Claim OwnershipOral History of the Cobb County Branch of the NAACP and Civil Rights Activities in Cobb County, Georgia (audio excerpts)
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Description
The Cobb NAACP/Civil Rights Series consists of forty transcripts of oral history interviews done with a variety of people across Cobb County. The purpose of the project is to collect personal experiences of people with the Cobb County Branch and its predecessor, the Marietta Branch, of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as the Civil Rights movement in Cobb County, Georgia. The series was conceived as part of the 100th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 2009. It was a joint effort between Dr. Scott’s HIST 4425 (Oral History) undergraduate class at Kennesaw State University and the Cobb County Branch of the NAACP. Students met with and interviewed subjects. Click on the "Rare MLK European Footage" link under "Learn More" to see a 1962 Belgium interview with Dr. Martin Luther King.
Copies of the interview transcripts and the original complete audio recordings have been placed on deposit in the Kennesaw State University Department of Archives, Special Collections, and Records Management and the Georgia Room of the Central Library and the Hattie G. Wilson Library of the Cobb County Public Library System, in addition to other locations. The interviews are available in bound and digital pdf/a formats. Please contact the KSU Department of Archives for the complete audio interviews. Use Restrictions: To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management. The photo is from the Kennesaw State University Dept. of Archives, Special Collections, & Records Management.
Copies of the interview transcripts and the original complete audio recordings have been placed on deposit in the Kennesaw State University Department of Archives, Special Collections, and Records Management and the Georgia Room of the Central Library and the Hattie G. Wilson Library of the Cobb County Public Library System, in addition to other locations. The interviews are available in bound and digital pdf/a formats. Please contact the KSU Department of Archives for the complete audio interviews. Use Restrictions: To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management. The photo is from the Kennesaw State University Dept. of Archives, Special Collections, & Records Management.
44 Episodes
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Randolph Scott was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He received a B.A. in History from Norfolk State University before accepting a teaching position at Central High School in Heathsville, Virginia, which was a predominantly African American school. Dr. Scott was teaching during the integration of the school system and eventually moved to Northumberland High School, which was a predominantly white school. He accepted a position the Job Corps program, working in a variety of locations, and then the National Park Service. His last assignment was with the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was the first African American Superintendent. Dr. Scott earned an M.S. in Sociology from Atlanta University and in 1990 retired from the park service. He attended the Andersonville Baptist Seminary in Andersonville, Georgia, earning a Ph.D. in Theology. Since that time he has served as the Associate Minister at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia.
Geraldine Scott has served as the Assistant Secretary for the Cobb County Branch of the NAACP, participating in community activities, including voter registration and membership drives.
ID:ksu-45-05-001-03023 Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.
Deane Bonner has served as the President of the Cobb County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1997. She has also held numerous leadership positions within the branch. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03001
Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.
Winston Strickland was born in Paulding County, Georgia, moving with his family to Bartow County in 1954. He graduated from Summer Hill High School. In 1961 he attended Brown Barber College on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. Strickland moved to Marietta, Georgia, and started the Eastside Barbershop, which later became Strick's Barbershop. He is also the owner of the restaurant, Strick's Grill. Mr. Strickland has been involved in entrepreneurial activities within the community, including the Future Development Corporation and the establishment of the First Southern Bank in Lithonia, Georgia. He has also served in various leadership positions on the National Board of Barbers. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03017
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Rev. Walter Moon was born in Marietta and graduated from Lemon Street High School. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1964, Moon joined the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier in Marietta. He worked in a variety of positions and locations until he retired as the Manager of Customer Services and Sales for Alabama in 1999. Moon returned to Cobb County, Georgia, in 2002. He accepted a call to the ministry in 1983 and founded the Words of Faith A.M.E. Church in Mableton, Georgia, in 2003. Rev. Moon has been active in the Civil Rights Movement, working with Hugh Grogan in the gerrymandering case that lead to Grogan's election to the Marietta City Council in 1978. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03004
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Willie Mae Johnson was born in Marietta, Georgia, but moved to Acworth to live with her grandparents, Lizzie and William Cicero (Bud) Furr, at the age of 8 after the death of her parents. She attended the Rosenwald school in Acworth and Lemon Street High School in Marietta. Mrs. Johnson served as Vice President of the Parent-Teacher Association at the Roberts school. Her aunt and uncle owned Lucy Mae and Price Oliver's Cafe in Acworth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson attend the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church.
ID:ksu-45-05-001-03012
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Thomas R. Carter was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and attended Melrose High School in the Orange Mound community. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1957, learning to operate electronic accounting machines (EAM). He was the first African American to attend the IBM Corporation school in Miami, Florida. In 1962 Carter joined Olin Mathison Chemical Company in New York City and studied programming at the RCA Institute. He was the first African American programmer at Olin Mathison, as well as the U.S. Trust Company. After moving to the IBM Corporation plant in Brooklyn, New York, Carter was transferred to IBM's Mohansic Research Laboratory. He was later assigned to an Atlanta facility and moved to Marietta, Georgia in 1976. Carter retired from IBM in 1988. Shortly after moving to Marietta, Carter met Oscar Freeman, President of the Cobb County Branch of the NAACP from 1982 to 1986. Due to Carter's efforts, the Freeman's NAACP office had one of the first personal computers. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03014
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Timothy Houston, Sr. is a member of the Acworth Elementary School Council and has served as an alderman for the City of Acworth, Georgia, since 2004. He was born in Acworth and attended the Roberts School. Houston was instrumental in the creation of the Acworth Community Center, which is housed in the former Acworth Rosenwald School building. He is also the Pastor and Founder of the Joshua Gospel Tabernacle in Acworth. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03006
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Susanne Henry was born and grew up in Mableton, Georgia. Her father was a sharecropper and produce seller and her mother worked at Whittier Cotton Mill. She initially attended Washington Street Elementary School in Austell, Georgia, before the school system was integrated and Harmony-Leland Elementary School afterwards. She has worked at Pebblebrook High School in Mableton, Georgia, since 2003. Henry is the sister of Mary Ward Cater, Gwendolyn Dillard, and Miriam Culver. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03027
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A.L. Zollicoffer was born and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended West Division High School and North Division High School. After graduation, Zollicoffer joined the U.S. Army. Serving for 2 years, he returned to Milwaukee and worked in a steel mill and tannery. In 1989 Rev. Zollicoffer moved to Marietta, Georgia. He attended Carver Bible Institute & College in Atlanta and received a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Education from Beulah Heights University. In 1994 Rev. Zollicoffer became the pastor of New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03031
Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.
A.L. Zollicoffer was born and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended West Division High School and North Division High School. After graduation, Zollicoffer joined the U.S. Army. Serving for 2 years, he returned to Milwaukee and worked in a steel mill and tannery. In 1989 Rev. Zollicoffer moved to Marietta, Georgia. He attended Carver Bible Institute & College in Atlanta and received a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Education from Beulah Heights University. In 1994 Rev. Zollicoffer became the pastor of New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03031
Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.
Reginald Hobert Kemp was born in Acworth, Georgia, and attended a church school in the Red Rock Community. At the age of 8 his family moved to Marietta, Georgia, and Kemp attended the Liberty Hill Baptist Church school and Powder Springs High School. He left school to work, first at the Kelly Motor Company then the Lockheed-Georgia Company. Kemp was inducted into the U.S. Army, returning to Lockheed-Georgia at the end of his service. He was employed at Lockheed-Georgia for 45 years in a variety of postiions. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03015
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Reece Grogan was born in New York City and moved with his family to Marietta, Georgia, in 1971 or 1972. He is the youngest son of community activist, Hugh Grogan, Jr., who was the first African American elected to the Marietta City Council. Hugh Grogan represented Ward 5 and won the seat after successfully challenging redistricting in the case, Grogan v. Hunter. At the time of the interview, Reece Grogan lived in Atlanta, Georgia. His brother is Hugh Grogan, III. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03040
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Miriam Ward Culver attended the Wiliam J. Scott Elementary School in northwest Atlanta and graduated from Archer High School in 1962. She worked for a time as a PBX receptionist before accepting a position as a phlebotomist at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta. Mrs. Culver worked as a phlebotomist for 30 years. She is the sister of Susanne Henry, Mary Ward Cater, and Gwendolyn Dillard. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03036
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Mary Ward Cater was born in the Scott's Crossing area in Northwest Atlanta and grew up in Mableton, Georgia. Her father was a sharecropper and produce seller and her mother worked at Whittier Cotton Mills. Mrs. Cater attended Washington Street Elementary School in Austell, Georgia, and integrated Lindley Middle School in Mableton, Georgia, in 1969. She attended Pebblebrook High School and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta. Mrs. Cater worked in the mortgage department of Georgia State Bank, later becoming First Union Bank. She has been active in civil rights and community organizations. In 1981 she participated in the reactivation of the Cobb County Branch of the NAACP. Mrs. Cater's home was shot in 1983 as part of a racially motivated attack. She is the sister of Susanne Henry, Gwendolyn Dillard, and Miriam Culver. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03030
Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.
Mary Ward Cater was born in the Scott's Crossing area in Northwest Atlanta and grew up in Mableton, Georgia. Her father was a sharecropper and produce seller and her mother worked at Whittier Cotton Mills. Mrs. Cater attended Washington Street Elementary School in Austell, Georgia, and integrated Lindley Middle School in Mableton, Georgia, in 1969. She attended Pebblebrook High School and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta. Mrs. Cater worked in the mortgage department of Georgia State Bank, later becoming First Union Bank. She has been active in civil rights and community organizations. In 1981 she participated in the reactivation of the Cobb County Branch of the NAACP. Mrs. Cater's home was shot in 1983 as part of a racially motivated attack. She is the sister of Susanne Henry, Gwendolyn Dillard, and Miriam Culver. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03030
Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.
Marjorie Beavers-Woods was born in northwest Atlanta and moved with her family to Mableton in the early 1960s. She attended Pebblebrook High School and was one of first African Americans to graduate from the school in 1971. Beavers-Woods went to work at Fulton National Bank, later Bank of America, immediately after high school. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03009
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Janet Prince was born in Mims, Florida. She attended Albany State College and worked as a correctional office for the Brevard County Sheriff's Office before moving to Smyrna, Georgia, in 1990. Since that time she has worked in the Cobb County Sheriff's Office. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03019
Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.
Louis C. Walker was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in Livingston, Alabama. He attended Sumter County Training School and graduated from Tuskegee University in 1965 with a Bachelor's degree in Trade and Industrial Education. Mr. Walker accepted a position with Lemon Street High School in 1965, teaching for one year. In 1966 he was one of three African American teachers who were selected to transfer to Marietta High School in advance of the integration of the school system. Mr. Walker taught Industrial Arts at Marietta High School from 1966 to 1971. He later served as the Coordinator for Vocational Academic Education and later for the Diversified Cooperative Training program. Mr. Walker received a Master's degree in Trade and Industrial Education from the University of Georgia in 1973. Both Josetta and Louis are longtime members of Zion Baptist Church in Marietta.ID:ksu-45-05-001-03026
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Vicki Trammell Cuthbert was born in West Point, Georgia. She graduated from Harrison High School as part of the last class before the school system was integrated. Cuthbert earned a full Ford Foundation academic scholarship and graduated from Morris Brown College in Atlanta. She worked as a research associate for the Atlanta University School of Social Work before attending the University of Georgia Law School. Cuthbert worked for a short time for the Georgia Legal Services in Macon, Georgia, before moving to Marietta, Georgia, in 1987. She practiced law in Marietta and in 1988 was appointed by Judge James Bodiford to the Cobb County Magistrate Court, where she served as the court's first African American judge. In 1998 Judge Cuthbert left the Magistrate Court. She joined the Cobb County Juvenile Court as an Advocate in 2004. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03013
Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.
James G. Bodiford moved to Powder Springs, Georgia, at the age of 5, when his father accepted a position with the Lockheed-Georgia Company in 1954. He attended Powder McEachern High School and graduated from Gordon Military High School in Barnesville, Georgia. Bodiford received a Bachelor's degree from Mercer University and a J.D. from John Marshall Law School. He went into private practice in Marietta, Georgia, and worked as a trial lawyer for the Cobb County District Attorney's Office. Judge Bodiford served on the Powder Springs Municipal Court before accepting an appointment as Cobb County Chief Magistrate Judge, which he held from 1985 to 1994. He was elected to the Cobb County Superior Court in 1994 and served as Chief Judge from 2005 to 2006. Judge Bodiford appointed Vicki Trammell Cuthbert to the Cobb County Magistrate Court in 1988, where she served as the court's first African American judge. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03037
Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.
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