Interview with Virginia Shelby,

Interview Summary

Virginia Case Shelby was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky in 1919 and spent her childhood on her grandparents' farm in Woodford County. She talks about her family background and ancestors, and talks about discipline and household dynamics while growing up. She discusses changes in society since her childhood, including the role of the minister in the community, the quality of education children receive, and children's attitudes toward their elders.

Shelby talks about the various jobs she has held over the years, including work on assembly lines and in private homes doing domestic work. She talks about working for the Madden family, who owned Madden Farm in Lexington, for 32 years. She talks about the treatment she received in each job, and discusses racial discrimination in the workplace.

Shelby discusses whether the Black community is better off since the civil rights movement, and discusses whether Black women were helped by the women's liberation movement.

Interview Keyword

African American churches--Kentucky African American neighborhoods African Americans--Education. African Americans--Employment African Americans--Housing. Childhood Family histories. Racism Second-wave feminism Wages

Interview LC Subject

African American families African Americans--Economic conditions African Americans--Social conditions Civil rights movements--United States Discrimination in employment Jessamine County (Ky.) Race discrimination Woodford County (Ky.) Race relations--Kentucky

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.