Interview with Mary A. Adams, October 10, 1997

Partial Transcript: Well Ms. Adams, I'm Loretta Byars, and this is Friday, October the--

Segment Synopsis: Mary Adams is an alumni of the University of Kentucky. She was one of the first African American students to attend UK. She had just graduated from Kentucky State College and was looking for work. While struggling to find a job, she was encouraged by her father to attend UK. She enrolled in the fall of 1949.

Keywords: Acceptance; Admissions; Black students; Education; Enrollment; Higher education; Kentucky State College; Press; Students of color

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Discrimination in higher education; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Integration; Kentucky State University; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: Okay, was--do you think that the case, the Lyman T. Johnson lawsuit, was it, uh, was it an important case?

Segment Synopsis: Adams goes into detail about the importance of Lyman T. Johnson's lawsuit against UK to the residents of Kentucky and especially Fayette County. She then goes on to talk about how her father encouraged her to attend the university, though other family members weren’t as supportive. Adams talks about her acceptance and admissions process. She started in the fall of 1949 and only knew 3 or 4 other African Americans who attended at the time.

Keywords: "Test the waters"; Admissions; Black students; Dependency; Discouragement; Encouragement; Enrollment; Experiences; Family; Fear; Higher education; Lawsuits; Normal; People of color; Race; Racism; Safety; Students of color

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Discrimination in higher education; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Integration; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: So you started in the Fall of '49 and you earned your master's in education?

Segment Synopsis: Adams talks about how she interacted with other students and professors in the master's program. UK at the time was integrated but the law said that professors had to keep black and white students separate in class. She says that some professors would follow that rule and some would not. She recalls that professors and students treated her with respect.

Keywords: Classmates; Graduating; Graduation; Hours; Ignored; Interactions; Laws; Learning environment; Living at home; Master's degrees; Peers; Professors; Protection; Seating; Separation; Special rules; Study; Treatment

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Discrimination in higher education; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Integration; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Graduate School; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: Uh, what about, then, uh, friendships?

Segment Synopsis: Adams talks about her academic and social life while at the University of Kentucky. Adams says she lived at home, so she did not participate in any events. She talks about how she only made friends with a few other students in her classes. When she graduated there was only one other African American teacher. While attending the university she encountered prejudice, but very few professors were openly rude.

Keywords: Academic life; Academics; Attendance; Black students; Classmates; Contact; Friends; Ignored; Participation; People of color; Prejudice; Professors; Social activities; Social events; Social life; Southerners; Students of color; Study

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Discrimination in higher education; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Integration; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism.; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Graduate School; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: Um, you mentioned that you graduated from Kentucky State. Did you know Mr. Hatch--John Wesley Hatch?

Segment Synopsis: John Wesley Hatch, an African American student, applied to the University of Kentucky, however to avoid integrating, UK brought the law school to him at Kentucky State College. Once Adams decided to attend UK, her friends didn’t approve or disapprove of her going. Adams says that she was prepared for the University of Kentucky with her education from Kentucky State, however, she was going to work hard to make sure she would succeed.

Keywords: 1948; 1949; Admissions; Campus; Conditions; Dangerous; Fairness; Friends; Intelligent; John Wesley Hatch; Kentucky State College; Law schools; Performance; Preparation; Ready; Secondary education; Treatment

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Discrimination in higher education; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Integration; Kentucky State University; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Graduate School; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: When you graduated from UK, um, did you have any more options then for teaching?

Segment Synopsis: Adams talks about how she struggled to find work when she graduated from college. She went back to school to expand her degree to elementary education. She finally got a job at Constitution Elementary School and went on to teach 3rd and 4th grade for 38 years.

Keywords: 3rd grade; 4th grade; Banneker High School; Commuting; Constitution Elementary School; Cynthiana (Ky.); Elementary education; Fayette County (Ky.); Hard to find work; High schools; Integration; Post-secondary education; Substitute teachers; Teachers of color

Subjects: African American teachers.; African Americans--Conduct of life.; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Education; Lexington (Ky.); Minorities; Race relations--Kentucky; Teachers; Teachers--Kentucky; Teaching

Partial Transcript: Tell me then, reflecting back on it Ms. Adams, what do you think of your experience UK?

Segment Synopsis: Adams recalls the backlash she received for going to the University of Kentucky. She also had a big impact on the university. She talks about the stressful parts of registration and the excitement of graduation. She is asked about racial brutality and white students speaking out against her.

Keywords: Experiences; Graduation; Isolated; Isolation; Learning; Preparation; Prepared for life; Proud; Racial brutality; Rejected; Rejection; Relieved; Support; White opposition

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Discrimination in higher education; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Integration; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism.; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Graduate School; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: What about your own children?

Segment Synopsis: Adams talks about how she impacted her children's decisions to go to college. She married her high school friend James R. Adams. Her kids did not choose to go to UK; one went to EKU and one went to a predominately-white school in Ohio and then to Ohio State University. After her time at UK, Adams started to become active in her church. She also considered going back to school to get her doctorate but did not because of her age.

Keywords: Children; Churches; Daughters; Doctors; Donovan Program; Encouragement; Family; James R. Adams; Kids; Ohio; Stepdaughters; University of Kentucky

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Social conditions.; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Social conditions; Eastern Kentucky University; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Families.; Minorities; Minorities in higher education; Racism.; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, um, you know, just in terms of what you hear about the university now, uh, how do you think it might have changed in terms of when you were there?

Segment Synopsis: Adams talks about how far the University of Kentucky has come since her time on campus. She sends a message to minority students saying, "work hard." She also sends a message to faculty, telling them to be open and listen to students.

Keywords: Acceptance; Admissions; African American basketball coaches; Black basketball coaches; Black teachers; Changes; Improvements; Minority teachers; Retirement; Stereotypes

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Discrimination in higher education; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Integration; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: If you had to give a message to the young students today, you know, something that you would say to them, um, based on your, you know, experience either as a student or just over your years of teaching, what would that message be?

Segment Synopsis: Adams talks about her interaction with black students while she was teaching. She would try to encourage all of them to exceed teachers' expectations and not play into stereotypes. She also says that administrators have low expectations for black students.

Keywords: African American schools; Black schools; Effort; Elementary education; Encouragement; Expectations; Integrated schools; Playing into stereotypes; Stereotypes

Subjects: African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Integration; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Teachers; Teachers--Kentucky; Teaching

Partial Transcript: Did you spend the rest of your years at Constitution?

Segment Synopsis: Adams discusses general school things like financials, tuition, and more. She also talks about her family's education. She says she rarely visits UK's campus but when she does it is for sporting events.

Keywords: Alumni; Books; Education; Experience; Finances; Financials; Kentucky; Schools; Teachers; Tuition

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Social conditions.; College costs.; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Families.; Minorities in higher education; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Graduate School; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)