Rondo Oral History Project: Interview with Melvin Whitfield Carter, Sr.

Titles: Rondo Oral History Project: Interview with Melvin Whitfield Carter, Sr. (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: At age 79, Melvin Carter, Sr. describes the Rondo Avenue of his childhood. He shares his father's history of playing in circus bands before coming to Minnesota and how his father began musical groups for the youth in the community, inspiring several to become professional musicians. He played in a Navy band during World War II and later played in musical groups for local social clubs. After the decline of the railroad business, Carter moved to the Saint Paul School District. He went on to become the first black to achieve a Chief Engineer License and worked as the head engineer at Humboldt High School for the last five years of his service. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Childhood in the Rondo community; experience playing in a Navy band during World War II; postwar musical scene in local social clubs; treatment of blacks when he worked as a redcap at the railroad station; music in his life and community; twenty-seven years of service to Saint Paul School District.

Dates

• 02/19/2003 - 11/28/2003 (Interviews conducted 2/19/2003 and 11/28/2003.) (Creation)

Creation

• interviewer: Cavett, Kate
• interviewee: Carter, Melvin Whitfield Jr,

Identifiers

• Library Call Number: OH 110.5
• Accession Number: AV2007.22.5
• Link to Finding Aid

Notes

• There is no audio for this interview.

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

• Oral History - Project, MHS Collection, project: 'Rondo Oral History Project' <OH 110>

Quantity: 54 pages transcript

Format

• Content Category: text

Subjects

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