Overview of the Item
Julieanna Richardson
Scott Stearns
Video Oral History Interview with Ethel Alexander
April 02, 2001
4 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials.
(ABSTRACT)
A2001.080
The interviews and records are in English
Biographical Note
Former Illinois State Senator from 26th District.
Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®
Scope and Contents
This life oral history interview with Ethel Alexander was conducted by Julieanna Richardson on 2001-04-02 in Chicago, Illinois and is recorded on 4 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Ethel Alexander's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.
Accompanying Material
Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms.
Contributors:
Alexander, Ethel
Richardson, Julieanna
Stearns, Scott
Persons:
(PERSONS)
Corporate Bodies:
(CORPORATE BODIES)
Family Names:
Alexander
Places:
(PLACES)
Subjects:
(SUBJECTS)
Document Types:
Video oral history interview
Titles:
The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Ethel Alexander
Restrictions on Access
Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.
Restrictions on Use
All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.
Location of Originals
Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.
Preferred Citation
The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Ethel Alexander, April 02, 2001. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.
Detailed Description/Tape Listings
Video Oral History Interview with Ethel Alexander, Tape 1, April 02, 2001, TRT: 00:31:05.
Ethel Skyles Alexander details her family background and her family life growing up in Chicago. Alexander's father was a state politician, and Alexander tells stories of his service in Springfield and profiles some of the other black representatives he worked with, including Corneal Davis and Fred Smith. Alexander also details the changing political climate in Chicago during the 1940s and 1950s, when her father was serving as a politician.
Video Oral History Interview with Ethel Alexander, Tape 2, April 02, 2001, TRT: 00:30:58.
Ethel Skyles Alexander describes her education, from Sherwood Elementary and Englewood High School on Chicago's South Side, to Loop Junior College in Chicago. Alexander then explains how her father helped get her a job at the Circuit Court of Cook County, where she held a post for over three decades. Alexander then talks about how she first got into state politics, detailing her first election, which she lost, then explaining how she won in her second attempt to become a state representative. Alexander shares many stories about her time as a representative, profiling Illinois politicians like Harold Washington and Charles Chew.
Video Oral History Interview with Ethel Alexander, Tape 3, April 02, 2001, TRT: 00:31:04.
Ethel Skyles Alexander discusses in detail her time in the Illinois General Assembly, naming many of the influential black politicians with whom she worked, and telling of her participation in important votes and tactics she used when dealing with lobbyists and fellow legislators. Alexander also explains the importance of the General Assembly to blacks living in Chicago.
Video Oral History Interview with Ethel Alexander, Tape 4, April 02, 2001, TRT: 00:07:47.
Ethel Skyles Alexander discusses the importance of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and comments on the legacy of herself and other black members of the Illinois General Assembly.