An Oral History By Robert Birkhead “I kept my family together” The Life of Sandra Birkhead

Oral History Questions 1) When were you born 2) What was it like growing up during that time? 3) What was your school like? 4) Do you remember a current event that was in the news? 5) What was it like for a women during your teenage and early adult years?

When were you born? Her name is Sandra Kay Birkhead & she was born in 1949 during the month of June on the 28 th day and is currently 61 years old. Her family name was Harris until she married Mr. Edward Birkhead. Her name is Sandra Kay Birkhead & she was born in 1949 during the month of June on the 28 th day and is currently 61 years old. Her family name was Harris until she married Mr. Edward Birkhead. Her family name originated in the area of North Carolina and the Birkhead surname originally Brake derived from the Virginia Brakes which later changed to Birkhead. Her family name originated in the area of North Carolina and the Birkhead surname originally Brake derived from the Virginia Brakes which later changed to Birkhead. She had three children at an early age. She persevered through the death of one and the hardships of divorce and economic hardships. She had three children at an early age. She persevered through the death of one and the hardships of divorce and economic hardships.

What was it like growing up during late 40’s 50’s? “I remember some bad & good times” “I do remember mom & dad having a tough time with money” (recession in 1958) “I was in love with Elvis Presley”

What was your school like? I dropped out of high school in I married because, I was pregnant with my first child. It was frowned upon during that period of American culture unlike today with Cultural acceptance & parental understanding; my parents treated me differently and I had to leave home. It was hard to do but, it is what I had to do. I dropped out of high school in I married because, I was pregnant with my first child. It was frowned upon during that period of American culture unlike today with Cultural acceptance & parental understanding; my parents treated me differently and I had to leave home. It was hard to do but, it is what I had to do. What I remember most about school was the relentless rules about skirt length. If you knelt and your skirt didn't touch the ground, it wasn’t appropriate and the hem needed to be fixed, if the hem was still to short if cut you were sent home because, it wasn’t sufficient for decency, you were sent home. What I remember most about school was the relentless rules about skirt length. If you knelt and your skirt didn't touch the ground, it wasn’t appropriate and the hem needed to be fixed, if the hem was still to short if cut you were sent home because, it wasn’t sufficient for decency, you were sent home. No pants or shorts allowed in school. And I don't know what awful thing would have happened to you if you dared to wear jeans. No pants or shorts allowed in school. And I don't know what awful thing would have happened to you if you dared to wear jeans. High school in the 1960s was conservative. On Fridays we wore our school colors. Blue skirts, white blouses for girls; blue slacks, white shirts for guys. High school in the 1960s was conservative. On Fridays we wore our school colors. Blue skirts, white blouses for girls; blue slacks, white shirts for guys.

Do you remember a current event that was in the news? I remember that the biggest event in the news was the beginning of the Vietnam War and I didn’t know what to really think. “I believe my feelings were that we should stay out of a foreign countries problem” I remember that the biggest event in the news was the beginning of the Vietnam War and I didn’t know what to really think. “I believe my feelings were that we should stay out of a foreign countries problem” I remember the start of civil rights movements and the talks about desegregation of schools. “My parents were bigots and I always thought their point of view was wrong. “I thought we should all get along together no matter what our skin color is” I remember the start of civil rights movements and the talks about desegregation of schools. “My parents were bigots and I always thought their point of view was wrong. “I thought we should all get along together no matter what our skin color is”

What was it like for a women during your teenage and early adult years? I was raised believing women marry and raise children so “I believe this may have been the reason I added to the teen pregnancy scene.” Even though birth control had been approved during my formative teen years (1960) it wasn’t spoken of by my mother or father and it was again frowned upon in open discussions. I was raised believing women marry and raise children so “I believe this may have been the reason I added to the teen pregnancy scene.” Even though birth control had been approved during my formative teen years (1960) it wasn’t spoken of by my mother or father and it was again frowned upon in open discussions. My girlfriends and I used to fantasize about graduating and marrying our boyfriends, “ I don’t remember any of us except for one who thought we were crazy and she wanted to attend college and become a news reporter, we thought she was silly” My girlfriends and I used to fantasize about graduating and marrying our boyfriends, “ I don’t remember any of us except for one who thought we were crazy and she wanted to attend college and become a news reporter, we thought she was silly” Becoming pregnant at seventeen wasn’t my ideal situation and it wasn’t accepted by my mother and father so, I moved out and married the father of my baby which was very hard. We had very little money, we were both young, and our education was short lived; he graduated and I barley finished eleventh grade. My husband became a mechanic ‘he was good at fixing cars” and his parents helped us out financially. Becoming pregnant at seventeen wasn’t my ideal situation and it wasn’t accepted by my mother and father so, I moved out and married the father of my baby which was very hard. We had very little money, we were both young, and our education was short lived; he graduated and I barley finished eleventh grade. My husband became a mechanic ‘he was good at fixing cars” and his parents helped us out financially. In summary my life has been both fun, hard, and eventually & rewarding; I had three boys that brought me joy and purpose. If I had to do it over I would change a few events but, never my children or the life lessons of perseverance. I kept it together for my family. In summary my life has been both fun, hard, and eventually & rewarding; I had three boys that brought me joy and purpose. If I had to do it over I would change a few events but, never my children or the life lessons of perseverance. I kept it together for my family.