Skip to main content

African Americans in Harrisonburg oral histories

 Collection
Identifier: SdArch 5
  • Not requestable

  • Staff Only

Scope and Content

The African Americans in Harrisonburg Oral Histories, 1978-1979, is comprised of audio recordings, transcripts, photographs and background research of interviews with black residents of Harrisonburg, conducted by students under the supervision of Inez L. Ramsey, Professor of Library Science and Secondary Education at James Madison University.

Dates

  • 1978-1979

Access Restrictions

Access to the Oral Histories is governed by agreements with the narrators. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Bio/Historical Note

Dr. Inez Ramsay was a librarian and professor of JMU from 1975 until her retirement in 1998. In 1978, Ramsay served as the project director for the summer workshop, “Oral Tradition and Storytelling in the Black Community of Harrisonburg,” in which she worked with six JMU students to conduct interviews that would “reconstruct the kind of lives black people in Harrisonburg have lived over the years.” Legal releases from interviewees were obtained in 1991 and 1992.

Extent

0.46 cubic feet (7 folders, 15 audiocassettes, 15 cds)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

African Americans in Harrisonburg Oral Histories, 1978-1979, is comprised of audio recordings, transcripts, photographs and background research of interviews with black residents of Harrisonburg, conducted by students under the supervision of Inez L. Ramsey, Professor of Library Science and Secondary Education at James Madison University.

Acquisition Information

Collection was donated on June 4, 1991 by Dr. Inez Ramsey.

Bibliography

  • Reed, Gary. “Workshop seeks to preserve local black heritage.” The Breeze, August 2, 1978.

Processing Information

Collection was cataloged at the item level in 1993; the descriptive metadata was compiled into a Finding Aid format in 2019. Cassette tapes were transferred to MAMA-R 700MB gold cd-r using Tascam cc-222 mkII; 618mb. Audio recordings were digitized by Kirsten Mlodynia, Digital Project Specialist at JMU Libraries in July 2018.

Title
A Guide to the African Americans in Harrisonburg Oral Histories, 1978-1979
Status
Completed
Author
JMU Libraries cataloging staff
Date
1993
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the James Madison University Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
820 Madison Drive
MSC 1706
Harrisonburg Virginia 22807
(540) 568-3612