DR. DYKES —- 2
D: THE DOCTORATE WAS CONFERRED IN 1921. IN MARCH OF 1921, 1 COMPLETED
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PH.D. DEGREE.
I: YOU WERE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN IN THE UNITED STATES TO FINISH REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR THE DOCTORATE, BUT YOU WERE ONE OF THE THREE FIRST NEGRO
WOMEN AWARDED THE PH.D. DEGREE IN 1921, WERE YOU NOT?
D: YES. THE OTHER TWO RECIPIENTS WERE GEORGIANNA SIMPSON FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND SADIE TANNER MOzZEL FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF PENNSYLVANIA,
I: WHAT SUBJECT FIELD DID YOU SPECIALIZE IN DURING YOUR EDUCATIONAL
TRAINING?
Dz: I sPECIALIZED IN ENGLISH, LATIN, GERMAN AND GREEK.
I: You BECAME A MEMBER OF PHI BeTAa KaPPA?
D: YES, THE [OTA CHAPTER.
I: WHEN DID YOU LEAVE HOWARD UNIVERSITY TO TEACH IN ALABAMA AT OAKWOOD
COLLEGE?
De: IN 1944.
I: ARE YOU NOW PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF THE OAKWOOD COLLEGE FACULTY?
D: YES.
I: WHAT ARTICLES AND BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?
De: I HAVE WRITTEN PERIODICAL ARTICLES FOR THE NEGRO HISTORY BULLETIN,
JOURNAL OF NEGRO HISTORY, AND MESSAGE MAGAZINE.
I: You ARE THE AUTHOR OF WHAT BOOKS?
D: THE NEGRO IN ENGLISH ROMANTIC THOUGHT IS THE TITLE OF ONE BOOK, AND
I HAVE WRITTEN A MANUAL FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS OF LINGUISTICS IN A
SECONDARY SCHOOL AND A MANUAL OF ENGLISH FOR GRAMMAR.
I: WHO WERE YOUR PARENTS?
D: MARTHA ANN HOwARD AND JAMES STANLEY DYKES.
I: WHAT WAS THE OCCUPATION OF YOUR FATHER?
D: MY FATHER WAS A PRINCIPAL OF A scHoOL IN HAGARSTOWN, MARYLAND WHERE
WE LIVED WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, AND LATER HE WAS A GOVERNMENT WORKER
IN WASHINGTON, D. C.
I: DID ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY GRADUATE FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY?