- Collection:
- Black Oral History Collection
- Title:
- Mrs. Thelma DeWittig, January 18, 1973
- Creator:
- DeWittig, Thelma
- Publisher:
- Black Oral History Interviews, 1972-1974, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University
- Date of Original:
- 1973-01-18
- Subject:
- Oral history--United States
Family--History--Texas
African Americans--Washington (State)--Seattle
African American women--Washington (State)--Seattle
Women--Washington (State)--Seattle
Education--Washington (State)--Seattle
Public schools--Washington (State)--Seattle
Schools--Washington (State)--Seattle
African American teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle
Teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle
Teaching--Washington (State)--Seattle
African Americans--Education--Washington (State)--Seattle
African Americans--Education (Graduate)--Washington (State)--Seattle
Universities and colleges--Graduate work
University of Washington--Graduate work
Women--Education (Graduate)--Washington (State)--Seattle
Women--Education--Washington (State)--Seattle
Public schools--Texas
Schools--Texas
African American schools--Texas
African American girls--Education--Texas
Girls--Education--Texas
African American women--Education--Texas
Women--Education--Texas
African American churches--Washington (State)--Seattle
Churches--Washington (State)--Seattle
African Americans--Religion
Communism--Washington (State)--Seattle
Communists--Washington (State)--Seattle
African American communists--Washington (State)--Seattle
Communist parties--Washington (State)--Seattle
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Seattle Branch
Seattle Urban League
Christianity and politics--Washington (State)--Seattle
Church and social problems--Washington (State)--Seattle
Social justice--Washington (State)--Seattle
Seattle (Wash.)--Social conditions--20th century
African Americans--Social conditions--20th century
Railroad travel--United States
Railroad travel--Texas
Railroad travel--Washington (State)
African Americans--Travel
Discrimination--United States
Discrimination--Washington (State)--Seattle
Segregation in transportation--United States
Civil rights--Washington (State)--Seattle
African Americans--Civil rights--Washington (State)--Seattle
Clubs--Washington (State)--Seattle
Societies--Washington (State)--Seattle
Social groups--Washington (State)--Seattle
African Americans--Societies, etc.
Housing--Washington (State)--Seattle
Dwellings--Washington (State)--Seattle
Rental housing--Washington (State)--Seattle
Home ownership--Washington (State)--Seattle
African American business enterprises--Washington (State)--Seattle
Business enterprises--Washington (State)--Seattle
African American businesspeople--Washington (State)--Seattle
Businesspeople--Washington (State)--Seattle
Undertakers and undertaking--Washington (State)--Seattle
Mansions--Washington (State)--Seattle
Church group work
Church work--Washington (State)--Seattle
Social group work--Washington (State)--Seattle
Theology, Practical--Washington (State)--Seattle
African Americans--Education (Higher)--Washington (State)--Seattle
Discrimination in education--Washington (State)--Seattle
Discrimination against African Americans
Employment references--Washington (State)--Seattle
Fashion--Washington (State)--Seattle
Clothing and dress--Washington (State)--Seattle
Clothing and dress--History--20th century
African Americans--Clothing--Washington (State)--Seattle
African Americans--Recreation
Recreation--Washington (State)--Seattle
Sports--Washington (State)--Seattle
African Americans--Sports
African American athletes--Washington (State)--Seattle
Athletes--Washington (State)--Seattle
Entertainment events--Washington (State)--Seattle
Entertaining--Washington (State)--Seattle
Parties--Washington (State)--Seattle
Dance parties--Washington (State)--Seattle
African American musicians--Washington (State)
Musicians--Washington (State)
African American singers--Washington (State)
Singers--Washington (State)
African American dancers--Washington (State)
Dancers--Washington (State)
Race discrimination--United States
Race relations
Seattle (Wash.)--Race relations--History--20th century
Teachers' unions--Washington (State)
Congresses and conventions--United States
Teaching--Congresses
Republican Party (Wash.)
Democratic Party (Wash.)
Political parties--Washington (State)
Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government--20th century
Washington (State)--Politics and government--20th century
Political conventions--United States
Politicians--Washington (State)
African American politicians--Washington (State)
African American periodicals
Periodicals
African American newspapers
Newspapers
Ethnic relations
Seattle (Wash.)--Ethnic relations
School discipline--Washington (State)--Seattle
Public schools--Washington (State)--Seattle--Discipline
Community life--Washington (State)--Seattle - People:
- DeWittig, Thelma
Blackwell, Mr. - Location:
- United States, Washington, King County, 47.49084, -121.83583
United States, Washington, King County, Seattle, 47.60621, -122.33207 - Type:
- Sound
- Description:
- Oral history interview with Mrs. Thelma DeWittig of Seattle, Washington.
TAPE 1, 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 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. TAPE 1, SIDE B: 0 - 3 More about teaching. Clothing styles in the 40's. She was always "smartly dressed." Other blacks who dressed well. 3 - 6
Sports activities that blacks participated in. Entertainment 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.
The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the aggregation and enhancement of partner metadata. - Metadata URL:
- http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/5985/id/71
- Rights Holder:
- For permission to publish, please contact Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (509) 335 - 6691.
- Extent:
- audio/x-pn-realaudio
- Contributing Institution:
- Washington State University. Library. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
- Rights:
-
