Oral history interview with Allyce Hamilton, 1999

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Name: Hamilton, Allyce (Interviewee); Michaels, Sheila, 1939-2017 (Interviewer)
Title: Oral history interview with Allyce Hamilton, 1999
Other Titles: Reminiscences of Allyce Hamilton, 1999; Oral history of Allyce Hamilton, 1999
Abstract: Allyce Hamilton begins this interview by describing her family background and early exposure to the civil rights movement. Hamilton recalls her father, a doctor, treating patients at The People's Hospital, one of few hospitals in St. Louis that were open to Black residents, and her mother working as a teacher. After attending St. Louis University, Hamilton taught at Washington Elementary School for ten years. Hamilton describes hiding her marriage from her employers, the challenges faced by Black men on the job market, and her late husband's experience as a Black veteran. Hamilton recalls her initial engagement with the civil rights movement. She began attending St. Louis CORE upon its founding in 1947. Hamilton describes CORE's early meetings, which were held in the Centennial Christian Church. She also speaks to the chapter's first campaign, which aimed to desegregate the lunch counters of the Stix, Baer and Fuller department store. Hamilton discusses her experiences with discrimination in downtown St. Louis and her attendance of the March on Washington. In addition to her teaching career and participation in CORE, Hamilton discusses her interest in African culture and history. In the midst of African decolonization movements, Hamilton became involved in the St. Louis Committee on Africa and the American Committee on Africa. Hamilton explains several cultural exchange programs she participated in, including the St. Louis Sister Cities Committee, the American Friends Service Committee, and University of Washington's Host Family Program. She speaks briefly regarding her health and the kindness of a former student, Charlene Dummet. Also discussed in the interview is the cost of medicine, gun control, and racial violence in America; the deaths of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy; Hamilton's experiences with the United Nations Association of St. Louis; and her travel to Europe
Collection Name: Sheila Michaels civil rights organization oral history collection
Subjects: Civil rights movements--History--20th century.--United States; Civil rights demonstrations--United States; Civil rights demonstrations--Missouri; Discrimination in employment--United States; United States Race relations 20th century; Hamilton, Allyce; St. Louis Committee of Racial Equality; American Committee on Africa
Format: oral histories
Genre: Interviews
Date: 1999

Physical Description: 41 pages
Note (Biographical): Allyce Hamilton was born March 22, 1909. A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Missouri, Hamilton was born to a doctor and a teacher and was one of five children. She was a founding member of St. Louis CORE and taught in St. Louis elementary schools for o ver thirty-five years. In addition, Hamilton became involved in The St. Louis Committee on Africa and served as the first Black woman Chair of the American Committee on Africa. She was on the Board of Directors of the United Nations Association of St. Louis and took part in Washington University's Host Family Program and other cultural exchange programs. Hamilton died at age 90 on October 30, 1999 in St. Louis, Missouri
Note: Interviewed by Sheila Michaels on July 16, 1999
Note (Provenance): Sheila Michaels, Gift circa 1998-2005
Language: English
Library Location: Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Catalog Record: 11603949
Persistent URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-xynv-r202
Related URLs: Available digital content for this interview.