Jewel Mandeville and James Patterson

00:02 Hi, my name is Jewel. Mandeville Dash Patterson. I am 84 years. Old. Today is Friday, September 21st. 2420.

00:20 21. I am located in. What about North Carolina? I am interviewing James Patterson. My husband and I

00:35 Me.

00:39 We can go ahead now with the questions. You want to introduce yourself.

00:46 Yes, my name is James. David Patterson, age, 94.

00:59 Where were you? Where were you, born?

01:02 In Washington, DC.

01:06 13th, and Linden Street.

01:10 Northwest.

01:13 Knockies.

01:15 13 blocks from the capitol.

01:19 US Capitol.

01:21 What were your parents names Alfonso? Patterson?

01:29 My mother's name. Is Ethel, Marie Jones.

01:36 Do you have any siblings?

01:39 One brother.

01:42 Named after my dad.

01:47 The only difference is Haiti, Charles Patterson.

01:53 And now that's it. Okay.

01:59 Tell me about your life growing up.

02:03 What was your best memories of your childhood? For example?

02:10 My best memories was.

02:15 When I?

02:18 Grandma move to.

02:23 712, Kenyon Street, Northwest and

02:29 We live with my aunt and uncle.

02:34 Children.

02:41 My mother's sister in Charlotte.

02:47 Loretta Washington, and Isaac.

02:55 Yam, Washington Morton.

02:59 Washington.

03:01 And we had a good time.

03:05 Mostly.

03:09 Singing. And

03:12 Play Anna piano.

03:16 And that's what I did.

03:23 That sounds like it might have been some of your best. The best memories of your childhood. Is that right? Do you have any favorite stories from your childhood?

03:37 It's a regular job. I remember you're talking about stories about, I think it was your uncle and his horse and wagon, and that's where the thing people listening. Okay, now would not have any ideas to describe them a little.

04:02 That was your grandfather.

04:12 He obviously lives close by. We all lived in cross the street from each other, around Linden 13th and Linden. Yeah, they

04:26 Produce.

04:31 Wagon, be calling those daisies go around the neighborhood with Charles and vegetables.

04:43 Through the neighborhoods.

04:47 And I have to stay over here.

04:54 Outing.

04:56 He would not.

04:59 Sometimes let us ride on the back of the wagon.

05:04 Before you put it up in the barn, in the back of his house.

05:12 So you were living in Washington DC at a time when people have Barnes and horses in their backyard.

05:21 Anna.

05:25 I think one of the most thing I remember, we live about half a block from y'all Joseph.

05:35 Musical singing.

05:40 I was did the first.

05:44 Musical about TV. I mean for movies and we lived half a block from him. It's mother and father.

05:57 I rather now.

06:01 Reverend Joseph Nichols 9 last game. Nice person.

06:26 Do you have any any memories from childhood that you might consider to be your worst memories?

06:34 No, not really. I didn't hear. I broke my leg playing.

06:47 When I was young, but Bruce members know that was

06:53 They're all good. Yeah. Well maybe as you Grew Older into your teenage years and whatever.

07:01 I've heard you talk about how it rankled. Do you that even though you live in Washington DC? There was it was it was a racist environment?

07:19 Yes, rexha.

07:26 I don't know how to explain it. But the well you told me about times when you would get on the bus or the streetcar or whatever. It was to go someplace from DC. And then within minutes away. You have to go to the back of the bus, or the train or the whatever it was.

07:52 During World War 1, Bill World War.

08:00 Hey, Ron, I got a draft notice. I was

08:09 Going over to see a young lady lived in Virginia, and we had to sit in the back of the bus going across.

08:26 14th Street bridge in Virginia.

08:31 From mine.

08:33 It was, it was no circulation and

08:39 Washington d.c. On the public transportation. Only, when we

08:46 For the bus at the Old Post Office in the Washington DC to go to Virginia.

09:02 I want to make the transition from non-segregated transportation system. Yes. It was in the fact that you were going to cross.

09:15 Virginia line.

09:19 And he's on Arlington, Virginia.

09:25 Got online.

09:29 I had to fight for the country and then it was very segregated in.

09:36 Really bothers me.

09:41 This is just minutes away from where you live. Am I right?

09:51 1.

09:55 Part of the city to another state.

10:00 Let's move forward in time.

10:06 Tell me about some of the jobs you had that's as a young man as a youngster.

10:14 Brown.

10:16 I have a lot of jobs.

10:21 I was trained.

10:25 And that the VM?

10:31 Machine.

10:35 Machinist.

10:37 And,

10:40 I went to apply at Navy yard in Washington DC.

10:50 Turn down.

10:53 Natasha.

11:04 And,

11:12 And I work went to work is.

11:19 For the government.

11:26 Maritime Commission.

11:31 At the maritime commission. What did you do for them messenger? Okay.

11:39 And I work in a Navy Department.

11:48 All right, near the

11:51 Washington Mall.

12:00 I have various jobs and their in DC during the early thirties.

12:10 Back in those days. What did you think? What did you what did you think you were going to be when you grow up? Did you have any idea about what you would like to be when you grew up?

12:27 While I really wanted to go on the Air Force, but I was turned down because of my broken leg, one leg is a little shorter than you.

12:41 I passed the exam for a written exam but I missed out on the physical.

12:49 Okay, so that's at the time when you were a kid, broke your leg playing outside influence the fact that you couldn't get into the air force. So, how did you what do at that point in your life? You you had several job. So how did you launch your career? What what was the the job you had that started you on your career?

13:18 Wow.

13:21 Where I am.

13:26 It's not a job. That was with one eye.

13:32 This riding.

13:34 Honesty car with my cousin.

13:42 Washington and we were passing Howard University and young lady got on the street car and my cousin Lou her. And she asked her, what was she doing? And she said, well, she was just involved and x-ray training at Howard University.

14:07 Sean.

14:09 It was my curiosity. I went through.

14:14 Couple days. Later. I went up to the house now and then

14:20 Found the admission Department in

14:25 They gave me information about taking a x-ray cost and was accepted.

14:41 And the radiology department of the Freedmen's Hospital.

14:48 Martin Lawrence, my career and an x-ray technician.

14:53 After two years training.

14:57 Okay, you got that training at Howard University. You spent two years at Howard, and in training to be an X-Ray tech. Take, okay, and then, did you go to work as an x-ray technician in a hospital?

15:22 And I didn't like that.

15:29 The way they practice medicine.

15:32 And I quit.

15:35 Favor.

15:38 I'm sorry. I didn't understand you. The first year of the first job. You got to go swear. And what happened?

15:44 VA Hospital, VA Hospital.

15:51 And then I went to Chicago.

15:58 Hell, I know I ain't worth the Mount Sinai.

16:02 West side of Chicago.

16:05 As a x-ray technician.

16:10 How did you get from d.c. To Chicago? How what? Cause you to get to DC to Chicago?

16:26 It was a

16:32 Forget what they call and then just a journal. And then

16:41 They were looking for x-ray technicians.

16:46 This was like a one dad that you use, you saw somewhere. Okay.

16:56 So you, you thought you saw an ad there and you spot you responded to the ad, okay?

17:05 And I'm always tired.

17:11 So then you had so that meant you had to move to Chicago. Okay?

17:18 And where did you live?

17:20 I live with my

17:28 Cheney.

17:30 Family.

17:32 My uncle on my mother's side.

17:38 Celestine.

17:42 Jones.

17:46 And I live with them while I was at my signing.

17:52 How long was that? How long did you do that? So you live with them a couple of years?

18:10 And, and

18:13 Did you did you enjoy your work at Mount Sinai Hospital?

18:21 Good work. Learn a lot.

18:25 Okay, so obviously it was a lot better than your experience at the VA hospital in d.c.

18:34 And where and when you left them after 4, after you left, when you left my sign, after a couple of years. Where did you go and why?

18:48 Wow, that was on a trip to DC to visit my parents.

18:55 I ran into.

18:59 Some friends that I knew they told me that one of the

19:06 Doctors that I was in training.

19:10 Benjamin e. Then that was looking for me.

19:16 Provident Hospital on the way back to Chicago driving. I stopped in Providence Hospital. In Baltimore, Maryland, and I need

19:35 That's weird. Work together at Friedman's hospital. He offered me a job, as Chief x-ray technician, I accept it, but wait a minute, you skipped over there. How did you get? Where is freemen's hospital? So you work? This is dr. Benjamin while you were in training and he remember you the right. Okay, for what hospital in Providence Hospital in Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland?

20:23 Okay, so then that means, that's then you moved back to the DC area. Did you move to DC or to Baltimore or you move back home with your parents? Okay, okay.

20:39 How are you guys at approximately?

20:49 Okay.

20:54 Okay, so then you late 30s, so you were, you were.

21:02 Were you married at the time?

21:07 Yes.

21:09 Okay, so you got married while you were in DC when you while you were living at home with your parents? Okay?

21:20 And what was that wife's name?

21:24 Grandmaster snap, Queen Esther Smith. Okay, and how long did you tell him that you were in d.c.?

21:42 Did you have children?

21:51 You had two children right? Milan Bell.

21:57 Patterson, Cynthia, Lawndale Patterson, okay. And in Warren

22:06 That's okay. Warren wrestling.

22:10 Okay. So how did it happen that you did Lefty see that again?

22:20 Well, after working at Providence Hospital.

22:25 And this is Magic.

22:28 Accounts, I got laid off from Providence and

22:39 Star Wars memes.

22:42 I knew I had to finish my education.

22:49 Eras.

22:51 Trying to add some years.

22:55 Presentation at Howard and

23:00 I am.

23:03 Ran into a.

23:07 Physician Health Services. Tell me about it.

23:23 The state of Illinois was looking for people with my education and background to start a new program on.

23:37 And radiation safety for the Illinois Department of Health. And I took an exam.

23:45 Quit suicide at Silver Service.

23:52 In Washington, DC.

23:56 On a Saturday morning.

23:59 I passed the exam.

24:05 Jovial to Springfield, Illinois.

24:11 An interview.

24:14 Which I was hired Saloon.

24:17 Illinois Department of Public Health.

24:24 Spent.

24:29 6 weeks.

24:31 And in Springfield, Illinois, and doing training.

24:37 Before I went back to Chicago.

24:45 Rich at work.

24:48 Illinois Department of Public Health, in 1717 West, Taylor Street.

25:00 And what was the title for this job?

25:10 Environmental health and safety.

25:22 Okay.

25:27 And how long did you work there?

25:30 But in the meantime, your wife and children were still in DC right now.

25:42 She can we all.

25:46 Yes, movie moved back to Chicago.

25:52 But you didn't move back with that aunt and uncle. Okay, so you can I go with your children, okay?

26:12 Later on. I bought a house or apartment building.

26:19 Career, 78th, and career. After you left the state of Illinois. Where, who did you go to work for?

26:50 What's what? What department would you work went to work for the federal government?

26:57 Yes.

27:03 I work for a

27:08 Ashley part-time jobs.

27:12 And I,

27:16 I work for a hog on National Laboratory university University, Chicago.

27:24 Grande Oregon for Department of energy.

27:30 And,

27:36 They are, I am.

27:39 I'm not a lot of salt.

27:44 And now,

27:46 I joined the Chicago.

27:51 The Midwest.

27:54 Chapters Health Systems.

27:57 And I used to go to meetings looking at the University.

28:10 Eventually I ended up working for them.

28:16 Okay, so go from you you went to work for Argonne National Laboratories, which was the contractor of the federal government. Is that okay? And and your title there was Health physicist doubt it. I hope this is sisters. Are you okay?

28:55 Okay, and then there's that was working for our guys.

29:03 In Wind, when did you resume your education?

29:15 Facts about argon. You went to school part time. And what day and you got your bachelor's from there, right? Okay.

29:35 And I'm nauseous and then you can continue your education and got your Masters also from the University of Chicago. And what were the, what were you got your degrees in? Your bachelor's was in what?

30:03 I remembered that your Masters was in public, health wasn't no hospital Administration. That was, I don't remember what your bachelor's is in. I'm feeling like you're getting ready to pee doubt Peter out. Okay, so I'm going to skip over some parts, okay?

30:25 You're getting getting tired, 10 minutes left. I'm sorry. I just a couple of general questions philosophical questions thinking about it. What do you consider to be the biggest obstacles in life in your life?

30:55 Thank you again. What segregation? Okay? Because Dad got in the way of your getting some of the jobs that you would would have wanted to get have. Is that right?

31:14 Eras.

31:16 Run away. I was turning that I'm basically on.

31:27 Not Picasso.

31:32 Any ill preparedness on my prizes?

31:38 For example, when I was at Argonne.

31:46 Credit working in industrial health and hygiene. And when I got my diploma,

31:59 One of the fellows I was working with one of the white guys that was working with.

32:05 Graduated couple of weeks before I did, and he was appointed.

32:14 I was given one of the jobs or two jobs and

32:21 I was hoping an industrial hygiene and I was not.

32:30 And there were two open.

32:34 Spots.

32:36 And a tigon management turned me down because they said my degree was not.

32:48 Axle of a job. But for the job,

32:55 Even though, of course, is where the same.

33:02 Okay, so you and your white co-worker got your degrees essentially at the same time, and they were essentially the same degree, but he got one of the two jobs that were available, but they wouldn't give you the other one. Is that right? Okay.

33:21 That was not concerned. So I am.

33:29 All right. I applied and went back to

33:37 And appliances.

33:40 Her master's degree. Okay, that's so that was your your motivation for getting your Masters. Okay. Couple more questions. How would you like to be remembered by your grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their children? What would you like, them? How would you like them to Remember You?

34:11 That I haven't given it much thought in it.

34:18 Education.

34:23 That's an idea. That is there any wisdom you like to pass on to them? What's what would you? What would you want them to know?

34:42 Let me ask another question. If you were to give them some advice, what would it? What would that advise be?

34:51 And talk to you about your Gran, not your grandchildren because they're grown your great-grandchildren and their defenses.

35:05 Having a girl.

35:08 You, okay? You have no wisdom to pass onto them aside from the fact that they should get as much education as they can. All right, okay.

35:26 If you could, if you could change your life.

35:31 And if if, if it were possible to go back and redo some part of your life. How would, what would you do different? How, what, where would you be now?

35:46 Well, I've been very fortunate.

35:51 I wouldn't change you.

35:54 Oh, okay. You said you just telling sounds like you think you feel as if you've had a good life.

36:05 Anything else you'd like to tip a salon? We got a couple minutes left know, you're done, you're tired. Okay, I'm going to add a couple of things to the interview. Number one that you are, you have been recently ill and you're you're very tired, and you're weak. And so

36:33 That's why you're beginning to Peter out now, right? So real.

36:46 Okay.