Oral History interview with Eileen Cave
Title
Oral History interview with Eileen Cave
Narrator (written)
Eileen Cave
Narrator First Name
Eileen
Narrator Last Name
Cave
Interviewer
Tamonie Brown '24
Abstract
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Eileen recalls her decision to attend Dartmouth at the age of 16 as part of the first class of coeducation. She describes her Dartmouth experience as a time of Black feminism and empowerment highlighted by her involvement in the all-Black cheerleading team and her role as the first woman president of the Afro-American Society (AAM). Cave recounts the political activism during this time, specifically the Anti-Apartheid Movement, and her efforts in working with administration to better support Black students. Cave emphasizes the crucial role of Black faculty and alumni in providing academic and emotional support for Black students, particularly her relationship with Errol Hill—Professor of Drama and advisor to the AAM—and his legacy on the Dartmouth community. Cave recounts co-writing the “Institutional Racism and Student Life at Dartmouth” report and the response by the trustee committee and campus community. She reflects on how the formalization of the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association (BADA) was crucial to strengthening and supporting the Black community. Due to political climate locally, domestically, and internationally during this time, Cave spent her senior year entirely off campus. After graduating with a degree in visual arts, she worked in marketing and sales promotion in the airline and global travel management industries and later became a visual arts educator until retiring in 2022. At the end of the interview, Cave reflects on Dartmouth as a formative experience critical to her personal development. She encourages students to learn about the history of African Americans at Dartmouth that have shaped the institution’s modern development.
Date of Interview
October 26, 2021
Subject
Afro-American Society
anti-apartheid activism
Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association (BADA)
Black feminism
coeducation
Dartmouth alumni
Dartmouth cheerleading
Errol Hill
protest/activism
Language
English
Rights
Interview Audio Source (MP3)
//rcweb.dartmouth.edu/DartmouthBlackLives/histories/cave_eileen/cave_eileen.mp3
Interview Transcript Source (PDF)
//rcweb.dartmouth.edu/DartmouthBlackLives/histories/cave_eileen/cave_eileen_transcript_final.pdf
HTML
//rcweb.dartmouth.edu/DartmouthBlackLives/histories/cave_eileen/cave_eileen_transcript_final.html