Oral History Interviews
These interviews—conducted in the 1980s with African Americans who had migrated north during the 1910s and 1920s and with those in Philadelphia who witnessed their arrival—reveal the complex struggles to overcome racism both in the South and in Philadelphia; the search for opportunities in the North; and the worlds of church, work, school, and entertainment which these individuals inhabited. Students curated each interview with an OHMS index, featuring audio segments animated with images, GPS coordinates, and descriptive keywords. Interviews are archived at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Interview: Crosby Brittenum,…
A native of Arkansas, Crosby Brittenum (b. 1899) was working as a waiter in Saint Louis when a step-uncle paid for his ticket to Philadelphia in 1920 so that he… -
Interview: Edgar Campbell, July…
Edgar Campbell (1902-1987) was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. In 1917, he and his parents joined the Great Migration north, settling first in Baltimore,… -
Interview: Edgar Campbell,…
Edgar Campbell (1902-1987) was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. In 1917, he and his parents joined the Great Migration north, settling first in Baltimore,… -
Interview: Hughsey Childs,…
Hughsey Childs (1899-1986), a migrant from Abbeville, South Carolina, to Philadelphia during the late 1910s, recalls in this 1984 oral history interview details… -
Interview: Beulah Collins,…
Beulah Collins (1892-1986), the daughter of a tenant cropper, grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. After her husband died in the influenza epidemic of… -
Interview: Beulah Collins,…
Beulah Collins (1892-1986), the daughter of a tenant cropper, grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. After her husband died in the influenza epidemic of… -
Interview: Arthur Dingle, July…
Arthur Clifford Dingle (1891-1989) was born in Manning, South Carolina to Edward Dingle and Susan Emma Dingle. He was one of nine children. Dingle attended… -
Interview: Charles A. Ealy, May…
Born in Mariana, Florida, Charles Ealy (1895-1990) lived and worked in Jacksonville before moving to Philadelphia to take a position with Citizens and Southern… -
Interview: William Fields, March…
William E. Fields (b. 1889) the son of a farmer in Denton County, Texas, left home at the age of 17. He soon married, started a family, and moved to Dallas,… -
Interview: William Fields,…
William E. Fields (b. 1889) the son of a farmer in Denton County, Texas, left home at the age of 17. He soon married, started a family, and moved to Dallas,… -
Interview: Walter Gay, May 22,…
Walter Gay (c. 1902- c. 1994) recounts his experiences involving racial violence in the South and his family's move northwards to Philadelphia in the year 1917.… -
Interview: Walter Gay, April 25,…
Walter Gay (c.1902 - c.1994) recounts his experiences involving racial violence in the South and his family's move northwards to Philadelphia in the year 1917.… -
Interview: Ruth W. Hayre, June…
Ruth Wright Hayre (1910-1998), was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Philadelphia. She was the daughter and granddaughter of two of Philadelphia’s most… -
Interview: Fletcher Hillian,…
Fletcher (1895-1992) and Utensie (1902-2006) Hillian participated in the Great Migration by moving to Philadelphia in 1925 from Cheraw and Due West, South… -
Interview: Fannie Hutchinson,…
Born and raised on a sharecroppers' farm near Petersburg, Virginia, Fannie Hutchinson (1905-1990) was one of sixteen children. In her 1984 interview, Hutchinson… -
Interview: Ralph Jones, February…
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Ralph Jones (1906-1991) witnessed the arrival of Black migrants during the Great Migration and experienced the tensions between… -
Interview: Ella Lee, June 15,…
In this June 15, 1984 interview, Ella Lee (1891-1990) discusses her long and hard life as she travelled from her native Georgia north to Philadelphia during the… -
Interview: Milo Manly, September…
In this 1984 interview, Milo Manly (1903-1991) discusses his experiences in Philadelphia during the 1920s and 1930s with the Lloyd Committee, Mothers Assistance… -
Interview: Isadore M. Martin,…
In these 1984 and 1987 interviews with I. Maximilian Martin Jr (1910-1992) he recounts how his family migrated from Enfield, North Carolina, in 1913. Isadore… -
Interview: Isadore M. Martin,…
In these 1984 and 1987 interviews with I. Maximilian Martin Jr (1910-1992) he recounts how his family migrated from Enfield, North Carolina, in 1913. Isadore… -
Interview: Lillie McKnight,…
Lillie McKnight (1894-1996) grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, with a single mother, where several generations of her family worked in domestic service for a… -
Interview: Russell F. Minton,…
Dr. Russell F. Minton (1900-1997), born around 1900, was an African-American physician from 1929 to 1975. Minton graduated medical school in 1929 and became a… -
Interview: James E. Plunkett,…
Born in Danville, Virginia, James Plunkett (1896-1986) spent much his life moving from job to job, including tobacco farmer, bricklayer, railroad worker, and… -
Interview: James E. Plunkett,…
Born in Danville, Virginia, James Plunkett (1896-1986) spent much his life moving from job to job, including tobacco farmer, bricklayer, railroad worker, and… -
Interview: Louise Smith,…
Born and raised in North Carolina, Louise Smith (189?-n.d.), moved to Philadelphia after a railroad accident left her father unable to work when she was just… -
Interview: John B. Summers,…
John B. Summers (b. 1888) was born in Columbus, Ohio. The son of an AME Church minister in Columbus, Summers was raised by a prominent family in Ohio, before… -
Interview: John B. Summers, April…
John B. Summers (b. 1888) was born in Columbus, Ohio. The son of an AME Church minister in Columbus, Summers was raised by a prominent family in Ohio, before… -
Interview: Charles Vance, March…
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Charles Vance (1902-1988) was just nine when his mother died and his father relocated the family to Whistler, Alabama. Unable to… -
Interview: William S. Steffens,…
William Steffens (b. 1897) was born to Fannie and Manuel Steffens in Jacksonville, Florida. He and his family remained in Jacksonville until 1917 when the… -
Interview: William S. Steffens,…
William Steffens (b. 1897) was born to Fannie and Manuel Steffens in Jacksonville, Florida. He and his family remained in Jacksonville until 1917 when the… -
Interview: Minnie S. Whitney,…
In the first of two separate interviews conducted in March of 1984, Minnie Whitney (1902-1995) recalls her journey traveling from the Eastern Shore of Virginia… -
Interview: Minnie S. Whitney,…
In two separate interviews conducted in March of 1984, Minnie Whitney (1902-1995) recalls her journey traveling from the Eastern Shore of Virginia to the city… -
Interview: Bessie Yancey, March…
Born in Boykins, Virginia, Bessie Yancey (1898-1897) grew up on a farm where her family raised a variety of crops, including cotton and sugar corn. Yancey was… -
Interview: Idelle Truitt Elsey,…
Born into a prominent “Old Philadelphia” family, Idelle Truitt Elsey (1892-1985) worked at the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and at the Brown and Stevens… -
Interview: Ernest Grey, July 12,…
Born on Cat Island, South Carolina, sometime in the early 1890s Ernest Grey spent his childhood moving between family members in Georgia and South Carolina.… -
Interview: Leon Grimes, July 21,…
Born in Palatka, Florida, Leon Grimes (1899-1985) was 13 years old when his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. In his 1984 oral history interview, Grimes… -
Interview: John (Jack) Jones,…
Jones was born 1904 in Philadelphia and grew up in the Germantown neighborhood. His father came from North Carolina and started work at Midvale Steel in… -
Interview: George Macon Madison
George Madison (b.1909), the son of a farmer, was born in Millers Tavern, Virginia. His family moved to Riverton, New Jersey then moved to Philadelphia after he… -
Interview: Joseph A. Marshall
A self-described “Old Philadelphian,” Joseph A. Marshall (1901-1990) was born and raised in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. In 1923, he joined… -
Interview: Marie Mathis, June 4,…
Marie Mathis (July 28, 1910 - February 28, 2005) was born in Greenwood, South Carolina, to parents William and Sina Mathis. Originally residing on a farm and… -
Interview: Harry L. (Harvey) Wilson
Harvey L. Wilson (1880-1982) was born in South Carolina to a farming family. Even though he had a job as a railroad man in the South, he moved North in 1917 to… -
Interview: Kathryn F. (Kitty)…
Kathryn ("Kitty") Fambro Woodard (1911-2003), born in Fort Valley, Georgia, moved to Philadelphia with her family when she was eight years old. Coming from…
Interview: Crosby Brittenum,…
A native of Arkansas, Crosby Brittenum (b. 1899) was working as a waiter in Saint Louis when a step-uncle paid for his ticket to Philadelphia in 1920 so that he…
Interview: Edgar Campbell, July…
Edgar Campbell (1902-1987) was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. In 1917, he and his parents joined the Great Migration north, settling first in Baltimore,…
Interview: Edgar Campbell,…
Edgar Campbell (1902-1987) was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. In 1917, he and his parents joined the Great Migration north, settling first in Baltimore,…
Interview: Hughsey Childs,…
Hughsey Childs (1899-1986), a migrant from Abbeville, South Carolina, to Philadelphia during the late 1910s, recalls in this 1984 oral history interview details…
Interview: Beulah Collins,…
Beulah Collins (1892-1986), the daughter of a tenant cropper, grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. After her husband died in the influenza epidemic of…
Interview: Beulah Collins,…
Beulah Collins (1892-1986), the daughter of a tenant cropper, grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. After her husband died in the influenza epidemic of…
Interview: Arthur Dingle, July…
Arthur Clifford Dingle (1891-1989) was born in Manning, South Carolina to Edward Dingle and Susan Emma Dingle. He was one of nine children. Dingle attended…
Interview: Charles A. Ealy, May…
Born in Mariana, Florida, Charles Ealy (1895-1990) lived and worked in Jacksonville before moving to Philadelphia to take a position with Citizens and Southern…
Interview: William Fields, March…
William E. Fields (b. 1889) the son of a farmer in Denton County, Texas, left home at the age of 17. He soon married, started a family, and moved to Dallas,…
Interview: William Fields,…
William E. Fields (b. 1889) the son of a farmer in Denton County, Texas, left home at the age of 17. He soon married, started a family, and moved to Dallas,…
Interview: Walter Gay, May 22,…
Walter Gay (c. 1902- c. 1994) recounts his experiences involving racial violence in the South and his family's move northwards to Philadelphia in the year 1917.…
Interview: Walter Gay, April 25,…
Walter Gay (c.1902 - c.1994) recounts his experiences involving racial violence in the South and his family's move northwards to Philadelphia in the year 1917.…
Interview: Ruth W. Hayre, June…
Ruth Wright Hayre (1910-1998), was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Philadelphia. She was the daughter and granddaughter of two of Philadelphia’s most…
Interview: Fletcher Hillian,…
Fletcher (1895-1992) and Utensie (1902-2006) Hillian participated in the Great Migration by moving to Philadelphia in 1925 from Cheraw and Due West, South…
Interview: Fannie Hutchinson,…
Born and raised on a sharecroppers' farm near Petersburg, Virginia, Fannie Hutchinson (1905-1990) was one of sixteen children. In her 1984 interview, Hutchinson…
Interview: Ralph Jones, February…
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Ralph Jones (1906-1991) witnessed the arrival of Black migrants during the Great Migration and experienced the tensions between…
Interview: Ella Lee, June 15,…
In this June 15, 1984 interview, Ella Lee (1891-1990) discusses her long and hard life as she travelled from her native Georgia north to Philadelphia during the…
Interview: Milo Manly, September…
In this 1984 interview, Milo Manly (1903-1991) discusses his experiences in Philadelphia during the 1920s and 1930s with the Lloyd Committee, Mothers Assistance…
Interview: Isadore M. Martin,…
In these 1984 and 1987 interviews with I. Maximilian Martin Jr (1910-1992) he recounts how his family migrated from Enfield, North Carolina, in 1913. Isadore…
Interview: Isadore M. Martin,…
In these 1984 and 1987 interviews with I. Maximilian Martin Jr (1910-1992) he recounts how his family migrated from Enfield, North Carolina, in 1913. Isadore…
Interview: Lillie McKnight,…
Lillie McKnight (1894-1996) grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, with a single mother, where several generations of her family worked in domestic service for a…
Interview: Russell F. Minton,…
Dr. Russell F. Minton (1900-1997), born around 1900, was an African-American physician from 1929 to 1975. Minton graduated medical school in 1929 and became a…
Interview: James E. Plunkett,…
Born in Danville, Virginia, James Plunkett (1896-1986) spent much his life moving from job to job, including tobacco farmer, bricklayer, railroad worker, and…
Interview: James E. Plunkett,…
Born in Danville, Virginia, James Plunkett (1896-1986) spent much his life moving from job to job, including tobacco farmer, bricklayer, railroad worker, and…
Interview: Louise Smith,…
Born and raised in North Carolina, Louise Smith (189?-n.d.), moved to Philadelphia after a railroad accident left her father unable to work when she was just…
Interview: John B. Summers,…
John B. Summers (b. 1888) was born in Columbus, Ohio. The son of an AME Church minister in Columbus, Summers was raised by a prominent family in Ohio, before…
Interview: John B. Summers, April…
John B. Summers (b. 1888) was born in Columbus, Ohio. The son of an AME Church minister in Columbus, Summers was raised by a prominent family in Ohio, before…
Interview: Charles Vance, March…
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Charles Vance (1902-1988) was just nine when his mother died and his father relocated the family to Whistler, Alabama. Unable to…
Interview: William S. Steffens,…
William Steffens (b. 1897) was born to Fannie and Manuel Steffens in Jacksonville, Florida. He and his family remained in Jacksonville until 1917 when the…
Interview: William S. Steffens,…
William Steffens (b. 1897) was born to Fannie and Manuel Steffens in Jacksonville, Florida. He and his family remained in Jacksonville until 1917 when the…
Interview: Minnie S. Whitney,…
In the first of two separate interviews conducted in March of 1984, Minnie Whitney (1902-1995) recalls her journey traveling from the Eastern Shore of Virginia…
Interview: Minnie S. Whitney,…
In two separate interviews conducted in March of 1984, Minnie Whitney (1902-1995) recalls her journey traveling from the Eastern Shore of Virginia to the city…
Interview: Bessie Yancey, March…
Born in Boykins, Virginia, Bessie Yancey (1898-1897) grew up on a farm where her family raised a variety of crops, including cotton and sugar corn. Yancey was…
Interview: Idelle Truitt Elsey,…
Born into a prominent “Old Philadelphia” family, Idelle Truitt Elsey (1892-1985) worked at the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and at the Brown and Stevens…
Interview: Ernest Grey, July 12,…
Born on Cat Island, South Carolina, sometime in the early 1890s Ernest Grey spent his childhood moving between family members in Georgia and South Carolina.…
Interview: Leon Grimes, July 21,…
Born in Palatka, Florida, Leon Grimes (1899-1985) was 13 years old when his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. In his 1984 oral history interview, Grimes…
Interview: John (Jack) Jones,…
Jones was born 1904 in Philadelphia and grew up in the Germantown neighborhood. His father came from North Carolina and started work at Midvale Steel in…
Interview: George Macon Madison
George Madison (b.1909), the son of a farmer, was born in Millers Tavern, Virginia. His family moved to Riverton, New Jersey then moved to Philadelphia after he…
Interview: Joseph A. Marshall
A self-described “Old Philadelphian,” Joseph A. Marshall (1901-1990) was born and raised in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. In 1923, he joined…
Interview: Marie Mathis, June 4,…
Marie Mathis (July 28, 1910 - February 28, 2005) was born in Greenwood, South Carolina, to parents William and Sina Mathis. Originally residing on a farm and…
Interview: Harry L. (Harvey) Wilson
Harvey L. Wilson (1880-1982) was born in South Carolina to a farming family. Even though he had a job as a railroad man in the South, he moved North in 1917 to…
Interview: Kathryn F. (Kitty)…
Kathryn ("Kitty") Fambro Woodard (1911-2003), born in Fort Valley, Georgia, moved to Philadelphia with her family when she was eight years old. Coming from…