Interview with Ann Hunter, March 12, 1987

Interview Summary

Ann Hunter discusses her family history, including her ancestors who were slaves. She discusses growing up in Illinois and describes the relationships between Blacks, Irish, and Italians in her neighborhood. She talks about her education, segregation in schools, and her experiences as the only Black student in her classes at the University of Illinois.

Hunter tells a story about posing as a White woman on a train, and talks about what happened when it was discovered that she was Black. She discusses her experiences working at Kentucky State University as the Dean of Women, describing the school's facilities, the president of the college Rufus Atwood, and how the school changed over time.

Hunter talks about working for the U.S. Army and the USO Board during World War II. She talks about working at an internment camp for Japanese American citizens during the war. She discusses her experiences with discrimination at the Veterans Administration.

Hunter discusses her two marriages, and her current life and retirement. She talks about how she came to write a book on the history of Kentucky State University.

Interview Keyword

African American families African American neighborhoods African Americans--Genealogy. Civil rights demonstrations Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945 Slavery--United States.

Interview LC Subject

African American college students--Social conditions African Americans--Segregation Discrimination in employment Hunter, Ann Hunter, Ann--Interviews Kentucky State University Race discrimination Racism Segregation in education Segregation in higher education United States--Race relations World War, 1939-1945--Women

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.