Interview with Mary A. Adams, June 29, 2006

Interview Summary

Mary Ann Adams attended the University of Kentucky for graduate school beginning in 1949 after earning her bachelor's degree from Kentucky State University. In this interview she discusses her family background, and her childhood in Fayette County, Kentucky. She talks about her early education in segregated schools in Lexington, and talks about her experiences as a student at Kentucky State. She discusses her decision to attend UK despite its negative reputation within the Black community. She talks about her experiences with segregation and discrimination at UK, including being the only African American student in most of her classes, being ignored by most students and faculty, and being forced to sit apart from white students in the classroom due to the Day Law. She talks about her teaching career in both Cynthiana and Lexington after her graduation from UK. She talks about working in both segregated and integrated schools.

Interview Keyword

African American Alumni African American families African Americans College environment College integration College students, Black Kentucky State University Minorities in higher education Teachers--Kentucky University of Kentucky University of Kentucky Alumni

Interview LC Subject

Adams, Mary A. Adams, Mary A.--Interviews African American college graduates--Kentucky African American college students--Social conditions African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington African Americans--Segregation Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations. Race discrimination Racism--Kentucky--Lexington University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.