Oral history with Reverend Robert James Jamison

              Oral history with Reverend Robert James Jamison
F341.5 . M57 vol. 746, pt. 1
Funding for this project provided by The Mississippi State Legislature, The Mississippi Humanities Council, The Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Southern Mississippi.
This transcription of an oral history by the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage of The University of Southern Mississippi may not be reproduced or published in any form except that quotation of short excerpts of unrestricted transcripts and the associated tape recordings is permissible providing written consent is obtained from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. When literary rights have been retained by the interviewee, written permission to use the material must be obtained from both the interviewee and the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Reverend Robert James Jamison was born on May 28, 1936. As a child, he lived in both St. Louis, Missouri, and the community of Shake Rag in Tupelo, Mississippi, where his grandparents reared him. From his grandfather, Reverend Jamison learned carpentry skills which he put to use to earn his own money even while still in high school. Upon graduation, he and his wife married, and they attended Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, on athletic scholarships. After graduating he taught school in Tishomingo, Mississippi, for three years after which time he attended the University of Utah and earned his master's degree. From the University of South Carolina, he earned his education specialist degree, and he earned the Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.
When he returned to Mississippi, Reverend Jamison became a Head Start director with Lift, Incorporated, and eventually became the first African- American to run for alderman of Ward Four. Additionally, he worked to establish the NAACP in Tupelo. Later, he became the assistant vice president of the regional Community Action Agency.
Reverend Jamison has been married to Minnie Edwards Jamison for forty- seven years, and they are the proud parents of four children.
Table of Contents
I. Childhood
II. Mississippi Industrial College
III. Teaching in Tishomingo, Mississippi
IV. Entering the ministry
V. Tupelo NAACP
VI. Protest March from Carver High School
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