Interview with Dorothy T. Pumphrey, August 8, 1986

Interview Summary

Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Ms. Pumphrey attended school at Madison, Louisville Central High School, and the Municipal College. She recalls her family history, school dances, activities on Walnut Street, and her interest in the arts. She discusses teaching at Bates High School in Danville, her husband's family business in Monticello, Kentucky and coming to Lexington in 1958. The quality of education received at segregated schools, especially at Dunbar, the integration of the school system and the civil rights movement in Lexington are all remembered, as is the African American leadership within the community during this time. She talks about the All Souls Church, Ronald Berry, successful African American citizens, and compares the communities of Louisville and Lexington.

Interview Keyword

African American business enterprises African American families African American leadership African American neighborhoods African Americans--Social conditions. African Americans--Social life and customs. African Americans--Southern States. Civil rights demonstrations Music

Interview LC Subject

African Americans--Education African Americans--Segregation Civil rights movements--United States Civil rights--Law and legislation Pumphrey, Dorothy T. (Dorothy Travis) Pumphrey, Dorothy T. (Dorothy Travis)--Interviews Race discrimination Race Relations--Kentucky School integration--Kentucky--Fayette County Teachers--Kentucky Teaching

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.