Oral History with Marilyn Branch-Mitchell (W'78) and Greg Mitchell

Oral History with Marilyn Branch-Mitchell (W'78) and Greg Mitchell

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.



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.

Click here to listen to Marilyn Branch-Mitchell's individual interview. Click here to listen to Greg Mitchell's individual interview.

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.

BranchMitchellMarilynandMitchellGreg_d'Almeida-Perry-Roberson_Public_20180618.mp3

Richmond (Va.)

Marilyn Branch-Mitchell and Greg Mitchell

Boatwright Memorial Library Seminar Room 2
University of Richmond
28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173

01:19:30

June 18, 2018