Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Mrs. Ernie Albert Interview |
Object Name |
Recording, Audio |
Audio Recording |
Click here to view/hear the file. Click here to view/hear Ernie Albert, Halloween Parade Clip. |
Scope & Content |
Ernie Evelee Tyson was born on September 29, 1932 in St. Marys, GA. Her family moved to Fernandina when she was three years old. They lived in a house located on Beech & 11th St. Ernie says there were several families that lived in the neighborhood and there were lots of children to play with. She is the oldest of 6 children. Her Mother was a maid/cook and her Father was a commercial fisherman who would be gone for weeks at a time. Their Grandmother, Cora Cippio came from King's Ferry to live with the family. Ernie says her Grandmother was a very strong person and was always encouraging her and her brother and 4 sisters. Ernie's neighborhood contained many teachers, store owners and professionals and from early on she knew she wanted to be a teacher. After graduating high school, she received a scholarship to study for the summer in St. Augustine. A group of friends were planning to attend FL A&M and encouraged her to apply. She was accepted and roomed with twin girls in the dorm. She studied very hard and finished college in 4 years with a teacher's degree. She was able to get a teacher's sub position the fall semester and her first job was teaching 1st grade at Pine Forrest Elementary School in Callahan. Teachers at the time would live with local families. Integration was beginning and she was transferred to Yulee Elementary where she was the school's first black teacher. Ernie tells the story of the school's annual Halloween parade where a young student dressed as a KKK clansman. Ernie took the student's hand and together they lead the parade throughout the school. That was the school's last Halloween parade. It was a difficult time but she felt she was finally being accepted by the teachers and parents. Ernie has been married to Charles Albert, the first African American Mayor of Fernandina Beach for 60 years. |
Object ID |
2020.001.002 |
Collection |
AIMH Heritage Keepers Project |
Caption |
Ernie Albert, Nei Frink, Marsha Dean Phelts, Peggy Bulger |
Interview date |
2019-08-16 |
Interview place |
Baker Hall |
Interviewer |
Neil Frink |
Length of Interview |
40" |
Narrator's name |
Ernie Albert |
Number of images |
1 |
People |
Albert, Ernie Tyson Bulger, Peggy |
Recording media |
Digital Recording |
Search Terms |
African American Fishermen Kings Ferry, GA KKK St. Marys teacher |
Date |
08/16/2019 |