Locating Slavery's Legacies @ University of Virginia

Interview with Lavern C. Cureton; a one-time event with a Davidson College employee

Lavern Cureton was among the few staff members selected for an interview focused on the educational and work experiences of Davidson College staff. Jean DeOnellas, a Davidson College graduate, conducted this interview on October 16, 2012. The interview was part of a class project for students enrolled in the sociology course ’Education in African American Society’ taught by Dr. Hilton Kelly. Cureton is a valued staff member who has dedicated 18 years to Davidson College. She initially joined the laundry service in 2005 before transitioning to Physical Plant Building Services in 2006, where she continues to maintain campus facilities.

Born on December 16, 1968, in Baltimore, Maryland, Cureton was raised in Statesville, NC, by her single mother alongside her two siblings. In the interview, Cureton expressed regret for not furthering her education after graduating from West Iredell High School. She emphasized that her experiences as a college employee have shaped her perspectives and offered insights into college life. As a mother of two, she encourages her children to value a college education, recognizing its potential to expand their perspectives and secure higher-paying jobs. Throughout the interview, Cureton acknowledged that her work and personal experiences serve as valuable resources for her children as they navigate their educational journey.

This interview was highlighted in a senior thesis published on May 8, 2013, by Damian White, a Davidson College graduate who supervised student interviewers during the project. Housed in Davidson College archives, the interview contributes to a collection documenting the history of African Americans at the institution.

Commemorative Event

October 16, 2012

2000-Present: Memorialization in the Era of Universities Studying Slavery and the Black Lives Matter Movement

Davidson College; Davidson, North Carolina

Davidson College

Cureton, Lavern C.

Davidson College; Davidson, North Carolina

Cureton, Lavern. “Interview with Lavern Cureton.” By Jean DeOrnellas. Oral history interviews of EDU 340- Education in African American Society, RG19-08. Oral Histories & Interviews (RG19), Davidson College Archives and Special Collections, October 16, 2012.

Interview with Lavern Cureton, 2012 October 16

White, Damian. “The American Dream: Education and Work Experiences of African American Staff.” M.S. thesis. Davidson College, 2013.

Davidson College, Quips and Cranks (Davidson, NC: 2009), 46, E.H. Little Library, Davidson, NC.

DeOnellas, Jean

Kelly, Hilton, Ph.D.

White, Damian

April 30, 2024