Mattie Reynolds Oral History Interview (3 of 3)

In this, the last of three interviews, Mattie Reynolds describes how she and her husband moved to Oregon and their early experiences in the state. She notes that she and her family had difficulty finding a home because many landlords would not rent to African Americans. She then discusses her children and their experiences in the Eugene school system. Mrs. Reynolds next describes some of the organizations that were active in Eugene during the Civil Rights Movements, and her participation in them. She concludes by describing the discriminatory treatment she and her family faced when searching for housing in Eugene. Following Mattie. Reynolds’ interview is a brief discussion between the interviewer and Mrs. Reynolds’ daughter, Lois Reynolds-Wilson. Reynolds-Wilson describes her experiences in Eugene as a child, and also discusses her children’s and nephew’s experiences in the Eugene school system.

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.