Mattie Reynolds Oral History Interview (1 of 3)

In this, the first of three interviews, Mattie Reynolds describes the interactions between the white and Black communities in Eugene during her lifetime. She also describes the experiences her children had in school, including the racist treatment that her children were subjected to from their teachers and classmates. The interview concludes with a discussion of Juneteenth, which Mrs. Reynolds and her family in the South celebrated by hosting barbeque parties, playing baseball, and dancing.

Mattie Reynolds (1918-2010) was born in Bossier Parish, Louisiana and moved to Eugene, Oregon from Shreveport, Louisiana so that her husband could pursue work with the railroad. The mother of twelve children, Reynolds was a founding member of St. Mark Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and was also the first African American to seek elective office in Eugene, running for a seat on the City Council in 1966. During the 1960s she participated in sit-ins and other protests to advance the cause of civil rights in Eugene.