His father
worked with horses.
4 - 9 There were never many blacks in Montana. Talks
about the ranch his family lived on in Montana. Mr.
Bailey, who became rich with his horse ranch. Story
of building a castle for a winning horse.
9 - 19 He practically grew up on a horse. He was taught
to ride race horses. Various jobs his father held.
Talks about his work as a trainer. He was too tall to
be a jockey. Talks about the savvy it takes to be a
jockey. He won races all over the Pacific Northwest.
19 - 23 During World War I he trained horses for officers at
Camp Dodd. He was in the Army until 1919 when he
started racing horses professionally. Harness racing
in Montana.
23 - 30 Training saddle horses. He always worked by contract.
He trained many winning horses. Racing in California.
(cont)
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/4/79 Time: 45 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/15
SIDE B
0 - 5 Training Sea Biscuit in California. Barnyard race
horses. The expense of training a racehorse.
5 - 12 Eventually settled in Clarkston in 1919. More about
horses he trained in Clarkston. Story of a race in
Seattle.
12 - 14 Working with the rodeo as a bareback rider. George
Fletcher, the rodeo rider. He was part Indian and the
judges wouldn't look at him. Being black wasn't a
problem.
14 - 17 Talks about his wife, a Umatilla-French woman who
died during childbirth. His son is also dead.
17 - 23 Work with the Lewiston Saddle Club. He has trained
lots of kids to ride. His philosophy about teaching.
He worked for the saddle club from 1940 to 1954 or so.
23 - 26 Other jobs he worked--porter, part-time help window
washing.
26 - 30 Here the tape becomes distorted and is difficult to
understand. Relations with other minorities in the
area.
END OF TAPE
Location Number: CT 2/16 Interviewee: Lawrence Freeman
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 6/12/74 (See CT 2/15) Length of Interview: 7 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Clarkston, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Jan. 7, 1897 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: horsetrainer Restrictions: Yes___No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Clarkston, WA;
Montana
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 2 Other ethnic groups in the area. In California he
worked with a lot of Mexicans. Many Indians in the
area.
2 - 3 His trick with the nail in his ring to get the horse
to run.
3 - 7 His feelings about living in the Northwest.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/4/79 Time: 35 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/17 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. Reginald Frye
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 8/21/72 Length of Interview: 45 mins.
Interviewer: Charles Ramsey Location: Yakima, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Yakima
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 She talks about how much of her history has been lost.
Discussion about blacks who lost their black identities
when they came West.
5 - 9 Blacks in Yakima. Family background. Homesteading.
He thinks most blacks came out around 1889.
9 - 16 Talk about Corfu, a black community in the area.
General discussion about George Washington and other
black families. Story of some blacks who struck gold.
16 - 18 More talk about migrating blacks.
SIDE B
0 - 5 Black barbershops in Yakima. He saw possibilities for
work in Yakima. How he came to Yakima. All of his
brothers eventually came out, too. Other jobs he had.
5 - 7 Selling black products.
7 - 10 Talks about his family history. His father was a black-
smith. How his father made his own tools. Shows
pictures of his family.
10 - 15 He talks with the two interviewers about where they are
from. The name "George Washington" and its popularity
among blacks.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/5/79 Time: 40 mins.
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/17
SIDE B (cont)
15 - 22 General discussion about friends. She talks about
her father and family background.
22 - They talk about the Mormons and the blacks who
accompanied them.
Location Number: CT 2/18 Interviewee: Carver Gayton
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 8/7/73 Length of Interview: 50 mins.
Interviewer: ? Location: Seattle, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Oct. 18, 1938 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Seattle
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 Family background. Father born in Seattle, mother
from Nashville. Talks about growing up in Seattle.
Parents worked for the post office. Other jobs.
3 - 7 Black churches. YMCA and YWCA. Other social activities.
Famous black performers.
7 - 10 The Hendrix family. Other social clubs. Grandfather's
activity in Republican Party. Many blacks lined up
with leftist concerns.
10 - 12 Father worked at the Black Diamond Coal Mine in what
is now Hazelwood. Grandfather moved there in the 20's.
12 - 14 Black businesses in Seattle.
14 - 17 Talks about his children. Not many contacts with
relatives back East. Other black families in the area.
Changes in black fashions.
17 - 25 Sports activities. Carver AC's an all-black baseball
team. Other social activities. Black music.
25 - 26 Talks about his job as a lawyer.
(cont)
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/5/79 Time: 30 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/18
SIDE B
0 - 3 Problems blacks had in Seattle. Unions. Jobs
available for blacks.
3 - 6 Blacks in politics. Black social clubs and frater--
nities.
6 - 9 Books his family reads to keep up with black activities
and history. Black newspapers.
9 - 11 Contacts with other minorities.
11 - 17 Thoughts about growing up in Seattle. Most of his friends
were white. As he got older he started to realize
discrimination against him. Feelings about discrimina--
tion and how difficult it is to deal with.
17 - 20 He doesn't see Seattle as different from other places
in the attitudes towards blacks. He feels more secure
back East where there are more blacks.
20 -22 Talks about his parents and their feelings about being
black.
Location Number: CT 2/19 Interviewee: Virginia Gayton
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 2/5/74 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Seattle, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1903 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: post office worker Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Seattle
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 Family background. Early life, high school in Spokane. Attended
Howard University in Washington, D.C. in the early 20's. Father
was a railroad worker. How his parents got married. There were
no good jobs for her parents who both had been schoolteachers in
Tennessee.
5 - 7 The First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Seattle. Other
black churches.
7 - 9 Black social clubs. YMCA and YWCA. The Coleman family.
9 - 13 Most blacks lived in the northern section. Real estate agents
who tried to keep all the blacks in one area.
13 - 21 Black businesses she recalls. The Gross family. Black community
leaders. Rosten and the Marine Association. Names other blacks
she remembers.
21 - 22 She didn't maintain contacts with Eastern relatives.
22 - 26 Clothing styles. Describes her wedding dress. Zoot suits.
26 - 27 Black athletes and black teams. It was hard for boys that wanted
to play football at University of Washington.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date:6/5/79 Time: 45 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/19
SIDE B
0 - 2 Famous black musicians and dancers.
2 - 4 Talks about her work at the post office and other jobs. Job
opportunities for blacks.
4 - 6 Many blacks turned from Republican to Democratic. Black
politicians.
6 - 12 Many blacks moved into the area during WW II. Black newspapers.
12 - 15 Black political and civil rights organizations. Other minority
groups.
15 - 22 Her feelings about the Pacific Northwest and her experiences.
She never had trouble finding work.
22 - 30 Talks a bit about the older folks who lived in Seattle. Family
structure. More about clothing styles.
Location Number: CT 2/20 Interviewee: Mr. and Mrs. Levi Harris
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 7/18/73 Length of Interview: 50 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Portland, OR
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Mr. Harris--shipyard, Restrictions: Yes___ No___
worker, highway worker; Mrs. Harris--house- Explanation:
wife
Geographical Areas Covered: Portland, OR
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 He came to Portland in 1930. She arrived in 1933. Family
backgrounds.
5 - 8 Black Baptist church in Portland. Other black churches.
Black Population. Black families. Job opportunities for blacks.
8 - 12 Black social clubs. Blacks lived in all parts of Portland.
12 - 18 Vanport was a housing project built by the city,where many blacks
lived. Blacks were actively recruited to work in the shipyards.
Black businesses.
18 - 23 NAACP and the Urban League. Black community and business leaders
in Portland. When the war started many blacks moved into the
community.
23 - 25 They keep in contact with Eastern relatives.
SIDE B
0 - 5 He talks about his job working for various oil companies.
Entertainment. Famous black singers and dancers. More about
black clubs.
5 - 7 Blacks were about equally Republican and Democratic. Black
politicians.
7 - 12 Many blacks left Portland. They know a few blacks in other states.
How they find out about black activities elsewhere.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/6/79 Time: 30 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACTS, page 2 CT 2/20
SIDE B (cont)
12 - 14 Not too much contact with other minorities.
14 - 22 Their feelings about living in Portland. Jobs blacks have now.
Location Number: CT 2/21 Interviewee: Ray Henry
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 12/8/72 Length of Interview: 50 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Pasco, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___No X
Occupation/Interviewee: construction worker, Restrictions: Yes___ No___
railroad worker, hotel owner Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Pasco
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 He came to Pasco in 1943 from Kansas. Growth of Pasco. Other
black families in town when he arrived. Black churches.
5 - 8 The East side of town was set aside for Negroes. Most bought
their own land. Trailer camps. Black businesses. Many blacks
left for jobs elsewhere.
8 - 10 He was fired in 1943 but eventually got another job. wages and
opportunities were better here than in Kansas.
10 - 13 More about the black churches. Black social clubs. Black
businesses.
13 - 15 Well-known blacks in the community. Clothing styles.
15 - 17 Black baseball team in the 40's. Other entertainment.
17 - 19 The union. There were some black officers. Black politicians.
Most blacks were Democrats.
19 - 21 More about his various jobs in Kansas and Arkansas.
21 - 27 Black newspapers. Contact with other ethnic groups was limited.
There were many racial incidents in the 40's. Very few black
supervisors.
27 - 30 Blacks in the school. Memories of black soldiers in the area.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/6/79 Time: 40 mins.
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/21
SIDE B
0 - 6 Why he decided to leave Kansas. Talks about the different places
he has lived in Pasco. He owned a hotel for 20 years.
6 - 9 More about soldiers who came into town. He later built a motel.
9 - 15 Art Fletcher, a well-known community leader and politician. Black
co-op. Many had stock in the co-op service station. Black insurance companies.
15 - 17 Other people Mr. Taylor should talk to.
Location Number: CT 2/22 Interviewee: Franklin James
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/ Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 8/21/72 Length of Interview: 50 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Yakima, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ NO X
-
Occupation/Interviewee: coal miner Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Roslyn, Yakima
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 4 Father worked for railroad in Virginia. Came to Washington in
1898. Family background. Father's stories about a Confederate
soldier.
4 - 9 Education for blacks. His first job as a coal miner. Strikes.
He worked in the mines from 1917-1924.
9 - 13 He played piano. Other black musicians in the area. Enter--
tainment in the local tavern. Bootleg whiskey. Black baseball
teams.
13 - 16 Well-known blacks in the area. They maintained contact with
some eastern relatives but they gradually lost touch.
16 - 20 Blacks in the mines in Roslyn. Black population in Roslyn. Most
blacks left when the mines shut down in the early 30's. He
hoboed back east and eventually got married in 1926 after leaving
the mines.
20 - 26 Black businesses in Roslyn. Black churches. Holidays.
Emancipation Day.
SIDE B
0 - 3 Company store in Roslyn.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/4/79 Time: 50 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/22
SIDE B (cont)
3 - 4 Newspapers they read to keep up with black activities--The
Seattle Enterprise was Negro owned and run.
4 - 8 Indians in the area. Discrimination against Chinese. Black
settlers. Black athletes. Blacks in WWI.
8 - 11 Mr. Shepard who brought many blacks to the area. Local trans-
portation. Early automobile owners.
11 - 13 More about the mine--most of the bosses were white. Mining
equipment.
13 - 17 Mine explosion in 1910 or so. Workers benefits. There was no
insurance or retirement.
17 - 22 Feelings about what it was and is like to be a black living in
Roslyn and in Yakima. Talks about working in Yakima. (His
wife talks but is too far away from the microphone to be
understood.)
Location Number: CT 2/23 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. Franklin James
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 8/26/72 (See CT 2/22) Length of Interview: 30mins.
Interviewer: ? Location: Yakima, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: coal miner, cannery Restrictions: Yes___ No___
worker Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered:
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 George Fletcher, a black cowboy. Other black cowboys. Fletcher
was better than Yakima Canutt but discrimination kept him down.
3 - 7 Black families in Yakima. General discussion about black oldtimers
and the need for this kind of collection.
7 - 12 The NAACP in Yakima. She was very active in the organization.
Problems getting served in restaurants in Yakima. A lawsuit in
the late 30's.
12 - 18 Segregation came about as a result of attitudes of many Southern
settlers. Discrimination when he worked in the mines in Roslyn.
Problems at the cannery where she worked. Their daughter and her
accomplishments.
18 - 21 She remembers that many blacks owned their own homes in Yakima
because it was hard to find good places to rent. Differences
for blacks in the West and blacks in the South.
21 - 27 Her activities in politics. They were Democrats and never were
involved with the Republicans. Their son.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/4/79 Time: 20 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/24 Interviewee: Raymond Johnson
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 3/3/74 Length of Interview: 20 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location:Missoula, MT
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1925 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: maintenance Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Missoula
Estimated time on tape Principal subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 His parents were from Minneapolis. He was born here. How his
parents met and married. Family background.
3 - 5 Black Methodist church in Missoula. Black population. Jobs
blacks worked in. Almost all owned their own property. Black
businesses.
5 - 9 Jimmy Dorsey, a successful black lawyer from Missoula. Maintains
contacts with relatives. Other black families. Black athletes.
Famous blacks that came through the area.
9 - 10 Most blacks were Democrats. Talks about his stint in the service
during World War II.
10 - 13 The black population has really decreased in Missoula. Job
opportunities better elsewhere. Blacks in neighboring towns.
Black newspapers and magazines.
13 - 14 Blacks had a lot of contact with other minority groups, especially
Indians.
14 - 17 His feelings about his life and experiences in Missoula. More
about when blacks started moving out of Missoula.
17 - 21 Talks about some of the early Negro cowboys. Development of
civil rights legislation.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/6/79 Time: 20 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/25 Interviewee: Frank King
Collection Title: Black oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 4/5/73 Length of Interview: 50 mins.
Interviewer: Charles Ramsay Location: Tensed, ID
Birthdate/Intervibwee: 1902 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: farmer Restrictions: Yes___ No____
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: norther Idaho
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 Came out west in 1903. They got a homestead in 1910. How
they got their homestead.
5 - 8 Real rough the first couple of years. Started with oats and
wheat. Custom threshing outfits. How they gradually expanded
their area of cultivation.
8 - 11 Clearing the land. Chores before going to school. Chopping wood.
11 - 14 Schooling. Six families lived in the valley where their homestead
was.
14 - 21 Farming equipment was all horse-drawn. How they expanded their
land holdings. He took over the farm in 1927 when his father died.
21 - 23 Their experiences during the 1929 Depression. Decision to sell
their cattle.
SIDE B
0 - 4 Prices during the first World War. Talks more about their land.
4 - 5 Never involved in politics although they always voted.
5 - 7 Why their parents decided to move out West from North Carolina.
7 - 12 Never any problems with discrimination. Problem with the teacher
who wouldn't let the kids play together. Fun as a kid. Fishing and
hunting. Travelling. Yellowstone Park.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/7/79 Time: 45 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACTS, page 2 CT 2/25
SIDE B (cont)
12 - 16 Going to Farmington, WA. No other Negroes in the area. A few
lived in Coeur d'Alene. Other blacks he knew of.
16 - 19 Feelings about life and experiences in the area. Farming is
a free life. The price of land at present.
19 - 23 A little contact with local Indians. Not many other ethnic
groups in the area. Farm work and equipment.
23 - 28 Clearing brush off their land. Butchering hogs.
Location Number: CT 2/26 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. Randolph King
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 6/7/73 Length of Interview: 40 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Twin Falls, ID
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Mr. King--railroad Restrictions: Yes- No
worker, custodian Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Twin Falls, ID
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 He came to Twin Falls at the age of 24 from Oklahoma City.
Working on the railroad.
3 - 8 She was born in Memphis, he in Louisiana. They keep up contacts
with relatives. No black churches in town. Blacks have lived
all over town. Black businesses.
8 - 14 Talks about the various jobs he has held. Black children in
the local schools. Another Negro business. Other black families.
14 - 16 Making a commercial for Kodak.
16 - 22 Entertainment. Black club in town. Famous black singers and
dancers who came through town. Black athletes.
22 - 25 Job opportunities for blacks. Migrant workers.
25 - 28 Most of the blacks- are Democrats. He doesn't talk politics much
because Idaho is a Republican state.
SIDE B
0 - 4 Where blacks from Twin Falls have moved. Blacks in surrounding
towns--they don't know too many. Black newspapers and magazines.
4 - 7 Black farmer in the area. Not much contact with ethnic groups in
the area. Black soldiers in the area.
7 - 10 Experiences and feelings about living in Twin Falls.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/7/79 Time: 25 mins. 6-71
Location Number: CT 2/27 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. William King
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews-
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 4/5/73 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Tensed, ID
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1894 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: farmer Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: northern Idaho
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 Stump ranching in northern Idaho. He worked for I.A. Brown.
3 - 9 Life in North Carolina before they moved West. Family back--
grounds. Her father worked in a tobacco plant. Durham, North
Carolina. How they came West. Her work in Spokane.
9 - 15 More about the blacks in Spokane. She talks about her family.
Her early religious upbringing. Calvary Baptist Church in
Spokane.
15 - 17 Their courtship and marriage. Talk a bit about the Indians.
17 - 20 Why he decided to homestead where he did.
20 - 23 She tells about working in the Davenport Hotel. More about
how they met. First car.
23 - 30 He had his own horses and started raising oats, barley, and
potatoes. He also helped his brothers. Getting stumps out
of the ground. Raising cattle.
SIDE B
0 - 4 More about raising cattle. He raised a few hogs.
4 - 9 Hard to start a new farm now. The local Indians. Land has
increased in value tremendously since they bought their land.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/8/79) Time: 40 mins.
INTERVIEW ABSTRACTS, page 2 CT 2/27
SIDE B (cont)
9 - 11 One of their granddaughters works in Pullman. Other children.
11 - 15 Farm equipment and land. Pat Walsh, the railroad inspector.
Well-to-do blacks in Spokane.
15 - 20 His brothers, their places, and families. Their children.
20 - 23 They like living in the country. Wildlife in the area.
23 - 30 He was drafted and went into the service during WW I. Burial
detail. The campaigns were segregated.
Location Number: CT 2/28 Interviewee: William King
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews-
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of interview: 10/6/72 Length of Interview: 40 mins.
Interviewer: Location: Tensed, ID
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No___
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered:
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
This tape is generally about the King's early life in northern Idaho. There is considerable background buzzing and some of the tape is completely inaudible.
(See CT 2/27)
Abstractor: Date: Time:
Location Number: CT 2/29 Interviewee: William Knott
Collection Title: Black Oral History,Interviews-
Black studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 4/2/74 Length of Interview: 40 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Great Falls, MT
Birthdate/Interviewee: March 7, 1896 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Tailor Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Great Falls, MT
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 His parents came by train from Memphis in 1892. Family background.
Early Great Falls--sporting girls and cow punchers. Father first
worked as a janitor.
5 - 7 Not many Negroes in Great Falls. Black barbershops wouldn't
cut blacks' hair. Black church. The African Methodist
Episcopal Church.
7 - 11 Black social clubs. There were not enough colored men in town
to organize anything. No Negro section of town. Other black
businesses.
11 - 14 Schooling. There was no segregation in the school but prejudice
was obvious once he got out of school. Alva Jacobs, a well--
known black from the area.
14 - 18 He is in close contact with other relatives. Large black families
in the area. Sports activities. Entertainment. Shows that came
through town.
18 - 22 Describes his work as a tailor--he had two shops. Worked 14
years for the state liquor board. Other jobs available for blacks.
22 - 27 Most blacks were Democrats. Black politicians and government
workers. Blacks left the city for work elsewhere.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/18/79 Time: 35 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/29
SIDE A (cont)
27 - 29 Prejudice.
SIDE B
0 - 3 Many blacks were railroad men and moved with the railroad.
Blacks in surrounding towns. He always kept in touch with
other blacks.
3 - 4 He didn't care for the Chicago Defender.
4 - 7 Contacts with other ethnic groups--they always got along with
the Mexicans and the Indians. Black soldiers.
7 - 10 His experiences and feelings about living in Great Falls. He
loves the mountains and the climate. Hunting and fishing.
Location Number: CT 2/30 Interviewee: James Lee
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 7/20/73 Length of Interview: 35 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Portland, OR
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1907 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: porter; active in Restrictions: Yes___ No___
NAACP Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Portland, OR
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 2 Came to Portland in 1929 from Texas. Family background. He
was a railroad worker.
2 - 5 Black churches in Portland. Black social clubs and organizations.
Blacks lived mostly between the river and Broadway. Black
businesses.
5 - 9 Well-known blacks in the area. NAACP. He has one daughter who
attended school in Portland. Maintains contact with relatives
in Texas.
9 - 13 Entertainment for blacks. Famous singers and dancers. Work
as a porter for the Pullman Company. Other work. Black unions.
13 - 18 Blacks coming into Portland during World War II. Most blacks
were Republican through the 30's. Black politicians. Ship--
yard work, during WW II.
18 - 23 Housing for blacks in Vanport City which was washed away in the 50's.
23 - 25 He still thinks lots of new blacks come into Portland. Knows
blacks in surrounding areas.
25 - 27 Found out about blacks in other areas through the NAACP. The
Sentinel, a black newspaper.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/11/79 Time: 20 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/30
SIDE A (cont)
27 - 30 One school named after a black. No contact with other ethnic
groups. Feelings about living in Portland.
SIDE B
0 - 3 More about his feelings about living in Portland. Not many
jobs were open to blacks.
3 - 4 More about work in the NAACP.
Location Number: CT 2/31 Interviewee: Rev. & Mrs. Greenwood Luster
Collection Title: Black oral History interviews-
Black-Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 7/18/73 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Hermiston, OR
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: He is a minister. Restrictions: Yes___ No___
She works at a food processing plant. Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Hermiston
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 He went to work at Hanford in 1942 from Louisiana. Other work.
Travelled around and settled in Hermiston in 1949. Wife did
housework and workpd for telephone company.
5 - 9 She came to the Northwest from Arkansas in 1941. Work in
Portland and Pendleton.
9 - 19 Why he came out to the North-west. He helped to start the
first black church in Hermiston. How the church got started.
Reverend Banks. Church attendance now.
19 - 22 His family background.
22 - 27 Blacks live all over town. In the 50's most lived in the west part
of town. Not many own property.
27 - 30 Well-known blacks in the community.
SIDE B
0 - 5 Major industries in Hermiston now. Job opportunities for blacks.
She talks about her job.
5 - 10 They maintain contact with their relatives. Main entertainment
is church. James Goho (sp?) catered to the Negros which made him
unpopular among other whites. Discrimination.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/11/79 Time: 35 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/31
SIDE B (cont)
10 - 13 The Smith family. Other forms of entertainment for blacks.
13 - 16 Most blacks were Democrats. Where blacks moved when they left
Hermiston. The housing is much better now. Blacks in surrounding
areas.
16 - 19 How they find out about blacks in other areas. Many blacks
worked with Mexican-Americans.
19 - 27 How she feels about her life in Hermiston. He talks about
his experiences living in Hermiston. He feels spiritual work
is needed.
Location Number: CT 2/32 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. Isadore Maney
and Mr. Maney's mother
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 7/20/73 Length of Interview: 50 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Portland, OR
Birthdate/Interviewee: Mr. Maney--1931; Release: Yes___ No X
Mrs. Maney--1923; Mr. Maney's mother-1895
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Portland, OR
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 4 Mr. Maney's mother talks about her family background. Her
grandfather moved to Montana.
4 - 8 Mr. Maney tells how his parents ended up in Portland where he
was born. Black churches in Portland. Blacks lived in several
parts of town.
8 - 12 Black social clubs and organizations. Black businesses. Many
railroad workers from the South. Other job opportunities for blacks.
12 - 19 Schooling and jobs Mr. Maney has held. Well-known blacks in
the community. What Portland was like for blacks through the
20's. Law which prohibited blacks from owning property in
Oregon.
19 - 25 Mr. Maney's mother talks about growing up black in Montana. They
maintain much contact with relatives. Other black families in
Portland.
25 - 30 Effect the War (WW II) had on black migration to the Portland
area. Vanport, the housing section many blacks lived in while they
worked at the shipyards.
SIDE B
0 - 4 More about the effect of WW II on black population in Portland.
Blacks in high school in 40's and 50's. Opportunities for blacks
in the 40's and 50's.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/12/79 Time: 40 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/32
SIDE B (cont)
4 - 8 Black baseball teams. Black merchants and businesses. Famous black
musicians and singers. Job opportunities for blacks after the
War.
8 - 11 Most blacks were Democrats. Black politicians. Blacks in
government jobs.
11 - 15 Blacks he knows in surrounding areas. Black newspapers and
magazines he reads to keep up with black activities.
15 - 16 Not much contact with other ethnic groups.
16 - 19 They all talk about their feelings about living in the Northwest
and in Portland.
19 - 21 Talks a bit about his grandfather's experience with the Ku
Klux Klan.
Location Number: CT 2/33 Interviewee: Ethel Monroe
Collection Title: Black oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 4/5/74 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Missoula, MT
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation./Interviewee: registered nurse Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Missoula, MT
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 4 Family background. Father from Tennessee. Parents settled in
Missoula around 1919 or so. Black churches in Missoula. Not
any black clubs.
4 - 7 Blacks lived all over town. Many owned their own places--
many whites wouldn't rent to blacks. Black businesses. Her
uncle ran a cleaning service. Not much contact with relatives.
Other black families.
7 - 11 Black sports. Jim Dorsey, a black lawyer. Rheinhardt was a
well-known athlete. Other entertainment for blacks. Famous
blacks who came through town.
11 - 14 Her work as a nurse. Most blacks she knew were Democrats.
No black politicians or government workers. Black population
in Missoula.
14 - 15 Many blacks were stationed at Ft. Missoula in the 1890's.
Many of their descendants settled in Missoula.
15 - 21 Blacks didn't work in the logging camps. Job opportunities for
blacks. Population has declined. No entertainment was a problem.
Many blacks moved to Seattle during World War II.
21 - 24 Blacks in surrounding areas. How they found out what blacks
were doing in surrounding areas.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/12/79 Time: 20 mins. 6-71
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/33
SIDE A (cont)
24 - 27 There was very little contact with Indians.
27 - 30 Her feelings about living in Missoula.
Location Number: CT 2/34 Interviewee: Sandy moss
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 12/2/72 Length of Interview:
Interviewer: Location: Seattle, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: diesel engineer Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Seattle, WA
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 4 His father was a stonemason who came to Seattle from Kansas.
They were originally from North Carolina. Black churches.
4 - 7 Holiday celebrations shared by whites and blacks in the early
1900's. Blacks more or less lived alongside whites. Few
blacks owned their own property until the late teens.
7 - 11 A few black businesses--barbershops and hand laundries. School
districting. Blacks in schools. Well-known blacks from the
area.
11 - 14 More about family background. His work as a diesel engineer.
Keeps in contact with relatives in the East.
14 - 16 Black apartment houses in Seattle.
16 - 17 Care for widows and orphans by church or fraternal orders.
17 - 19 Clothing styles. Show people and travelling salesmen often
wore the latest styles.
19 - 25 Sports activities. Black baseball team. Good black baseball
team from the Roslyn coal mines.
25 - 30 Other forms of entertainment for blacks. Dances. Vaudeville
acts. Black YMCA and black YWCA.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/12/79 Time: 45 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/34
SIDE B
0 - 3 Famous black singers and dancers.
3 - 7 Whites wouldn't take Negros into the union. His father had
trouble finding work. Story of building a hotel with Byrd,
a black. In 1927 the brickmasons started accepting blacks.
7 - 11 Black politicians. He was turned down for a policeman's job.
Blacks in government jobs in Olympia.
11 - 16 More about his father's work building breweries. Working at
the gasworks. When the strike came many blacks went to work
at the coal mines. Blacks moved out of the area as other jobs
opened up.
16 - 20 Influx of blacks into Seattle during both World Wars. No
news about blacks in local newspapers. The Pittsburgh Courier,
a black newspaper.
20 - 25 Trouble with Scandanavians and Swedes who refused to work with
blacks. No trouble with black soldiers. No black transient
workers.
25 - 30 How hard it is for blacks to get together. Strike at the dock.
Location Number: CT 2/35 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. George Nelson
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 11/9/72 Length of Interview:45 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Pendleton, OR
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered:
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 He tells why he moved to Pendleton. Family background. Black
churches in LaGrande and Walla Walla.
4 - 9 Establishing a black church in Pendleton in 1949. No black
organizations outside of the church except for the NAACP.
9 - 13 Black population in Pendleton is quite small. Blacks live all
over town. Job opportunities.
13 - 18 Many blacks owned their own places. Many came out in the late
40's and early 50's. Other black families.
18 - 26 Black businesses. Entertainment. Athletics. The rodeo.
26 - 28 Black cowboys in the rodeo.
28 - 30 Black government workers.
SIDE B
0 - 4 Black newspapers. Discussion about what blacks call themselves.
Transient black workers. Gandy-dancers.
4 - 8 Travelling in the area. Blacks she knows in surrounding area.
Families in town.
8 - 9 Unintelligible.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/13/79 Time: 30 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/35
SIDE B (cont)
9 - 11 Other blacks in the area and what has happened to them.
11 - 16 Their feelings about living in the Northwest. Job
opportunities opening up although there aren't any factories.
Location Number: CT 2/36 Interviewee: Flexan Pierce
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 10/30/72 Length of Interview: 40 mins.
Interviewer: ? Location: Spokane, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1900 Release: Yes___ No___
Occupation/Interviewee: houseworker Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Spokane, WA
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 Came from North Carolina by train. Black churches. Other organ--
izations--NAACP.
3 - 6 Emancipation Day. Blacks lived all over town and many owned
property. Negro businesses.
6 - 8 Father was very strict. Churchwork quite important. Schooling.
8 - 11 Black population. Maintain contact with relatives in North
Carolina.
11 - 12 Her marriage.
12 - 13 Other black families in Spokane.
13 - 21 Clothing styles. Why people decided to move out West from the
South. Her husband talks a bit about his early life (This is
hard to understand). He talks about his experiences in World
War II.
21 - 25 Black clubs. Politics. What happened to blacks when they
moved from Spokane.
25 - 30 Unintelligible.
SIDE B
0 - 10 General discussion about their family. How the times have changed.
(This is very difficult to hear.)
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/13/79 Time: 30 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/37 Interviewee: Edward Pitter
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 11/19/73 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Seattle, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: ship and dock worker; Restrictions: Yes___ No___
deputy sheriff; post office worker Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Seattle, WA
Spokane, WA
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 7 Came to Seattle in 1909 from Jamaica. (He is very difficult
to understand). Other work he has done in the Northwest. Why
he decided to settle in Seattle.
7 - 8 Buildings in Seattle he recalls.
8 - 15 Family background. Born in Manchester, Jamaica, Other
Jamaicans he knew in Seattle. Marcus Garvey, well-known
black from Jamaica. Other famous blacks who visited Seattle.
15 - 21 NAACP. Never joined a church in town. Joined the Masons
in 1919 or so. More about black churches in Seattle when he
moved here.
21 - 25 Black clubs and lodges.
25 - 27 Most blacks in the Madison Street district. Mr. Gross' hotel.
SIDE B
0 - 4 More about Mr. Gross. Mr. Woodson who owned property in Spokane.
4 - 8 Most blacks owned their own homes. Negro businesses--mostly
barbershops. Other blacks in the area. Black soldiers.
8 - 13 Working on a ship. Trip to the Orient. Story of having a
good time in Shanghai.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/13/79 Time: 40 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/37
SIDE B (cont)
13 - 16 Discrimination in China. Experiences being black in various
places.
16 - 23 His marriage in 1916. How he met his wife. Their children.
Not much contact with relatives.
23 - 26 His wife and her relatives.
26 - 30 Black baseball teams. T.S. Barnette.
Location Number: CT 2/38 Interviewee: Edward Pitter
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview:11/19/73 (See CT 2/37) Length of Interview: 45 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Seattle, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: ship and dock worker; Restrictions: Yes___ No___
deputy sheriff; post office worker Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Seattle, WA
Spokane, WA
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 Early married life. More about black baseball teams and players.
3 - 7 Work as a deputy sheriff. Politics. He later worked for the
Post Office.
7 - 10 Entertainment for blacks. Dances. Story of a big dance.
10 - 14 Famous black singers and dancers from Seattle. Ray Charles and
Quincy Jones. All the churches had good choirs. Other well-known
blacks.
14 - 16 Talks about some of the work he's done: insurance salesman,
deputy sheriff, railroad worker, and coat check work.
16 - 22 Politics. Young Man's Democratic Club. He organized other
Democratic Clubs. Democratic Club activities. Other political
clubs.
22 - 28 Blacks in politics and government jobs. Bob Crane, whose
father was an underworld figure.
28 - 30 Policemen in 1919 or so. Other blacks in government jobs.
SIDE B
0 - 1 Other blacks in government jobs.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/13/79 Time: 40 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/38
SIDE B (cont)
1 - 6 Many blacks from the South. Other black families he remembers.
Many blacks moved to California. Mr. Porter.
6 - 8 Black magazines and newspapers. News about blacks in other
parts of the country.
8 - 10 Not too much contact with other minorities.
10 - 14 His feelings about his life in the Northwest.
Location Number: CT 2/39 Interviewee: Mrs. Ollie Rucker
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 7/22/72 Length of Interview: 30 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Yakima, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No____
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Roslyn, WA
Franklin, WA
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 Family background. Father came to Roslyn as strike-breaker from
Virginia. Later moved to mining area in Franklin in King County.
Black social clubs.
3 - 8 Doesn't remember any black politicians. Jim Shepardston, an
influential black. Very well integrated area so there was no
discrimination. Doesn't remember any trouble between black and
white miners.
8 - 15 How her parents happened to come out to the Northwest. There
were a few mixed marriages in Roslyn. Blacks in other areas.
Cleone and Barnette. Black families in the Yakima area. Corfu,
the black community on the Columbia.
15 - 19 Talk about other families in Roslyn. The Donaldson family.
The Claxton family.
19 - 23 No problem with discrimination. Schooling. Black miners.
Ravensdale, a black mining community in King County.
23 - 26 Her mother's father, a Scotsman. More about family background.
26 - 27 Not many political activities that she recalls.
28 - 30 Black businesses in Spokane.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/13/79 Time: 30 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/40
SIDE B
0 - 5 Negro population in Spokane was very small until World War II.
Her family owned an orchard. The decline of the company.
5 - 13 Early Spokane. More about the decline of the company. What
happened to the property after the business was finished. Her
uncle's resort.
13 - 19 Black social clubs. Many blacks owned their own property. Ideas
about black stereotypes. Black intellectuals in the community.
19 - 26 Activities for blacks in town. Her father's activities after
the orchard business was finished. Her father's early life. The
Quality Printing Company.
26 - 30 She shows some photographs of family and friends and talks
about them.
Location Number: CT 2/40 Interviewee: Sam Smith
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 11/20/73 Length of Interview: 30 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Seattle, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1922 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: storekeeper; Restrictions: Yes___ No___
expeditor Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Seattle
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 2 Family background. Originally from Louisiana. Permanently
settled in Seattle in 1936 after being in the Army. Education.
2 - 6 Black churches, social clubs. Black political clubs he helped
to organize. Much contact with relatives. Work as storekeeper
and an expeditor, at Boeing. Many blacks at Boeing.
6 - 9 Most blacks were Democrats. Black public officials and government
workers.
9 - 16 How he got involved in politics. Talks a bit about local politics
and his election for City Council in 1967. Election of 1969---
troubles in Seattle. His political philosophy. Mayoral candidates,
in 1972.
16 - 19 Feelings about more blacks being elected to office. He's never
regretted going into politics.
19 - 24 Legislation he was instrumental in passing. City ordinances he
worked on.
24 - 28 His feelings about living in the Northwest. Progress blacks have
made in Seattle. The rest of this tape is another interview with
an unidentified man and woman.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/15/79 Time:20 mins. 6-79
Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Location Number: CT 2/41 Interviewee: Mrs. Virgil Stewart
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 6/5/73 Length of Interview: 45 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Loc ation: Boise, ID
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1908 Release: Yes___ No__X_
Occupation/Interviewee: farm wife Restrictions: Yes___ No____
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Boise, ID
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 6 Came to Boise in 1943 from Tennessee. Family background.
Story of Wallace Cooky (sp?) , a white contractor who convinced
her sister to move out West.
6 - 12 Her brother-in-law was foreman of a ranch in Idaho. Later
she and her husband moved out. Stripping a cow, Working at
a dairy farm. Her work schedule was very difficult.
12 - 14 After four years of working on another ranch, they bought
their own place. Convincing their husbands to buy the place.
14 - 18 Attending church in town. Story of Reverend-Banks being put in
jail.
18 - 21 No black social clubs. Other black families in the area.
21 - 24 More about life on the ranch. Did daywork and sewing.
24 - 30 They often visited back in Tennessee. Other relatives. Enter--
tainment. Organized some social clubs. Going to the show.
SIDE B
0 - 4 Husband's work for the city. She was a Republican but often voted
Democratic. Her work as a registrar.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/15/79 Time:30 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/41
SIDE B (cont)
4 - 8 Blacks lived all over Boise. Many soldiers and their wives lived
in Boise. Blacks in surrounding areas. Keeping up with black
activities.
8 - 10 No contact with other minorities. Organizing a mission in a
nearby town for Mexican transient workers.
10 - 12 Feelings about living in Idaho. Always felt comfortable in Boise.
Location Number: CT 2/42 Interviewee: Mrs. Henry Strong
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews-
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.- 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 7/22/72 Length of Interview: 10 mins.
Interviewer: Charles Ramsay and Location: Roslyn, WA
Quintard Tarylor
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1888 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Roslyn
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 How she came to move to Roslyn. Reverend Brown's church. Other
churches. Visiting relatives back East.
3 - 6 Mr. Shepardston got black people to come to work in the mines.
Many blacks moved away from Roslyn. Well-known blacks in town.
6 - 7 Not much problem with discrimination. Social Life.
7 - 9 Many foreigners lived in town. No blacks worked for the city
that she recalls.
9 - 10 Talks about her brother and living in British Columbia.
10 - 11 Talks about some picture albums she has. Other blacks in Roslyn.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/15/79 Time: 7 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/43 Interviewee: Jack Tanner
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 1/20/79 Length of Interview: 1 hr.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Tacoma, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1919 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: lawyer Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Tacoma, WA
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 Parents migrated to Washington from Indiana and Mississippi in
the late 1800's. Family background. Problems his grandmother
had in Indianapolis. Father a longshoreman.
5 - 8 Black churches in Tacoma. Social life was limited to church
activities. Role of the church. Black social clubs.
8 - 12 Many blacks and other foreigners lived in the central area of
Tacoma. Black politicians. Other black officials and government
workers. Job opportunities for blacks--most on the waterfront; no
professionals.
12 - 14 Education. Well-known blacks from the Tacoma area.
14 - 17 Wife's family came from Mississippi in 1924 or so. Story of
them being ordered out of Mississippi.
17 - 21 Black athletes. Entertainment was mostly provided by the church.
No fraternal or social organizations. Black musicians and
singers.
21 - 25 Some blacks joined unions. Many longshoremen joined the union.
He talks about the development of the union movement. Blacks
involved in the union.
25 - 30 Many blacks started moving into the area in the late 30's.
Black soldiers at Ft. Lewis.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/15/79 Time: 30 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/43
SIDE B
0 - 5 More about black soldiers. More came during the Korean War.
GI Bill helped many blacks to go to school. Many middle-class
blacks in the Northwest. Many whites did not like the influx
of blacks. No outright discrimination but police brutality
was not uncommon.
5 - 17 NAACP was fairly active. It was established in Tacoma in 1913.
Miscegenation laws. His activities in the NAACP. Involvement
in the civil rights movement. Marches.
17 - 27 Talks about his involvement in Indian fishing rights demonstra--
tions. His work as a lawyer--arguing cases before the Supreme
Court.
27 - 30 Blacks have not been as active in politics as Indians have.
Location Number: CT 2/44 Interviewee: Jack Tanner
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 1/20/73 Length of Interview: 30 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Tacoma, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1919 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: lawyer (See CT 2/43) Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Tacoma, WA
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 More about Indian confrontations over fishing rights. He has
been involved with this problem since 1964.
3 - 7 Blacks in politics. Black movements. He was state chairman
for the Democratic Party in 1967. Friendship with Scoop
Jackson. More about his political activities.
7 - 14 His campaign for governor in 1968. His campaign platform.
Work with the NAACP made him politically sophisticated. More
about friendship with Jackson. Jackson's Politics.
14 - 17 What he would have done had he been elected governor.
17 - 20 Bush Prarie named after a black who travelled with Lewis and
Clark. Contact with other ethnic groups was minimal. Black
soldiers.
21 - 27 Feelings about living in the Pacific Northwest.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/18/79 Time:15 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/45 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. Warner Terrell
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 6/5/73 Length of Interview: 40 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Loc ation: Boise, ID
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Mr. Terre11--porter, Restrictions: Yes___ No___
bellhop; Mrs. Terrell--wrap checker Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Boise, ID
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 She has been in Boise since 1932. He was born in Boise in 1909,
Family background. Her family travelled with Brigham Young to
Utah.
5 - 9 Black churches in Boise. She grew up in the Mormon religion,
but later became Methodist. Black social organizations and
clubs. Blacks generally lived across the tracks.
9 - 14 No segregation in the schools. Blacks in the schools. Well-
known blacks from the community.
14 - 18 Maintain contacts with relatives. Other black families in the
Boise area. Entertainment. Black baseball team, the Boise
Monarchs. Famous singers and dancers from Boise.
18 - 23 Job opportunities for blacks have opened up. Many worked for
hotels in town. Many rich people in Boise.
23 - 27 Most blacks were Republicans. Not many black city workers or
politicians in the area.
SIDE B
0 - 4 Blacks in surrounding areas. Contact with other ethnic groups.
Tracy Thompson, the cowboy.
5 - 8 Feelings about living in Boise. Changes for blacks.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/18/79 Time: 30 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/46 Interviewee: Paul Thomas
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 10.21/79 Length of Interview: 1hr.
Interviewer: Joyce Stephens Location: Seattle, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: historian Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered:
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 5 Sources for his thesis on George Bush, a black pioneer. How he
got interested in black history.
5 - 9 Various theories about George Bush and when he came West. The
Bush family got along well with the Indians.
9 - 15 Difficulty in tracing the Bush family tree. Trouble with research
on George Bush who was relatively unknown. Bush's personality.
15 - 18 Examination of the 1850 Census figures.
18 - 23 Disposition of the Bush family possessions. Relationship of the
Bush settlement with the Indians was always good. No diaries of
the family.
23 - 30 Other work George Bush did-guide, trapper. Why the Bush's
settled where they did. Couldn't settle in Oregon due to
legislation prohibiting blacks from owning property.
SIDE B
0 - 4 Simms, the postmaster and Indian agent and his relationship
with Bush. Trouble Bush had getting a clear title to his home--
stead. Laws passed about blacks in 1843.
4 - 10 Story about claimjumpers on Bush's place in 1851 or so.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/18/79 Time: 40 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/46
SIDE B (cont)
10 - 18 Legislative manual first published in 1889. It has a biographical
sketch of George Bush. Others who might have information on
Bush. General talk about other information sources.
18 - 23 Isaac Eby, formulated petition for Bush to get his land. Story of
Eby getting his head chopped off by Indians.
23 - 27 George Washington, a black in Centralia, and Bush getting
confused. Problems between Eastern and Western Washington.
27 - 30 The setting of the Washington boundary at the 49th parallel.
Location Number: CT 2/47 Interviewce: Mrs. Tracy Thompson
(Bertie Neoma)
Collection Title: Black. Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 6/8/73 Length of Interview: 45 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Pocatello, ID
Birthdate/Interviewee: 1885 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: cleaning woman Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Pocatello, ID
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 4 Came to Pocatello in 1919. Originally from Missouri. Travelled
around with her husband, a rodeo rider. Courtship and marriage.
4 - 5 More about her husbad's love to ride horses. Killed in Bozeman
in 1939 while riding.
5 - 10 Black church in Pocatello. Quite a few blacks in the community.
Church activities. Black social clubs and organizations. Many
blacks have moved now.
10 - 13 Blacks lived all over. Black businesses.
13 - 17 Well-known blacks in Pocatello.
17 - 20 Family background--originally from Missouri. Other families in
the area.
20 - 23 Entertainment. Son played baseball with a white team in the early,
20's. Famous singers and dancers that came through.
23 - 26 Job opportunities for blacks--many worked for the railroad.
26 - 30 Blacks in politics. Many blacks were Democrats. Bothparties
tried to attract the black vote.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/18/79 Time: 6-7
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/47
SIDE B
0 - 5 More about blacks and politics. No blacks ever ran for office.
Blacks in government jobs. Her work for the county as a
cleaning woman.
5 - 7 She had 10 children. Talks about the 6 who are living and where
they are now.
7 - 10 Many blacks have moved away. Most came from the South. Blacks
in surrounding areas.
10 - 11 Other black cowboys in the Northwest. George Fletcher.
11 - 13 Her husband and the Indians got along well together. Contact
with other minorities.
13 - 15 Feelings about living in the Northwest. Job and educational
opportunities are good.
Location Number: CT 2/48 Interviewee: Thomas and Ophelia Walker
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 4/4/74 Length of Interview: 30 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Ananconda, MT
Birthdate/Interviewee: Thomas 1904 Release: Yes___ NO X -
Ophelia--1903
Occupation/Interviewee: Mr. Walker-janitor Restrictions: Yes___ No___
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Ananconda, MT
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 3 He came from Texas when he was 13. She's been in Montana since
1923. Family backgrounds.
3 - 6 Black churches in town. Black social clubs. Blacks lived all
over town. Schooling.
6 - 9 Well-known blacks from the area. Contact with relatives outside
of Montana. Other black families.
9 - 12 Black baseball team. Other entertainment. Picnics. Local band.
12 - 14 His work as a janitor for 42 years. Jobs blacks had.
14 - 21 Blacks in politics. Blacks in city and county jobs. Black-
population. Many blacks-moved to Seattle.
21 - 26 Blacks in surrounding towns. No contact with other minorities.
26 - 30 Their feelings about living in the Northwest.
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/19/79 Time: 20 mins. 6-79
Location Number: CT 2/49 Interviewee: Mr. & Mrs. John Woods
Collection Title: Black Oral History Interviews
Black Studies/Quintard Taylor
Accession No.: 78-3
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT
Date of Interview: 8/5/72 Length of Interview: 40 mins.
Interviewer: Quintard Taylor Location: Yakima, WA
Birthdate/Interviewee: Mr. Woods--1889 Release: Yes___ No X
Occupation/Interviewee: Mr. Woods--janitor Restrictions: Yes___ No____
Explanation:
Geographical Areas Covered: Yakima, WA
Estimated time on tape Principal Subjects Covered
SIDE A
0 - 2 Family backgrounds. Their family was from Missouri.
2 - 5 Attended a white church until 1906 when a black church was
established. The Missionary Society. Black social clubs she is
involved with. He talks about black fraternal organizations
for men.
5 - 10 All the early pioneers owned their own homes. Other black
families in the area. Black businesses.
10 - 12 Most blacks were Republicans. Blacks in city and county jobs.
12 - 15 His work on a ranch and later in a bank. City sites named after
blacks.
15 - 19 Blacks and Indians got along fine. Not much discrimination.
Contact with "Night Calvary". Black soldiers.
19 - 28 Their son, Henry, became a prominent boxer--how he got started.
He became lightweight champion of the Pacific Northwest. Story
of his son catching a freight train to California when he was 16.
28 - 30 Other well-known blacks from the area.
(cont)
Abstractor: Margot H. Knight Date: 6/19/79 Time:30 mins. 6-79
INTERVIEW ABSTRACT, page 2 CT 2/49
SIDE B
0 - 6 Jobs blacks have in Yakima. Black population in the Yakima
Valley. The Jones family, a black singing group. Black
baseball team. Black athletes.
6 - 8 Married for 60 years. More about her family background.
(She shows some pictures and talks about them).