1 10 2 https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/a70215cb6e1b97138775161b36bd8c4d.jpg c15dd4bfee647eb44b6502d057684a50 https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/1d0c1149dd161363925225b8ce789478.mp3 35dc47cd85e73ace5841279d273cf83b Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Ayele d'Almeida Mysia Perry Jacob Roberson Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Marilyn Branch-Mitchell Location The location of the interview Boatwright Memorial Library Seminar Room 2 University of Richmond 28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound <a href="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/transcripts/BranchMitchellMarilyn_d'Almeida-Perry-Roberson_Transcript_20180618.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for the transcript file.</a> Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 32:59 Date of Interview June 18, 2018 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History with Marilyn Branch-Mitchell (W'78) Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource interviews Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Richmond (Va.) Description An account of the resource In this oral history interview, Marilyn Branch-Mitchell (W’78) sat down with Ayele d’Almeida (’20), Jacob Roberson (’19), and Mysia Perry (’21) on June 18, 2018, in Boatwright Memorial Library. Over the course of the thirty minute interview, Branch-Mitchell discussed her childhood growing up in Chesterfield County, an area of which was annexed by the City of Richmond in 1970, and attending segregated public schools in the county. She speaks about various experiences at the University of Richmond, from her participation in the Student Organization for Black Awareness (SOBA) and the student government, to the differences and similarities on campus for Black students and Black student athletes, the effects of colorism amongst the Black student population, her experiences in the Sociology and Religious Studies Departments, and how she and her husband, Greg Mitchell, have stayed connected to the University of Richmond, including through the UR Black Alumni Network (URBAN). <img src="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/misc/branchmitchellmarilyn-1975.jpg" alt="" /><img src="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/misc/branchmitchellmarilyn-1976.jpg" alt="" /><img src="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/misc/branchmitchellmarilyn-1977.jpg" alt="" /><img src="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/misc/branchmitchellmarilyn-1978.jpg" alt="" />  Marilyn Branch-Mitchell was born and raised in Chesterfield County where she attended a segregated elementary school until the city of Richmond’s annexation of a portion of Chesterfield County. She then attended Elkhardt Junior High, one year at Manchester High School and graduated from Huguenot High School. She was introduced to the University of Richmond by a high school English teacher when her class attended a literary symposium at UR. Marilyn was impressed by the university and decided to enroll where she could leave home to live on campus but still be close to her family. She was very naive about how her family would afford the tuition and in 1974, there were no scholarships or incentives from the university. Her parents sold land to a developer in order to afford the tuition as they felt strongly about providing a good education and helping to de-segregate a Richmond institution. Marilyn graduated from UR with a degree in Sociology and accepted a position managing a program assisting older adults to re-enter the work force with the local Area Agency on Aging, Senior Connections. She married Gregory Mitchell, who she met while attending UR and after almost 10 years, she paused her career to be a stay at home Wife, Mother and Volunteer. She volunteered as a troop committee member with her son’s Cub and Boy Scout Troops and she volunteered as newsletter editor for the troops and several of her son’s school PTA’s. Marilyn is a lifetime Girl Scout and was a troop leader for her daughter. Marilyn returned to Senior Connections working with Volunteer programs and later accepted her current position as Human Resources Director at the Agency. <a href="https://memory.richmond.edu/items/show/2911" target="_blank">Click here</a> to listen to his joint interview with her husband, Greg Mitchell. Subject The topic of the resource Alumni and alumnae Annexation (County government) College athletes College student government College students, Black College students, White College students--Attitudes Colorism Commuting college students Curricula Discrimination in higher education Hampton University (Va.) Minority college students--Recruiting Racism Race relations Richmond (Va.) School integration School segregation Social life and customs Stereotypes Student life Student Organization for Black Awareness (SOBA) Student organizations United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps Universities and colleges--Faculty University of Richmond Black Alumni Network (URBAN) Virginia State University Women college students Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context BranchMitchellMarilyn_d'Almeida-Perry-Roberson_Public_20180618.mp3 Relation A related resource Race & Racism at UR Project Oral History Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This oral history is available for academic purposes--including but not limited to research by students, faculty, and staff--by permission from the interviewee (Marilyn Branch-Mitchell). The interviewee maintains the copyright, and must be contacted via the Race & Racism Project (urraceproject@gmail.com) for permissions for use outside of academic purposes. https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/fb8cb2d95059c5cb7c56ca2c59f0e98f.jpg 9be4a7621ec8875c9e9492ef7534e5b6 https://memory.richmond.edu/files/original/4c3f1f6c96df2cd51326e6410bd2542b.mp3 84bc86a36bb9229c22c44777706913ed Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Ayele d'Almeida Mysia Perry Jacob Roberson Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Marilyn Branch-Mitchell and Greg Mitchell Location The location of the interview Boatwright Memorial Library Seminar Room 2 University of Richmond 28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound <a href="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/transcripts/BranchMitchellMarilynandMitchellGreg_d'Almeida-Perry-Roberson_Transcript_20180618.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for the transcript file.</a> Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 01:19:30 Date of Interview June 18, 2018 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History with Marilyn Branch-Mitchell (W'78) and Greg Mitchell Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource interviews Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Richmond (Va.) Description An account of the resource In this oral history interview, Marilyn Branch-Mitchell and Greg Mitchell sat down with Ayele d’Almeida (’20), Jacob Roberson (’19), and Mysia Perry (’21) on June 18, 2018, in Boatwright Memorial Library. Over the course of the one hour and twenty minute interview, the Mitchells share stories about how they each ended up at the University of Richmond, how they met on campus, the culture shock they experienced coming to campus and the attitudes white students had towards their presence on campus, the relationships between Black academic students and student athletes from the United States and international Black student athletes, how their childhoods and upbringings influenced the different ways they navigated relationships on campus, what dating looked like on campus at the time, their experiences with SOBA (Student Organization for Black Awareness) and attempts at establishing a space for Black students on campus, reflections on how the campus and the reputation of the University of Richmond have changed since their time on campus, and insights on how their university experience and marriage shaped their professional and personal careers after leaving the university. <img src="https://memory.richmond.edu/files/misc/mitchells-1982.jpg" alt="" /> Marilyn Branch-Mitchell and Gregory Mitchell attended Westhampton College and Richmond College in the late 1970s. They married in 1982 and have two children. Marilyn is the Human Resources Director for the local Area Agency on Aging and Gregory retired after 30+ years at Philip Morris, USA. He currently volunteers for UR as a sports photographer. They both serve on Dr. Crutcher’s Commission on University History and Identity and Marilyn is about to start a term on the UR Alumni Board. <a href="https://memory.richmond.edu/items/show/2909" target="_blank">Click here</a> to listen to Marilyn Branch-Mitchell's individual interview. <a href="https://memory.richmond.edu/items/show/2910" target="_blank">Click here</a> to listen to Greg Mitchell's individual interview. Subject The topic of the resource Alumni and alumnae Annexation (County government) College athletes College fraternity members College sports College students, Black College students, Foreign College students, Men College students, White College students--Attitudes Commuting college students Curricula Discrimination in higher education Dormitories Football teams Greek letter societies Minority college students--Recruiting Racism Race relations Roomates Social life and customs Stereotypes Student Organization for Black Awareness (SOBA) United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps Universities and colleges--Faculty Universities and colleges--Professional staff University of Richmond Black Alumni Network (URBAN) Women college students Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context BranchMitchellMarilynandMitchellGreg_d'Almeida-Perry-Roberson_Public_20180618.mp3 Relation A related resource Race & Racism at UR Project Oral History Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This oral history is available for academic purposes--including but not limited to research by students, faculty, and staff--by permission from the interviewees (Marilyn Branch-Mitchell and Greg Mitchell). The interviewees maintain the copyright, and must be contacted via the Race & Racism Project (urraceproject@gmail.com) for permissions for use outside of academic purposes.