Oral history interview with Vance H. Chavis by William Link, 1988

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In this transcript of a December 7, 1988, oral history interview conducted by William Link with Vance H. Chavis, Chavis discusses the role of teachers in the black community, and Dudley High School, and the discrepancy between white and black schools. He describes his involvement in and activities of organizations such as the NAACP, Greensboro Citizens Association, and Greensboro Interracial Commission; voting and politics in the 1950s; segregated buses, theatres, and restaurants; and his personal educational background and experiences in South Carolina.

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Title: Oral history interview with Vance H. Chavis by William Link, 1988
Who's responsible?: Chavis, Vance H. (Interviewee)
Pfaff, Eugene E., Jr., 1948- (Interviewer)
Original creation or publication date: 1988-12-06
Place: Greensboro (N.C.)
Decade: 1980-1989
Type of item: text
Original format: interviews
Subject headings: Greensboro (N.C.) -- Race relations
Greensboro (N.C.) -- History -- 20th century
Topics: North Carolina
African-American History
Business
Civic Groups
Additional tags: General perspectives on race relations
Business desegregation
Greensboro civic organizations
Copyright information: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
IN COPYRIGHT. This item is subject to copyright. Contact the contributing institution for permission to reuse.
Contributing Institution: Greensboro Public Library
Collection: Greensboro Public Library Oral History Program
Civil Rights Greensboro
Funding source: Digitzation funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.
Contributor's identifier: GPL_OH0001.019.001
Gateway identifier: gpl:7337
Item note: Vance H. Chavis was born January 14, 1906, in Wadesboro, North Carolina. He was educated in the Anson County School System and attended the High School Department of Biddle University (now Johnson C. Smith University). He continued his education at Johnson C. Smith University, earning a bachelor of science degree. At North Carolina Central University he received a master's degree in Public Health. He also studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina A&T State University, and the University of Wisconsin.<BR>BR>Chavis taught physics, general science, and biology at James B. Dudley High School from 1929 to 1955. He was appointed assistant principal at Lincoln Junior High School in 1955 and in 1957 was promoted to principal. Chavis remained in that position until his retirement in June 1969.<BR>BR>Chavis was known first as an educator but was also a leader in the local civil rights movement. He was an early member of the NAACP in the 1930s, and in 1949 was integral in organizing the Greensboro Citizens Association. He was also an active member of the Democratic Party at both state and local levels, serving on the state Democratic executive committee and as a precinct chairman. From 1969 to 1973, he was a member of the Greensboro City Council.<BR>BR>Chavis received numerous awards and honors, including Johnson C. Smith Universityâ€™s Alumni Centennial Award for outstanding achievement in community relations and a certificate of meritorious service from the City of Greensboro for his efforts on the Redevelopment Commission; Chavis was the first African American male in the United States to be appointed to a redevelopment commission. The Southeast Branch of the Greensboro Public Library was renamed in his honor. Vance H. Chavis died on November 30, 1998, at the age of 92.
OCLC number: 884367709

Oral history interview with Vance H. Chavis by William Link, 1988

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