The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

Christine S. McCreary interview

Repository: U.S. Senate. Historical Office

Collection Description (Extant): In her 45 years of service on Capitol Hill, Christine McCreary saw great changes in both the Senate and in Washington, D.C. She left Bethune-Cookman College to come to the capital as a secretary during World War II. While working in the Federal Security Administration typing pool, she was called to take dictation for the chairman of the National Security Board, Stuart Symington. Symington was impressed with her work and invited her to join his staff when he became director of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and when he was elected to the Senate as a Missouri Democrat in 1952. McCreary was one of the first African American staff members to challenge the de facto segregation that existed by dining regularly in the staff cafeterias. Remaining with Senator Symington until his retirement, she then joined the staff of Ohio Senator John Glenn.

Collection URL: http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/oral_history/Christine_McCreary.htm

Date(s): May 19, 1998

Digital Status: Yes

Language: English

Interviewees: Christine S. McCreary

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

Subjects:

African Americans--Washington (D.C.)
Discrimination in public accommodations
United States. Congress. Senate

Genres:

Interviews
Sound recordings
Transcripts