Oral history with Ernestine Denham Talbert

              Oral history with Ernestine Denham Talbert, 1997 Oct. 1
F341.5 . M57 vol. 702
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Biography
Ernestine D. Talbert graduated from Alcorn State University with a major in business education. She did further study in business education at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
She studied at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; and Jackson State University and earned certification for public school librarianship. She earned a master's degree from Jackson State University in guidance and counseling.
Mrs. Talbert taught business education and served as teacher- librarian in the public schools of Mississippi for fourteen years. Her teaching career came to an end in 1962 when she attempted to exercise her rights to register and vote. This action resulted in a voter rights suit being filed against the George County registrar, by the federal government. The action subsequently resulted in Mrs. Talbert's being released from her teaching position with the Greene County Public Schools.
The federal government stepped into a new area of race relations in the South by suing for reinstatement of Mrs. Talbert to her teaching position. Attorney General Robert Kennedy announced the suit in Washington, D. C. on April 17, 1962.
Mrs. Talbert embarked upon a new career with the Mississippi Teachers Association ( MTA) when that organization created a position for her as director of expanded services. She remained with the MTA until 1974 when she joined the Jackson State University staff as career counselor. She was subsequently promoted to coordinator of cooperative education/ industry liaison services and served in that position until her retirement, September 1, 1989.
Mrs. Talbert has received recognition and awards for her leadership. She was honored by the Mississippi Teachers Association for outstanding services in education and human rights. She received citations from District Teachers Associations of Mississippi and Alcorn State University Alumni Association for her contributions to education. She is listed in the Fourth Edition ( 1966- 1967) of Who's Who of American Women and she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. mus- coh. talberte. doc Page 1 of 22