Interview with Mary Levi Smith, July 24, 2008

Interview Summary

Mary Levi Smith was the first female president of Kentucky State University. In this interview she talks about her family history, including her grandmother's father who was white. She talks about her father owning apartment buildings which he rented out. She talks about growing up in Mississippi and discusses race relations, including her interaction with white people, places where African Americans were not allowed to go, and a story about her sister refusing to move from the sidewalk for a white girl. She talks about attending college at Jackson State University, and talks about the effects of integration and the civil rights movement on the students' lives. She talks about her career at Kentucky State University and her conflict with the previous president Dr. John Wolfe.

Interview Keyword

African American families College administrators College presidents Family histories. Minorities in higher education Race discrimination. United States--Race relations. Universities and colleges--Administration.

Interview LC Subject

African American women in higher education African Americans--Education (Higher) African Americans--Segregation African Americans--Social conditions Integration Kentucky State University Smith, Mary Levi Smith, Mary Levi--Interviews

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.