(Note: This post was authored by Taylor McNeilly, Processing & Reference Archivist.) Today marks the one-year anniversary of Dr. Walker’s passing. If you’ve been reading the #WyattWalkerWednesday posts over the past year, you’ll have a good idea of some of the progress that’s been made on processing the Dr. and Mrs. Wyatt Tee Walker Collection, work that’s been done always with Dr. Walker and his legacy in mind. In order to further honor this momentous figure in American history, the University of Richmond published today an oral history of Dr. Walker and Mrs. Theresa Ann Walker.

Dr. and Mrs. Wyatt Walker sitting for the oral history recorded July 29, 2016.

This oral history (available here), believed to be Dr. Walker’s final recorded interview before his passing, was recorded during the summer of 2016. In it, Dr. Walker and his wife cover topics from the Freedom Rides in 1961 and their involvement with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s to Dr. Walker’s approach to gospel music and his favorite preachers. The Walkers discuss their opinions and memories of several other major civil rights figures, including Ella Baker, Ralph Abernathy, and Al Sharpton, as well as lesser known names such as Diane Nash, Juanita Abernathy, and Bernice Johnson Reagon. Recorded in two sessions totaling approximately two and a half hours, a transcript is available for each recording is also available at the link above.

The Walkers are interviewed by Dr. Joseph Evans, Dean of Theology at Morehouse School of Religion. Dr. Evans is also connected to Dr. Walker in various ways, and his existing insight into Dr. Walker’s life and work allows the oral history to delve deeper into some of these topics. Dr. Evans was also the keynote speaker at the Walker Symposium held last fall.

This is the first material we’re making publicly available, and we do have plans to release other material soon. Please keep an eye on this blog as well as the library’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram feeds for further announcements!