The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

African-American heritage on the Norfolk & Western, 1930-1970

Repository: Virginia Museum of Transportation

Collection Description (CRHP): This museum exhibit includes an oral history-based video of African American railroad workers. It examines the 1930 to 1970 period, revealing social conditions before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed and the direct benefit for these workers from the Act. The exhibit also includes artifacts, photographs, and documents. The oral histories for the exhibit were conducted in 1997. Fran Ferguson, director of development for the museum, indicated that the museum also has transcripts, audio recordings, and video related to or of the oral histories.

Collection Description (Extant): African-American Heritage on the Norfolk & Western, 1930-1970: highlights the experiences of many African-American men who worked for the N&W Railroad. Their oral histories provide insight into life on the railroad during the years of dynamic change in working conditions and civil rights for people of color.

Access Copy Note: The museum is dedicated to making its resources open to the public and researchers.

Date(s): 1997

Digital Status: No

Extent: photographs; video recordings; manuscripts; artifacts; transcripts; audio recordings

Language: English

Rights (CRHP): Contact the repository which holds the collection for information on rights

Subjects:

African American railroad employees
African Americans--Virginia
Civil rights movements--Southern States
Discrimination in employment
Railroads
United States. Civil Rights Act of 1964

Genres:

Interviews
Manuscripts
Photographs
Sound recordings
Transcripts
Videorecordings