Interview with Anna Louise Johnson, July 17, 2006

Partial Transcript: This is an oral history interview with Mrs. Anna L. Johnson for the University of Kentucky African American Alumni Project.

Segment Synopsis: Anna Louise Johnson is introduced. She talks about her parents and grandparents and their occupations. She talks about her siblings, and growing up in Paris, Kentucky.

Keywords: Bourbon County (Ky.); Family roots; Fathers; Grandparents; Jobs; Kentucky; Mothers; Parents; Siblings; Socioeconomic conditions; Towns

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; Family histories.; Family--history; Paris (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Where did you go to elementary, junior high, and high school?

Segment Synopsis: Johnson talks about attending segregated Paris Western High School from elementary through high school. She talks about her close relationship with the principal, Mr. Osborne, who encouraged her to attend Spelman College. She talks about her participation in extracurricular activities.

Keywords: Academics; Advisors; Available; Basketball; Extracurricular activities; Favorite subjects; Favorite teachers; Grades; Opportunities; Paris Western High School; School principals; Schools; Segregated schools; Spelman College; White friends; Working; Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Subjects: African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Childhood; College choice; Race relations--Kentucky; Segregation in education--Kentucky; Teachers--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Did you feel like your family valued education?

Segment Synopsis: Johnson says her family valued education. She talks about what they did for entertainment, and the role the church played in their lives.

Keywords: All-Black neighborhoods; Basket meetings; Christmas; Close-knit; Entertainment; Family meals; Family values; Fathers; Games; Grandparents; Mothers; Parents; Public library; Social role; Sunday school conferences; Youth days

Subjects: African American churches--Kentucky; African American families; African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Religion.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Childhood

Partial Transcript: I know you said that when you were--you were heavily influenced by Mr. Osborne when you decided which college to go to.

Segment Synopsis: Johnson says her decision to attend college was influenced by the salary she could expect to earn with a college degree. She talks about the extracurricular activities she participated in while in college.

Keywords: Decisions; Extracurricular activities; Home economics; Mathematics; Money; Mothers; Salary; Scholarships; Sororities; Sports; Vocational teachers; YWCA

Subjects: African American college students.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Recreation; College choice; College costs.; College majors; College students, Black; College students--Economic conditions; Minorities in higher education; Spelman College; Teachers--Kentucky; Wages.

Partial Transcript: So after you graduated in '43 did you go into the workplace or did you go straight to your graduate d--education?

Segment Synopsis: Johnson says she worked for one year as a teacher in Paris, Kentucky before beginning graduate school. She received her master's from Ohio State University, then attended classes at Iowa State. When UK opened to African Americans she began attending to earn her Rank 1 certification. She talks about race relations among students at UK.

Keywords: Apprehension; Apprehensive; Awareness; Black community; Decisions; Graduation; Masters degrees; Racial slurs; Rank 1 certification; Reactions; Reputations; Summer courses; Working

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College integration; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; Discrimination in higher education; Iowa State University; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Ohio State University; Paris (Ky.); Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Teachers--Kentucky; Teaching; Universities and colleges--Graduate work.; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So did you feel wilc--did you feel welcome when you went to the University of Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Johnson talks about her relationship with her advisor at UK, and talks about one of her favorite professors. She talks about dropping out of a class in which several other African American students were enrolled because she didn't want to be judged with them as a group.

Keywords: Advisors; Anne Gorman; Dropping classes; First day; Grades; Grading curves; Group grading; Impressions; Pressure; Professors; Weakness; Welcome; Working harder

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College administrators; College integration; College student orientation.; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College teachers--Rating of.; Discrimination in higher education; Educators; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Did you experience any forms of discrimination while you attended UK?

Segment Synopsis: Johnson says she did not face any discrimination at UK. She talks about the attitudes of people she met at UK, including people from Africa and people from Eastern Kentucky. She says she mainly socialized with her roommate while on campus.

Keywords: Africans; Basketball tickets; Dormitories; Eastern Kentuckians; Football games; Friendly; Roommates; Rudeness; Socializing; Sporting events; Student organizations; Studying; Summer courses; Unpleasant experiences

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social life and customs.; College environment; College integration; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; Discrimination in higher education; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Student housing; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do you feel like you received a quality education from UK?

Segment Synopsis: Johnson says she is proud to have UK as her state school. She talks about her work as a high school home economics teacher in Paris, Kentucky. She talks about her family, and discusses why she donates to her undergraduate school rather than UK. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Alma mater; Biology; Children; Donations; Donors; Gifts; High school; Home economics; Husbands; Married; Needs; Paris Independent; Proud; Quality of education; Science; State schools

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; College benefactors; College sports.; Paris (Ky.); Teachers--Kentucky; Teaching; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.; Universities and colleges--Finance; Universities and colleges--Ratings and rankings.