Marie Myers, 1971
File — Box: 2, Folder: 8
Scope and Contents
Mrs. Myers was born in Salt Lake City on August 14, 1928. She attended Jordan and Roosevelt Junior High and graduated from West High in 1945. Her great grandparents came to Utah with Brigham Young as enslaved persons and members of the LDS church. She didn’t run into many problems with housing or job discrimination, which she attributes to her LDS faith. She seems to have great regard for the Church and the extent to which it helps its members.
Mrs. Myers does not remember any African American-owned businesses, and only one African American lawyer and no doctors. She says the NAACP, Elk’s Club, and YWCA were prominent organizations in the African American community when she was growing up. She believed that the NAACP was primarily concerned with finding recreation opportunities for young people, and had helped in creating a center for African American youth recently. Growing up, she learned little African American history as it was not taught in schools nor a major topic of discussion in her home. She had heard of the KKK in Utah, but never seen them active. As a child, she went to Pioneer Park to play, as well as going to dances and movies for recreation. She mentions having aspirations to become a nurse after high school, but she got married instead. She says that at the time she was growing up, there were few drug problems and a lot of African Americans went to college. She says that there was discrimination in restaurants and theaters at the time. She feels that younger generations are less racist than their predecessors.
Mrs. Myers had occasionally been on welfare, but never had any problems with it. She and the interviewer discuss drugs and she says she believes that drug use primarily stems from a poor family life. Audio CD A0038_B-33_01.
Mrs. Myers does not remember any African American-owned businesses, and only one African American lawyer and no doctors. She says the NAACP, Elk’s Club, and YWCA were prominent organizations in the African American community when she was growing up. She believed that the NAACP was primarily concerned with finding recreation opportunities for young people, and had helped in creating a center for African American youth recently. Growing up, she learned little African American history as it was not taught in schools nor a major topic of discussion in her home. She had heard of the KKK in Utah, but never seen them active. As a child, she went to Pioneer Park to play, as well as going to dances and movies for recreation. She mentions having aspirations to become a nurse after high school, but she got married instead. She says that at the time she was growing up, there were few drug problems and a lot of African Americans went to college. She says that there was discrimination in restaurants and theaters at the time. She feels that younger generations are less racist than their predecessors.
Mrs. Myers had occasionally been on welfare, but never had any problems with it. She and the interviewer discuss drugs and she says she believes that drug use primarily stems from a poor family life. Audio CD A0038_B-33_01.
Dates
- 1971
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Extent
From the Collection: 1 Linear Feet (2 Boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: University of Utah. American West Center (Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu