Oral history interview with Patricia von Yorck, 2000

Biographical Note

Patricia Von Yorck was born in Germany during World War II to an American mother and a German father. Her father, a count, helped to smuggle British soldiers out of Germany and was a member of the Office of Strategic Services. Her uncle, a German officer, was arrested and executed for the attempted assassination of Hitler. Because of his actions, the family was arrested and jailed. Her paternal grandmother, a countess, used her influence to secure their release, the family subsequently moved to the United States. After living in New York City for a brief period, they moved to Long Island, where von Yorck and her brothers were raised. Von Yorck attended and graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. She was active in the Young People's Socialist League (YPSL) in New York City, Nothern Student Movement, and Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)

Scope and Contents

In this interview with Sheila Michaels von Yorck discusses her family and their political involvement in Germany; their attitudes towards race; her involvement with the Young People's Socialist League (YSPL); her introduction to and involvement with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) by members of the Northern Student Movement (NSM); and her work during the 1964 Freedom Summer project. Von Yorck low awareness about segregation as a child, because there were no Black families in her community; the main issue they discussed was anti-Semitism. She became involved with YPSL in high school and attended their meetings in New York City. Von Yorck discusses her involvement with civil rights group at Skidmore College, and with activities of Northern Student Movement to support civil rights actions in the South. She also discusses her role in teaching Black history to students in Oxford, Mississippi, and her experience at the 1964 Democratic National convention

Subjects

• Civil rights demonstrations--United States.
• Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century.
• Congress of Racial Equality.
• Interviews.
• Michaels, Sheila, 1939-2017, interviewer.
• Northern Student Movement.
• Oral histories.
• United States--Race relations--History--20th century.
• Young People's Socialist League.
• von Yorck, Patricia--Interviews.