Oral history interview with Allyce Hamilton, 1999

Biographical Note

Allyce Hamilton was born March 22, 1909. A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Missouri, Hamilton was born to a doctor and a teacher and was one of five children. She was a founding member of St. Louis CORE and taught in St. Louis elementary schools for over thirty-five years. In addition, Hamilton became involved in The St. Louis Committee on Africa and served as the first Black woman Chair of the American Committee on Africa. She was on the Board of Directors of the United Nations Association of St. Louis and took part in Washington University's Host Family Program and other cultural exchange programs. Hamilton died at age 90 on October 30, 1999 in St. Louis, Missouri

Scope and Contents

Allyce Hamilton begins this interview by describing her family background and early exposure to the civil rights movement. Hamilton recalls her father, a doctor, treating patients at The People's Hospital, one of few hospitals in St. Louis that were open to Black residents, and her mother working as a teacher. After attending St. Louis University, Hamilton taught at Washington Elementary School for ten years. Hamilton describes hiding her marriage from her employers, the challenges faced by Black men on the job market, and her late husband's experience as a Black veteran. Hamilton recalls her initial engagement with the civil rights movement. She began attending St. Louis CORE upon its founding in 1947. Hamilton describes CORE's early meetings, which were held in the Centennial Christian Church. She also speaks to the chapter's first campaign, which aimed to desegregate the lunch counters of the Stix, Baer and Fuller department store. Hamilton discusses her experiences with discrimination in downtown St. Louis and her attendance of the March on Washington. In addition to her teaching career and participation in CORE, Hamilton discusses her interest in African culture and history. In the midst of African decolonization movements, Hamilton became involved in the St. Louis Committee on Africa and the American Committee on Africa. Hamilton explains several cultural exchange programs she participated in, including the St. Louis Sister Cities Committee, the American Friends Service Committee, and University of Washington's Host Family Program. She speaks briefly regarding her health and the kindness of a former student, Charlene Dummet. Also discussed in the interview is the cost of medicine, gun control, and racial violence in America; the deaths of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy; Hamilton's experiences with the United Nations Association of St. Louis; and her travel to Europe

Subjects

• American Committee on Africa.
• Civil rights demonstrations--Missouri--Saint Louis.
• Civil rights demonstrations--United States.
• Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century.
• Discrimination in employment--United States.
• Hamilton, Allyce--Interviews.
• Interviews.
• Michaels, Sheila, 1939-2017, interviewer.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• St. Louis Committee of Racial Equality.
• United States--Race relations--History--20th century.