Explore Black History

May 25, 2023

An oral history interview and conversation with pediatrician Dr. MaryLouise Patterson, M. D. It consists of three versions of a digital video recording, two camera card files (2025.12.2.1.1 and 2025.12.2.1.2, .mxf files) and one edited file (2025.12.2.1.3, .mov file).
Dr. MaryLouise Patterson was interviewed by University of Maryland student Rebekah Otto on May 25, 2023, as part of the Social Justice Conversations Oral History Project. The interview took place at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. At the time of the interview, Dr. Patterson was 80 years old.
This oral history interview with Dr. MaryLouise Patterson consists of two distinct sections: an “interview” section (part 1) and a “conversation” section (part 2, 01:20:28). In part 1, Dr. Patterson talks extensively about her parents, Louise A. Thompson Patterson, and William “Pat” Lorenzo Patterson. She describes her parent’s involvement on the Scottsboro case through the International Labor Defense, her father’s work on the "We Charge Genocide" petition, and her parents’ other activist efforts. Dr. Patterson reflects on her time in the Soviet Union as a student at Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and discusses her work as a pediatrician and medical issues impacting the Black community today, including Black maternal mortality rates. She also discusses her book, "Letters From Langston: From the Harlem Renaissance to the Red Scare and Beyond." In part 2, Dr. Patterson recounts her recent visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. She discusses education and climates of violence. Rebekah Otto and Dr. Patterson reflect on the meaning of liberation and the idea of reparations. As the interview closes Dr. Patterson gives her advice for the next generation, and Otto shares why she is interested in oral histories.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Social Justice Conversations Oral History Project

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Civil Rights Movement

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2025.12.2.1

video recordings
oral histories
digital media - born digital

© Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

digital

Duration (2025.12.2.1.3, edited): 1 hr., 57 min., 4 sec.
File size: 173 GB

Title • Dr. MaryLouise Patterson Oral History Interview

nmaahc_2025.12.2.1

NMAAHC

DR. MARYLOUISE PATTERSON ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

2020s • 1940s

Otto, Rebekah Simcha • Civil Rights Congress • Patterson, MaryLouise • Communist Party of the United States of America • Chambers, Candace Dane • Hutcherson, Trudy • Mobley, Thomas • Patterson, Louise Thompson • Patterson, William L. • Hughes, Langston • International Labor Defense • Scottsboro Boys • National Museum of African American History and Culture • Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia • Robeson, Paul

New York City • District of Columbia • United States • North and Central America • Moscow • Washington • Russia

Slavery • Women • Activism • Literature • Communities • Health • Violence • Civil Rights • U.S. History, 1961-1969 • Museums • International affairs • COVID-19 • Medicine • Discrimination • Education • Race • Family • Civil rights • Politics • U.S. History, 2001- • Gender issues

City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Moscow • Country • Russia • City • New York City • State • New York

Video recordings • digital media - born digital • Oral histories (document genres) • Interviews

Video recordings

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