Interview with Jewel L. Prestage, October 31, 1992

Interview Summary

Jewel Limar Prestage is an African American political scientist and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science, at Southern University, Baton Rouge. In this interview, Prestage describes her childhood and the importance her family placed on education. She talks about her pre-collegiate years and the influential teachers she encountered while attending Southern University for her undergraduate degree. Prestage speaks about her graduate work at the University of Iowa and the significance of being the first African American woman to receive her Ph.D. in political science in 1954. Her leadership role in the field of political science is discussed, in particular her involvement in numerous professional organizations and in programs that sought to increase the amount of African Americans pursuing academic careers in political science. Prestage also talks about her scholarly work regarding the political behavior of African American women and the politics of higher education.

Interview Keyword

Black political scientist early childhood educational background Prairie View University career public service publishing career ralph bunch summer institute research interests Southern University experience

Interview LC Subject

African American political scientists--Interviews African Americans American Political Science Association Education, Higher Political science Prairie View A & M University Prestage, Jewel L., 1931- Prestage, Jewel L., 1931- --Interviews Southern University and A & M College Women's studies

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.