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Between 1970 and 1975, the Minnesota
Black History Project interviewed thirty-two black Minnesotans.
They covered a range of topics, among them family, social
activities, political organizations, and community involvement.
Five of those interviewed discussed the Duluth lynchings and
its effects on themselves and on their communities. Audio
excerpts from those interviews are now available to users
of this site.
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Edward
Nichols (1900-1987)
Born 1900 in Tower, Minnesota,
Nichols came to Duluth in 1916, worked in
the steel plant and later operated a valet
service and catering business for thirty-eight
years. His parents, John Nichols and Nora
O’Brian were pioneers who arrived
in the area in 1884. At the time of the
lynchings he was in Duluth visiting his
brother. He relates his personal account
of the tragic event and the tense days following.
Date of interview: July
17, 1974 |
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Ethel
Ray Nance (1899-1992)
Ethel Ray Nance was born
April 13, 1899 in Duluth, Minnesota. She
was the assistant head resident of the Phyllis
Wheatley House, the first black policewoman
in Minneapolis, the first black stenographer
in the Minnesota legislature, a member of
the Minnesota Negro Council and an associate
editor of the Timely Digest. At the time
of the lynchings Ms. Nance was living in
Moose Lake, Minnesota. Here she discusses
her reaction to the news of the lynchings
and those of other residents of Moose Lake,
as well as the establishment of an NAACP
branch in Duluth.
Date of interview: May
24, 1974 |
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William
Maupins (1922-1992)
William Maupins was a
laboratory supervisor in the chemistry department
of the University of Minnesota - Duluth,
president of the Duluth Branch of the NAACP
and a member of the Minnesota state board
of the American Civil Liberties Union. He
comments here on the lynchings.
Date of interview:
July 31, 1975 |
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Fred
Bell (1902-1994)
Mr. and Mrs. Bell moved
from Texas to Duluth in 1923. Mr. Bell was
an employee of the United States Steel Corporation
for forty years. Both discuss the mood of
the black community in Duluth following
the lynchings.
Date of interview: July
9, 1975 |
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Lillian
Bell (1901- 1989)
Mr. and Mrs. Bell moved
from Texas to Duluth in 1923. Mr. Bell was
an employee of the United States Steel Corporation
for forty years. Both discuss the mood of
the black community in Duluth following
the lynchings.
Date of interview: July
9, 1975 |
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