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Peter de Lissovoy Oral History

Object number2023.001.0032
Date05/12/2023
ClassificationsOral Histories
Oral history interview subject
Oral history interviewer
ObjectOral history
Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumBorn digital (.mp4 file), Born digital (.vtt file), Born digital (.m4a file)
DimensionsDuration: 68 Minutes
Collections
  • Civil Rights Movement
  • All Online Objects
  • Oral History Collection
DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with Peter de Lissovoy. In 1963, de Lissovoy dropped out of Harvard University to become active with the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee in Albany, Georgia. Over the next two years, he was arrested numerous times, participated in marches, tested the new Civil Rights Act, and worked on the 1964 congressional campaign of African American attorney C.B. King. Interview conducted via Zoom on May 12, 2023 by Stephen Fagin. The interview is one hour and eight minutes long.
Curatorial Commentary

Peter de Lissovoy’s significant direct involvement in the Civil Rights Movement highlights an important era of American history from the 1960s. His experiences in Georgia as an activist, journalist, and member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, alongside his involvement in the Zimbabwe African National Union, led him to author several novels and nonfiction books. Feelgood (1970) explores the possibility of the American Civil Rights Movement failing, leading to a takeover of white supremacy. The Great Pool Jump (2020) is a limited release with only 500 copies produced with recollections of his and friends’ experiences in Southern Georgia, highlighting their involvement in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. More informationtion on Lissovoy, including a personal memo, links to his public works, and a blog, can be found on his website here: Peter de Lissovoy - Works. - Riley Harris, Collections Cataloger

The Museum's Collection features several artifacts, oral history interviews, and public programs focused on the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). These materials may be viewed on the Museum's online database here: Thesaurus – Vocabularies – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. - Riley Harris, Collections Cataloger  

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