Joyce Root Best (1928- ): Interview Contact Sheet/Check List, Biographical Information and Family History, Items from Best (3), Interview Summary and Context, Index of Topics, Transcript (Tape 1/Side A, 12 pp.; Tape 1/Side B, 15 pp.; Tape 2/Side A, 14 pp.; Tape 2/Side B, 5 pp.). Joyce Best came to St. Louis after college through a YMCA-sponsored program in 1951; married Stephen Best; and became a social activist. She explained how she became aware of racial issues, learned of CORE, and the early structure of CORE and its activities/demonstrations. Best discussed CORE’s impact socially and personally, reasons for leaving CORE, activist life after CORE, and current observations on the racial/political diversity in University City. Interview and release signed (2 audio cassettes)., 2004 Nov 22

File — Box: 1, Folder: 1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection contains oral history interview transcripts, interview summaries and context synopses, topics indexes, biographical information and family history forms, and other documentation relating to the Unknown Soldiers/Unsung Heroes Oral History Project. Additionally, there are items such as leaflets and yearbook pages provided by some interviewees to help tell their stories. Gwen Moore, historian at the Missouri Historical Society, conducted all 17 interviews in 2004 and 2005. The files are arranged alphabetically by interviewee name. The interviews often began with questions about family and personal history and then addressed the interviewees’ awareness of the racial climate. Discussions revolved around motivations for joining CORE and the NAACP Youth Council, training and philosophy, activities and demonstrations, other individuals in the organizations, and the impact the involvement in civil rights demonstrations had upon their lives. The CORE interviews are particularly rich in detail concerning motivations, organizational philosophy and structure, training, and activities. The five Elizabeth White Garlington interviews differ from the other interviews. She was not a member of CORE, nor was she a student at the time of the activities, but she was active in civil rights and professional organizations for decades. Garlington was a life-long member of the NAACP and moved to St. Louis in the 1930s to work as a social worker. African American social workers in St. Louis either moved to St. Louis from other cities, like Garlington, or they left St. Louis to earn their degrees as Washington University did not allow Black people to enroll in its School of Social Work. Garlington worked with young people in the NAACP’s ACT-SO (Afro-American Academic Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics) program in the early 1970s.

Dates

2004 Nov 22

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.5 Cubic Feet ( (1 box))

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Creator

From the Collection: Missouri Historical Society (Creator, Organization)
From the Collection: Best, Joyce, 1928- (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Best, Stephen R., 1926-2014 (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Garlington, Elizabeth White, 1909-2006 (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: LaGrone, John Edward, 1943- (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: McAllister, Mary McClain, 1926- (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Myles, Constance L., 1944- (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Norment, John William, 1942-2005 (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Rosen, Yvonne A. Marglous (Bonnie), 1928- (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Seay, Norman R., 1932-2019 (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Teneau, Billie Coil Ames, 1925- (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Walker, Joy Ann Busch, 1943- (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Wrice, Gloria Rahema, 1945- (Interviewee, Person)
From the Collection: Moore, Gwendolyn R. (Interviewer, Person)