Louisville (Ky.)

Mr. Abramson was the 3rd Ward Alderman from 1975 to 1977 and chairman of the finance committee. He talks about the reorganization of city government under Mayor Harvey Sloane. Abramson explains that the reorganization was proposed before his election and was intended to streamline decision-making and improve efficiency. He also mentions that he had concerns about the potential for increased bureaucracy and difficulty for citizens to reach the mayor. Abramson also discusses the political dynamics of the board, including the mayor's strategy to back a group of aldermen he could communicate with. He concludes by saying that while he still has questions about the reorganization, it seems to be working well and has made it easier for him to communicate with city department directors.

Ms. Auerbach, a local government administrator and social activist discusses the attitude of women in office on the women's rights issue.

Mr. Banks was the 6th Ward Alderman from 1975 to 1977. This interview covers the reorganization of Louisville's city government.

Dorothy Barr describes her youth and marriage in Detroit, Michigan. Although her husband's job entailed numerous moves around the central United States, Mrs. Barr has spent the last nineteen years of her life in Louisville. She discusses her children.

Barr describes his youth spent in Detroit, Michigan; work as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps; his thirty-eight years as a General Motors employee; his retirement; and activities at Senior House. Part of a pilot study on oral history and gerontology.

Goldie Beckett discusses her life as well as her husband's experiences as alderman in the city of Louisville in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Mrs. Beckett briefly describes her early life and education, including her graduation from Kentucky State College. Mrs. Beckett had a career in education, but also worked with her husband, and for her brother, in the undertaking business in Louisville. She speaks of the Walnut Street area before Urban Renewal. Mrs. Beckett's husband, William Washington Beckett, was elected alderman in 1951 and served until 1961. In this time, he played a role in the integration of the fire and police departments, the parks, and public accommodations, and in developing a Human Relations Commission. Mrs. Beckett discusses her husband's contributions and the civil rights movement in general (both in Louisville and more generally) and gives her opinion on the roles of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the African American church.

Berry discusses his experiences in the politics of the Republican party and Louisville from 1910 to the present. He also discusses his tenure as jailor in the city of Louisville from the 1920s to the present. Restrictions: None. Partial transcript avail

Mr. Bibb was the 10th Ward Alderman from 1973 to 1975. This interview covers the reorganization of Louisville's city government. Some restrictions apply.

The narrator discusses Harry Bloom, the Louisville Evening Post, the Louisville Times, apartment buildings at Second and Kentucky Streets, Louise Harris, Morris Simon, Joseph Hourath, the Young Men's Hebrew Association Orchestra, Robert Whitney and the Louisville Orchestra, the Music Study Club, Mrs. Sideny Meyers, Mrs. Lewis Cole, Etta Rauch, Emily Dembitz, Hattie Bishop Speed, Morris Spearlmutter, Rabbi Gittleman, Fanny Brandeis, and Jean Tachau.

Mr. Brown was the 11th Ward Alderman for two terms, 1973 to 1975 and 1975 to 1977. This interview covers the reorganization of Louisville's city government. Some restrictions apply.