Interview with David E. Amey, September 12, 1984

Interview Summary

Born in 1893 outside Durham, North Carolina, Amey, the grandson of slaves, migrated to Philadelphia in 1912 after making $12 for a whole year's work raising tobacco and "a particularly tough day picking cotton." He was 18 years old. At 19, he enlisted in the Army and served with the 386th Infantry Unit. He was awarded a purple heart in 1993 for injuries suffered 75 years prior while serving in the mountains of France with his all-black unit during World War I. During 1923 and 1924, Amey worked in the real estate department of the Brown and Stevens bank. He enrolled in Temple University's real estate program, and received his license in 1928. He became one of Philadelphia's first African-American real estate agents, and opened his own firm a year later in South Philadelphia. He was involved in more than a dozen civic organizations, including the Christian Street YMCA and the American Red Cross. He was a member of the Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church. He retired in 1980. Mr. Amey died June 7, 1993 at the age of 100.

Interview Keyword

386th Infrantry ancestors who were slaves Brown and Stevens Bank cotton Durham, North Carolina France grandson of slaves picking cotton Real Estate tobacco Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church

Interview LC Subject

Purple Heart. Temple University United States. Army World War, 1914-1918 World War, 1914-1918--Veterans

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Interview Usage

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