OH094 Mary F. Bates Oral History
Collection Title
Jackson Purchase Oral History Project - Lifestyles
Series Number
OH094
Interviewee
Bates, Mary F.
Interviewer
Marable, Addie. C.
Date Interviewed
November 30th, 1979
Processed by
Tara Marcum
Date Processed
April 18th, 2011
Description
1 sound disc (51 minutes)
Abstract
Mary Bates discusses her experiences as a teacher in Paducah, Kentucky from the 1940s to the 1980s. She details her family history, early childhood, and involvement in the community and church organizations. She also reminisces about the Great Depression and the civil rights movement in Paducah during the 1960s.
Biographical/Historical Note
Mary Bates was born at Paducah, Kentucky on August 16, 1920. Her mother was a domestic worker. Her father worked for railroad shops until he became a church minister. She was a member of the Washington Street Baptist Church for over 50 years. She taught Sunday school, managed sponsored programs and served as the church historian. She received her undergraduate at Lincoln University and acquired a Masters degree at the University of Cincinnati. She taught at public schools in the City of Paducah for 42 years. Bates served as the president of the Women’s Missionary Union, was the Vice President of Church Women United and was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
General Information
No user access to original recordings. Use audio user copies, digital derivatives, transcripts, and/or tape indexes. This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Permission for reproduction must be requested from Murray State University.
Subject Headings/Descriptors
Bates, Mary F. (1920- )
Paducah (Ky.) – History.
African Americans – Kentucky – Paducah.
Public schools – Kentucky – Paducah.
Race relations – Kentucky – Paducah.
African Americans – Education – Kentucky – Paducah.
Washington Street Baptist Church (Paducah, Ky.)
Baptists – Kentucky – Paducah.
Recommended Citation
Marable, Addie C., "OH094 Mary F. Bates Oral History" (2025). Lifestyles. 5.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/oh-lifestyles/5
Audio Transcript
