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Oral histories are intimate conversations between and among people who have generously agreed to share these recordings with BHS’s archives and researchers. Please listen in the spirit with which these were shared. BHS abides by the General Principles & Best Practices for Oral History as agreed upon by the Oral History Association and expects that use of this material will be done with respect for these professional ethics.
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[Last name, First name], Oral history interview conducted by [Interviewer’s First name Last name], [Month DD, YYYY], [Title of Collection], [Call #]; Brooklyn Historical Society.
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Eva Southerland
Oral history interview conducted by Sady Sullivan
May 05, 2008
Call number: 2008.030.42
0:19 - Introductions, connection to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (BSRC)
1:53 - Southerland's career progression, workaday life at BSRC; early life in Florida & move to Brooklyn
5:18 - Twin corporations: Restoration Corp. vs. the Development Corp. BSRC post-Franklin Thomas
10:45 - Reasons for BSRC's longevity; outreach programming for housing, children, and the arts
14:38 - February's annual African Heritage Day
15:26 - BSRC's impact on the Bed-Stuy neighborhood, community
Interview Description
Oral History Interview with Eva Southerland
A native of Florida, Eva Southerland's eleven-year tenure of employment with Restoration began in 1968, and capped off her life's career in non-profits. While employed by Restoration, Southerland worked in a number of different departments, including administration, finance, development, and outreach. At the time of the 2008 interview, Southerland had retired and lived in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn with her husband, John Southerland.
In this interview, Eva Southerland describes her early life in Florida, her move to New York City, and eventual move to Brooklyn in search of affordable housing. She details her career in non-profits. Southerland recalls the positions she served at Restoration, its work culture, and the organization after the retirement of corporation president Franklin Thomas. She shares her thoughts on Restoration's longevity; discusses its outreach programming for housing, children, and arts education; and evaluates its impact on the community of the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Interview conducted by Sady Sullivan.
Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (Restoration) partnered on the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral history project in 2007-2008 to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Restoration's founding as the first community development corporation (CDC) in the United States. Nearly sixty interviews were conducted with founding Board members, supporters, activists, artists, tenants, and other community members. Audio clips from these oral history interviews were included in the exhibit "Reflections on Community Development: Stories from Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation" (BHS 2008, Restoration 2009).
Citation
Southerland, Eva, Oral history interview conducted by Sady Sullivan, May 05, 2008, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral histories, 2008.030.42; Brooklyn Historical Society.People
- Bedford-Stuyvesant Development and Services Corporation
- Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
- Kennedy, Robert F., 1925-1968
- Southerland, Eva
- Thomas, Franklin A.
Topics
- Community development corporations
- Economic development
- Gentrification
- Housing
Places
- Bedford-Stuyvesant (New York, N.Y.)
- Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)
- East Flatbush (New York, N.Y.)
Transcript
Download PDFFinding Aid
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral histories