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Lane, Jimmie, 2011-03-17

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Scope and Contents

Jimmie Lane describes her first and only job in domestic service in Louisiana. Lane recalls that when she was in her mid-20s, she worked for the Waters family for a few months when her friend Nelly, the Waters’ regular maid, became ill. She remembers working four days a week, cleaning, running errands, taking messages, and occasionally babysitting the couple’s grandchildren. Lane recalls having a very friendly relationship with the Waters, with whom she often shared food and conversation. She shares memories of segregated schools and parks, African Americans being denied the vote, and watching Civil Rights protests and police violence on television.

Dates

  • Creation: 2011-03-17

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Audio recordings of three oral history interviews are closed, but the associated transcripts are open.

Biographical / Historical

Jimmie Lane was born in Springhill, Louisiana, in 1946 and was adopted by a family from Mansfield, Louisiana, in 1952. Her adoptive mother was a maid and her adoptive father was a butcher. Lane graduated from Desoto High School in 1965. She went on to study elementary education at Grambling State University for three years but left school when her adoptive father had a heart attack. Lane took her first and only job in domestic service when she was in her mid-20s, working for the Waters family for a few months when her friend Nelly, the Waters’ regular maid, became ill. Jimmie Lane later moved to Des Moines, Iowa.

Extent

From the Collection: 5 linear inches

From the Collection: 19 audiocassettes

From the Collection: 31.5 Gigabytes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Iowa Women's Archives Repository

Contact:
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5068
319-335-5900 (Fax)