Interview with Zirl A. Palmer, August 17, 1978

Interview Summary

Dr. Palmer, the first African American pharmacist in Lexington and the first African American to own a Rexall franchise in the United States, graduated from Bluefield State College and Xavier University College of Pharmacy in New Orleans. He discusses the roadblocks he encountered during segregation while establishing his pharmacy in Lexington, including the assistance obtained from Dr. Bush Hunter, the difficulty of getting ice cream for the store, and the advertising gimmicks used in promotions. Dr. Palmer recalls the discrimination he faced from Main Street stores and the bombing of his store on September 4, 1968. The first African American member of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, Dr. Palmer reminisces about his election to the position and bemoans the lack of African American pharmacists nationwide.

Interview Keyword

African Americans African Americans in Lexington born 1924 in Bluefield Kentucky since 1951 Lexington, Kentucky patronage of white customers Pharmacist in Lexington Race relations West Virginia

Interview LC Subject

African American families African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Economic conditions African Americans--Race identity. African Americans--Religion African Americans. Palmer, Zirl A. Palmer, Zirl A.--Interviews

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

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