Olaf Abraham oral history interview, 2007 April 11

Description

Olaf Abraham recalls his memories of the Brooklyn neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, also known as Second Ward, and of urban renewal. He describes daily life as a youth during the 1940s and 1950s, including attending Second Ward High School, working as Queen City Pharmacy, churches, and playing sports with friends. Mr. Abraham and his family moved from Brooklyn to Southside when urban renewal began in the neighborhood, and shares his memories of the project including workers moving houses by mule to make way for Independence Boulevard, the lack of transparency from city officials about urban renewal, the state of housing in Brooklyn, and why he thinks Brooklyn was the first neighborhood to be targeted for demolition.

In collections

Student Project on Second Ward

Details

Title: Olaf Abraham oral history interview, 2007 April 11
Interviewee: Abraham, Olaf, 1939-
Interviewer: Funk, Dawn
Place of Publication: Charlotte, North Carolina
Publisher: J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Date of Interview: 2007-04-11
Physical Description: 1 audio file (35:45) : digital, MP3 + 1 interview log and transcript (24 pages : PDF)
Object Type: sound recording-nonmusical
Genre: spoken word
Language: eng
Interviewee Biography: Olaf Abraham was a 68-year-old man at the time of the interview, which took place at the Greystone Restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Charlotte in 1939. He graduated from Second Ward High School in 1957. He was employed with Queens Pharmacy and Wilson and Holmes Pharmacy during his youth in Charlotte, and served in the military from 1957-1961.
Abstract: Olaf Abraham recalls his memories of the Brooklyn neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, also known as Second Ward, and of urban renewal. He describes daily life as a youth during the 1940s and 1950s, including attending Second Ward High School, working as Queen City Pharmacy, churches, and playing sports with friends. Mr. Abraham and his family moved from Brooklyn to Southside when urban renewal began in the neighborhood, and shares his memories of the project including workers moving houses by mule to make way for Independence Boulevard, the lack of transparency from city officials about urban renewal, the state of housing in Brooklyn, and why he thinks Brooklyn was the first neighborhood to be targeted for demolition.
Digital Object Notes: MP3 access copy created on ingest from WAV preservation master. Interview transferred from compact disc with Exact Audio Copy.
Audio Condition Note: Background voices throughout interview.
Interviewee Occupations: Soldiers
Clerks
Subjects--Names: Abraham, Olaf, 1939-
Subjects--Organizations: Second Ward High School (Charlotte, N.C.)
United House of Prayer for All People
Subjects--Topics: African Americans--Segregation
African American schools
African Americans--Education
African American neighborhoods
African American business enterprises
Amusements
City and town life
African American churches
Urban renewal
Subjects--Geographic: North Carolina--Charlotte
North Carolina--Charlotte--Brooklyn
North Carolina--Charlotte--Second Ward
North Carolina--Charlotte--Cherry
Subjects--Genre: Interviews
Oral histories
Coverage--Dates: 1940-2010
Digital Collection Title: Student project on Second Ward
Rights: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
This material is protected by copyright. Copyright is held by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Internet Media Type: audio/mpeg
Identifier: OH-AB0543
Handle URL: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/uncc:2714

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