T. Harry
Williams Center for Oral History Collection
INTERVIEWEE
NAME:
Huel D. Perkins COLLECTION:
4700.0230
IDENTIFICATION: [1924- ] Former Assistant Vice-Chancellor for
Academic Affairs at LSU; Former Executive Assistant to the Chancellor at LSU
INTERVIEWER: Maxine Crump
PROJECT: LSU History
DATES:
3/10/93 FOCUS
DATES: 1947-1958; 1978-1989
ABSTRACT:
T
332, Side A
Perkins'
family history, including his father's profession in law and other jobs; his
parent's educational background at Alcorn State and Southern; grandparents
owned property on Highland Road (1920's); grandparents and parents emphasis on
education; Perkins family history at the Amistad Collection at Tulane;
importance of reading and books; Perkins' educational history; as a musician;
importance of musical training in other areas of life; status of Perkins'
family and their peer group; influences on children and young adults
including, television; Perkins' own role model: Felton Clark; on the lecture
circuit; role models for youth and the change in family structure; freedom from
slavery without education; involvement in a jazz band; how Perkins happened to
return to Southern to finish his bachelor's degree; entered Oberlin to study
clarinet; first job at Lincoln in Jefferson City; married to Thelma; both
attend Northwestern University: Perkins gets his Masters and his Doctorate;
racism or segregation at Northwestern; the state of Louisiana paid his tuition
out-of-state but wouldn't allow him to attend LSU; personal goals while at
Northwestern; taught at Southern University for twenty-seven years; joining
LSU's faculty, but first a year with the National Endowment for the Humanities
in Washington D. C.
T
332, Side B
Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Academic
Affairs at LSU; after retirement, executive assistant to the interim chancellor
at LSU; stays at LSU under Chancellor Bud Davis; friendship with Bud Davis;
connections to NEH, including President Bill Clinton; the educational environment
at Southern under segregation; changes in student body etc. with integration;
education helped blacks move toward mainstream America; advantages of a
separate black community; black culture was not an issue during segregation but
just exposure to culture in general; awareness of being black.
TAPES:
332 TOTAL
PLAYING TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes
#
PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 47 pages
OTHER
MATERIALS: Report
(Bio., etc.); Proper name lists (4 pgs.)
RESTRICTIONS: None