Bowman's parents worked service jobs to support the family
Bowman's parents did custodial work, housecleaning, and laundry in Asheville. He also helped with his father's custodial work so they could earn enough money to support the family.
Citing this Excerpt
Oral History Interview with Richard Bowman, July 8, 1998. Interview K-0513. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Full Text of the Excerpt
What were your parents names?
- RICHARD BOWMAN:
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Lila Bowman, Wright was her maiden name and my father was Nathaniel
Bowman.
- KELLY ELAINE NAVIES:
-
Can you tell me a little bit about them? What were their occupations?
- RICHARD BOWMAN:
-
My father was a janitor-all of his life-most of his
life. He worked for
[unclear]
furniture store and then he finally could make a little more
money so he started working for James Ray of Ray Auto Supply who owned
several apartments throughout Asheville. My father took care of those
apartments for him. In fact I helped him take care of the apartments. We
go around and [can't make it out] and take down the trash, clean the
floors and what not. My mom was a domestic worker. She did housework at
different places throughout the city. She'd work at one home in the
morning and then another one in the afternoon. And she'd bring laundry
into the house and do it-do the ironing and whatnot.
- KELLY ELAINE NAVIES:
-
How many siblings did you have?
- RICHARD BOWMAN:
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There were seven.
