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Eleanor Kelly index, 2015-12-01

 Item

Scope and Contents

In this oral history interview, Eleanor Kelly, a long time D.C. resident, discusses her experiences moving from Blythewood, South Carolina, to Washington, D.C. She recalls her early life in both Blaney and Blythewood, South Carolina, and her move to Washington when she was in high school. Mrs. Kelly discusses her early years in D.C., moving to Staten Island with her sister and brother-in-law, as well as her return to Washington. She also talks about moving to California with her husband later in her life.

Dates

  • Creation: 2015-12-01

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Biographical / Historical

Eleanor Kelly was born in Blaney, South Carolina. Though her parents were sharecroppers when she was born, the family did well and they bought their own land and built a house by the time she was a teenager. Before finishing high school, Mrs. Kelly moved to Washington, D.C., with her Aunt Rebecca and enrolled in Cortez Peters Business College. Mrs. Kelly later moved in with her sister Alberta and her family, and they moved to New York when her brother-in-law was stationed in Staten Island. Mrs. Kelly returned to Washington to live with another sister after Alberta’s husband was stationed overseas. After returning to Washington, she worked at WTOP for several years before working for the government. After marrying her husband, Moses Kelly, Mrs. Kelly moved all around the country due to Mr. Kelly’s work for the Secret Service. She and her husband had one daughter, Doris. After Mr. Kelly’s retirement, Mrs. Kelly and her husband moved back to Blythewood, South Carolina, to live in her family’s home.

Extent

From the Collection: 27.1 Gigabytes (DIG_0029)

From the Collection: 228 Files (DIG_0029)

Repository Details

Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository

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