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Oral history interview of Rudolph Valentine Archer

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@ Atlanta History Center

Roseman, Malcolm Archer, Rudolph Valentine

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In this interview, Val Archer describes his experiences in the Army Air Corps at the close of World War II. He recalls the prejudice he and other black men experienced as the Air Force was desegregated by President Truman. He also describes the origins of the organization known today as the Tuskegee Airmen, and his life and education after his retirement from the Air Force.Val Archer was in the United States Air Force in the Pacific following World War II.9/25/2003 Val Archer interview, Atlanta History Center He is president of the Atlanta chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Veterans group. Transcribed 10/2003 by Frances Westbrook. NOTE: I have not tried to check spelling of the military bases he mentions. Interview with Mal Roseman, volunteer from the AARP. Side 1 MR: I'm Malcolm Roseman in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 25, 2003. I have the honor of speaking with Val Archer, also from Atlanta. Val, let's begin by just telling me where you were born and when, and a little bit about your early years. VA: OK. I'm Val Archer. I was born in Chicago, Illinois, on my grandmother's birthday, in 1929, on April 13. I attended elementary school at Betsy Ross, and I recently heard in the news it's still around and having probably more difficulties today than they were having then. As my family moved from one neighborhood to another, I transferred to different schools. I eventually graduated from [summer?] school, at a school called Charles Cominsky[?], which was over on the...
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This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
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Atlanta History Center

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia