Segregation

Early life in Alabama at Tuskegee High School and Miles Memorial College. Family moved to Kentucky. Contact with the L&N began through older brother Fred. Hired by EO Stocker for dining car position at 10th and Broadway location. Sent to Cincinnati to learn how to conduct Pullman service. Stewart provided all clothes except for black bow tie. Soldier specials, inspectors and meal tickets from officer in charge. Drafted in 1943. Returned to L&N after World War II. Proud of reputation for best dining car service in the United States. Friendship with important people. Businessmen's train from Birmingham to Nashville then Pullman from Louisville to New York. Stewart knew their likes and dislikes. Attendant on political specials for Presidents Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and former presidential candidate Thomas E. Dewey. Procedure for preparing special trains. Special security measures for the safety of the passengers. Lady Bird Johnson special. Mr Long: head of transportation for the White House. Makeup of passengers on the trains. Insights on Alabama race relations. Race relations at the L&N and methods of adapting. Before and after unions: sleeping on floor or cots in dining car. Black coach for most black passengers; some runs, blacks not allowed on dining cars at all. Conditions of black coach and exceptions of certain blacks riding Pullman (on standby). L&N policy after the Civil Rights Law of 1964. Positive example of President Hill's actions during the segregated years in regard to Dr. Boyd of the Baptist Publishing House in Nashville. People taking advantage of the L&N's excellent dining car service. How Mr. Stewart was able not to become bitter over racial slurs, etc. Early experiences on Atlanta streetcar gave Mr. Stewart guide for handling racial slurs, etc. Personal settlements of disagreements with management. Reasons for passing up opportunity to become first black steward for the L&N. An important consideration was the loss in seniority in changing from waiter-in-charge to steward. Job security: national union salary negotiations - men drawing full salary then no work when passenger service declined. Murphy House was opened up to compensate for lack of service opportunities. Discord caused by of non-dining car duties assigned at the Murphy House. Stewart's steps to see that the national union aware of his grievances. Unsatisfactory working conditions on Amtrak plus other considerations led to Stewart's resignation from L&N. Discussion of events leading to decision to resign Jan 2, 1973. Felt there was policy of trying to turn one black against another. Deals with Louie Stewart's father HP Stewart (born 1876), who was the son of slaves. HP Stewart was one of two blacks in Alabama to hold a lifetime teaching certificate at the time Governor Patterson invited all certificate holders to a reception in Montgomery (approximately 1939). An interesting account of this man's contribution to black education in Alabama.

Dr. Walls discusses practicing medicine in the black community in Louisville from 1918 until his retirement. He recounts his work with the Falls City Medical Society, Red Cross Hospital, and the integration of the Jefferson County Medical Society in 1953. (Note: Red Cross Hospital changed its name to "Community Hospital" in 1972.)

Most of the interview focuses on Murray Atkins Walls, although her husband, John Walls, is also an active participant. They were both involved in civil rights activities in Louisville and so share many experiences. Mrs. Walls discusses her childhood and youth in Indiana and compares her experiences in Louisville and Indianapolis. She describes her work in Kaufman's Department store's personnel department during World War II, and particularly focuses on Mr. Harry Schacter, the head of Kaufman-Strauss department store. She also gives an account of the integration of Girl Scouting in Louisville, which began in approximately 1957, following the Brown decision. The Walls discuss their efforts to integrate the Louisville Free Public Library, which had maintained separate branches for whites and African Americans. They discuss meeting with the library board of trustees and their interactions with the head of the library, Mr. Brigham, as well as the attitudes of Mayor Wilson Wyatt, who appointed the first African American to the library board. They also discuss the attitudes expressed in the Courier-Journal. They discuss black-owned newspapers and the barriers that African Americans faced in education and in housing. The Walls discuss the integration of dining areas and department stores, as well as residential areas. They discuss differences in attitudes between their generation, which they saw as working patiently toward improving their situation, and the generation of youth working for civil rights in the 1960s and 1970s. They discuss the dangers faced by African Americans in Mississippi in the 1930s and 1940s. The Walls discuss Dr. Walls' involvement in picketing with the NAACP, and the impact that she and Dr. Walls had on the lives of young people.

Mr. Walters was an executive director of the Urban League of Louisville. He discusses his early life and education; his twenty-year career in the Army; his experiences and views on integration; and his work with the Urban League.

Overview: 1926 L&N track man until 1928. Rejoined the L&N in 1948; reflections on President Harry Truman, Thomas Dewey and events of that campaign. Talked with President Truman about problems of segregation. Experiences of pre-integration. Events on day Martin Luther King was assassinated. Turning in purse lost on Derby Day led Owen White being moved into Mr. Kendall's private offices. Attached to boat Cloe Bee for seven years. Had opportunity to make many contacts. Later worked at Guest House at 4201 Tournament Lane. Examples of interesting opportunities, taking players to Master's Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Description of being track man in 1920 and type of lodging that was standard. Feelings about Roosevelt, Thompson Restaurant, Henry Bickel's, Watterson Hotel, and sharing among people in the 1930s. In the 1940s, L&N needed workers and rejoined. Talks about segregation on L&N RR. Reflections on segregation procedures. Other transportation experiences north and south. Comparison of wartime Macon, Georgia and the present date, 1980. Reasons for remaining in Louisville, different pressures in railroad position and regular day-to-day life. Explanation of railroad passes. 1950: Changes to keep passenger services going. Scheduling problems with being on the president's staff. Greater Salem Baptist Church. Supplemental check and explanation of straight salary. Union benefits and experiences, strike of 1956. Integration experiences for son at Male High School. Money raising experiences at Male in 1960 as they relate to racial relations. Attachment to Mr. Kendall's office, difference in attitude towards Mr. Jones, people served. Lost financial security with last position, relationship with other blacks, other individual, Southern politics, possibilities of black power in relations with whites.

School desegregation in Louisville.

Mr. Wyatt is the past mayor of Louisville and the past lieutenant governor of Kentucky. He discusses his involvement in Louisville's rationing board during World War II, which was the only integrated rationing board in the United States. He discusses how the decision was reached to integrate and how this was worked out for the members of the board and the community.

A black physician discusses his association with Red Cross Hospital (later Community Hospital) which originated in 1899 to treat Louisville blacks. Young discusses his work as medical director at the hospital, the reasons for its closing, what the institution meant to the black community, the impact of integration and federal health programs on its future, and proposals to save the hospital.