Scope and Contents BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT Artis, long-time African American resident of Springfield, discusses his family history, growing up on a farm near Buffalo, and attending a one room school house. He recalls his move to Springfield, conditions for black residents, black businesses, and neighbors. He describes Chicago race riots and conditions after the 1908 Springfield race riots. He discusses his work as an AFL union counselor for building service employees, a contractor laying linoleum, and tax...

Scope and Contents BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT Bridgewater, a black resident of Springfield, discusses her employment as a housekeeper in various households, treatment by white employers, social conditions faced by blacks in Springfield and in the South, and difficulties encountered in buying her own home. Other topics include her travels in the United States and the Holy Land, attending the 1955 Baptist World Alliance in England, volunteer work at church and at Memorial Hospital, her family history, Springfield...

Scope and Contents

BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT LeRoy Brown talks about his experiences farming, his work as a coachman, discrimination encountered in daily life, the 1908 race riot and its aftermath, Springfield neighborhoods, businesses, churches, and schools.

1 tape, 90 mins., 19 pp. Interview by Reverend Negil L. McPherson, 1974 OPEN

Scope and Contents BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT Bunch, retired state employee, discusses life in Centralia, Illinois as an African American; social conditions and school segregation, gambling and the Emancipation Day celebration. He also discusses Springfield neighborhoods, schools, and businesses in the 1930's and 40's, segregation and discrimination as both a citizen and state employee. He describes racially mixed neighborhoods, his 34 years as an employee of the state with the maintenance department, Illinois...

Scope and Contents

BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT Edith Carpenter discusses the African American community in Springfield: family, 1908 race riot, race relations, black businesses, crime and churches.

2 tapes, 180 mins., 51 pp. Interview by Reverend Negil L. McPherson, 1975 OPEN See collateral file

Scope and Contents

BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT Sharlottie Carr discusses the African American community in Springfield, her family, the 1908 race riot, employment, churches, theaters and education.

1 tape, 70 mins., 24 pp. Interview by Reverend Negil L. McPherson, 1974 OPEN See collateral file

Scope and Contents BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT Phoebe Day discusses her life in Springfield: her neighbors and neighborhood, her beauty shop business, marriages, and her husband's furniture refinishing business. She recalls her treatment as an office building matron at the Centennial Building under the administrations of Secretaries of State Edward Barnett and Paul Powell. She recalls the 1908 Springfield race riot and the destruction it caused, invasion of her home by soldiers, and efforts to protect the...

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BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT Dungy, African-American nurse, discusses her family background and education at a nursing school in New York, her experiences nursing in Springfield, employment at St. John's Hospital, racial discrimination at the hospital and in Springfield, her neighborhood, Depression, and sheltered care homes.

2 tapes, 170 mins., 57 pp. Interview by Reverend Negil L. McPherson, 1974 OPEN See collateral file

Scope and Contents BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT Ferguson, African-American resident of Springfield, discusses her family background, conditions for African-Americans, employment and unemployment, segregation and discrimination, the 1908 race riot, neighborhoods and businesses, Bunn Park, education and counseling students in the schools. She discusses changes in Springfield, attending the University of Illinois receiving a degree in Home Economics, marriage, and her husband's early death. She also recounts her...

Scope and Contents BLACK COMMUNITY PROJECT Hale, long-time resident of the Springfield area, discusses her experiences as a member of the city's African American community. She recalls her family history, farm life and growing up in a rural area, Springfield neighborhoods and schools, relations with white neighbors, marriage and family life, her husband's work in the Tuxhorn coal mine, the 1908 Springfield race riot, and racial discrimination. 1 tape, 90 mins., 33 pp. Interview by Reverend Negil...