Southerland, Eva: Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral histories: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids

Scope and Contents

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.

Biographical / Historical

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.

Conditions Governing Access and Use

Access to the interview is available onsite at the Brooklyn Historical Society's Othmer Library and online on the Oral History Portal. Use of the oral histories other than for private study, scholarship, or research requires permission from BHS by contacting library@brooklynhistory.org.

Subjects

Organizations

Bedford-Stuyvesant Development and Services Corporation; Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation

Topics

Places

Bedford-Stuyvesant (New York, N.Y.); Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.); East Flatbush (New York, N.Y.)

Southerland, Eva, 2008 May 5, inclusive