Black History Oral Histories

Current Featured Oral Histories

• Jackie Butler Blackwell, Class of 1970, one of the first four black women students to graduate from Virginia Tech (Interview date: April 29, 1995)
• Elaine Dowe Carter, Virginia Tech graduate student, Elliston native, graduate of the Christiansburg Institute, and catalyst for the Black Women's History Project (Interview date: October 19, 1995)
• Lindsay Cherry, Class of 1958, was one of the first four black students at Virginia Tech. (Interview date: March 27, 1999).
• Marva Felder Davis, Class of 1983, first black homecoming queen (Interview date: March 27, 1999)
• Dr. Essex Finney, Class of 1959, one of the first three black graduates of Virginia Tech (Interview date: March 26, 1999)
• Jeremiah (Jerry) Gaines, Jr., Class of 1971, first black scholarship athlete at Virginia Tech (Interview date: March 28, 2003)
• Janelle Harden, graduated from Virginia Tech in December of 2000. She majored in Mechanical Engineering. She is presently serving in the Air Force at Wright-Patterson base in Ohio. Janelle is pursuing an advanced degree while in the Air Force. (Interview date: October 31, 2000)
• Dr. Michael Herndon, received his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration at Virginia Tech in December 2000. He is presently Assistant Director of the Interdisciplinary Studies Academic Advising Center. (Interview date: September 20, 2000)
• Linda Adams Hoyle, Class of 1968; was the very First Black Woman to graduate from Virginia Tech. (Interview date: November 3, 2000)
• Cheryl Butler McDonald, Class of 1976, first black woman in the Corps of Cadets and member of the original "L" Squadron, the first group of women in the Corps (Interview date: November 28, 1998)
• Rev. Phillip Harmon Price and his sister, Anna Christine Price integrated Blacksburg High School in 1961 (Interview date: February 1, 1996)
• Marguerite Harper Scott, Class of 1970, one of the first four black women students to graduate from Virginia Tech (Interview date: March 2, 1996)
• Ellison A. Smyth, church pastor for 21 years, interview about the desegregation of the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church in the 1950s (Interview date: March 5, 1991)
• Dr. Linda Edmonds Turner, Class of 1970, one of the first four black women students to graduate from Virginia Tech (Interview date: March 2, 1996)
• Dr. James Darnell Watkins, Class of 1971, one of six charter members of Groove Phi Groove (Interview date: March 31, 2000)
• Ebony Wilson, Ebony Wilson is a 2001 graduate of Virginia Tech. She grew up in Norfolk, VA where her family still resides. Ms. Wilson was also a member of the Corps of Cadets. She is continuing her service with the Navy for the next four years.(Interview date: February 12, 2001)
• Charlie L. Yates, Class of 1958 first black graduate of Virginia Tech(Interview date: September 13, 2000)