Reverend and Mrs. Sam Coleman, December 8, 1972

@ Washington State University. Library. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

Coleman, Sam

Description

Oral history interview with Reverend and Mrs. Sam Coleman of Pasco and Seattle, Washington.TAPE 9 (1st), SIDE A: 0 - 10 Her family background. From Mississippi and came to Washington in 1916. Her father worked for the railroad. Other blacks in Pasco. Most lived in railroad cars on the east side of town. Then they went to California and Chicago. Life in Chicago. They returned to Pasco. He died after being run over by a train while working. 10 - 14 They married in 1927. She was the first colored girl to graduate from Pasco High School (1924). She almost married a foot doctor. Her experiences teaching school. 14 - 21 There were no black farmers in the area. Other black families in the area. He was from Chicago and came out to Pasco in 1944. He worked as a cook for the railroad in 1915 or so. The Great Northern paid more than the Pullman Company. He then went into the taxi business in 1916. 21 - 30 He bought property in Pasco in the 30's but didn't move there. He talks about his businesses in Seattle- he was the first Negro general contractor in Washington. Experiences working in Denver in 1920--there was trouble working with whites. TAPE 9 (1st), SIDE B: 0 - 6 Their marriage. She had attended Whitman College. More about his businesses in Seattle and his associates. How he got his hardware business. Two colored lawyers in Seattle. He lost a lot of money on...

Type:

Sound

Contributors:

Coleman, Sam, Mrs., 1903

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