Abe Thurman Oral History Interview, October 25, 2002

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Abe Thurman Oral History Interview, October 25, 2002

2002

https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/special/ead/findingaids/OH0216

The U. S. Navy B-1 Band was the first all-African American band in the U. S. Navy during World War II. See also U.S. Navy B-1 Band Group Interviews OH #213.1-213.4; Interview with John Gilmer, OH #214; and Interview with Simeon O. Holloway, OH #215.

0.005 Cubic feet, 1 audiocassette, 1.5 hours, no transcription

eng, Latn

East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 11617480

East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library

Related Entities

There are 2 Entities related to this resource.

Thurman, Abe, 1922-2016

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sz73dw (person)

Abe Thurman (1922-2016) was an African American educator, musician, politician, and veteran of the United States Navy. A native of Newark, N.J., Thurman attended North Carolina A&T College prior to his enlistment in the United States Navy. Thurman was assigned to the United States Navy B-1 Band, the first all-African American Navy Band, during World War II. Thurman played the trumpet, flute, and piccolo in the band and was known to his fellow sailors by his nickname "Cecil." Following the war, T...

United States Navy B-1 Band

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6096vdx (corporateBody)

The United Statess Navy B-1 Band was the first all-African American Navy Band during World War II. In 1942, the best African American musicians from the state of North Carolina were assembled and the band was formed in Raleight on May 27. The recruits became the "first blacks to serve in the navy in anything other than galley positions" (Albright, A., 1986). The band was stationed in Chapel Hill, N.C. and their talent was offered to help relieve the stress of pilot trainees learning combat flyin...