Elyse White
Medical social worker and travel agent Elyse White was born on October 1, 1908 in Roanoke, Virginia to Julia Johnson, a school teacher, and William D. Woods, a minister. Graduating from Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. in 1926, White graduated with her B.A. degree from Howard University in 1930. In 1942, White received her post graduate degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
White went on to become a social investigator for the New York City Department of Welfare. In 1950, White began working as a medical social worker at Fordham Hospital in New York. Continuing her education, White received a degree from the New School of Social Research in New York in 1952, and then worked at Lincoln Hospital until 1965. White then took a job with the New York Board of Education as an attendance teacher.
In 1970, White started a third career as a travel agent, and in 1973, she and her sister embarked on a thirty day trip around the world, visiting Europe, Turkey, Israel, India, Japan and Hawaii. Her main love, however, has always been Africa. In 1975, White became a founding member of the African Travel Association (ATA) and began organizing and leading tourist expeditions to Africa. Over the next thirty years, White (who traveled to twenty-five African nations and over eighty countries around the world) made it possible for countless Americans to visit Africa and understand African culture. In 1998, the government of Ghana “enstooled” her as an Ashante Queen Mother for her dedication and promotion of the African continent.
White passed away on May 4, 2008 at the age of 99.
White was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on February 22, 2007.
A2007.071
Female
2/22/2007
White
Lucretia Mott Elementary School
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Catholic University of America
New School for Social Research
Howard University
Elyse
Roanoke
WHI12
Christmas
Virginia
Jamaica
Don't Let Anything Defeat You.

New York
10/1/1908
New York
USA
Chitterlings
5/4/2008
Travel agent and medical social worker Elyse White (1908 - 2008 ) was a founding member of the African Travel Association (ATA) and was ‘enstooled’ as an Ashante Queen Mother by the Ghanaian government for her dedication and promotion of the African continent.
African Travel Association (ATA)
Fordham Hospital
Lincoln Hospital
New York City Board of Education
New York City Department of Welfare
Green
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372907">Tape: 1 Slating of Elyse White's interview</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372908">Tape: 1 Elyse White lists her favorites</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372909">Tape: 1 Elyse White describes her mother's family background</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372910">Tape: 1 Elyse White describes her father's family background</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372911">Tape: 1 Elyse White talks about her maternal and paternal grandparents</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372912">Tape: 1 Elyse White describes her mother's childhood</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372913">Tape: 1 Elyse White talks about her father's rental properties</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372914">Tape: 1 Elyse White describes her childhood neighborhood in Roanoke, Virginia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372915">Tape: 1 Elyse White recalls moving to Washington, D.C. as a child</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372916">Tape: 1 Elyse White describes Henry Street in Roanoke, Virginia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372917">Tape: 1 Elyse White recalls attending High Street Baptist Church in Roanoke, Virginia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372918">Tape: 1 Elyse White remembers her father's death from influenza in 1920</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372919">Tape: 1 Elyse White recalls her father's involvement in the Independent Order of Red Men</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372920">Tape: 1 Elyse White talks about being mistaken for white</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372921">Tape: 1 Elyse White recalls her classmates at Lucretia Mott Elementary School in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372922">Tape: 2 Elyse White talks about the Howard University Players</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372923">Tape: 2 Elyse White remembers attending Lucretia Mott Elementary School</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372924">Tape: 2 Elyse White talks about her experiences of travelling abroad</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372925">Tape: 2 Elyse White remembers her childhood aspiration to teach</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372926">Tape: 2 Elyse White remembers her experiences during the Great Depression</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372927">Tape: 2 Elyse White describes her scholarship to Howard University</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372928">Tape: 2 Elyse White recalls her mentors at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372929">Tape: 2 Elyse White remembers pledging Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372930">Tape: 2 Elyse White describes her graduation from Howard University</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372931">Tape: 2 Elyse White talks about her first teaching position after graduation</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372932">Tape: 2 Elyse White talks about the Works Progress Administration</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372933">Tape: 2 Elyse White describes New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood in 1935</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372934">Tape: 2 Elyse White describes her work at the City of New York Department of Welfare</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372935">Tape: 2 Elyse White remembers City with Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372936">Tape: 3 Elyse White recalls her temporary discharge from the City of New York Department of Welfare</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372937">Tape: 3 Elyse White recalls the entertainment and nightlife of New York City's Harlem</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372938">Tape: 3 Elyse White describes her career in medical and educational social work</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372939">Tape: 3 Elyse White remembers meeting her husband, Clarence White</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372940">Tape: 3 Elyse White describes her friendship with Thurgood Marshall</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372941">Tape: 3 Elyse White recalls protesting the U.S.S. Nautilus at Groton, Connecticut</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372942">Tape: 3 Elyse White remembers her desire to travel after retirement</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372943">Tape: 3 Elyse White recalls attending The Catholic University of America after her divorce</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372944">Tape: 3 Elyse White talks about her position as a medical social worker</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372945">Tape: 3 Elyse White talks about founding the Africa Travel Association</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372946">Tape: 3 Elyse White reflects upon her travels in Africa</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372947">Tape: 4 Elyse White describes her challenges at the Africa Travel Association</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372948">Tape: 4 Elyse White reflects upon integration in the United States</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372949">Tape: 4 Elyse White reflects upon the changes that she witnessed in her lifetime</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372950">Tape: 4 Elyse White recalls her mentors at Howard University and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372951">Tape: 4 Elyse White reflects upon her life and achievements</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372952">Tape: 4 Elyse White lists the honors she has received</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372953">Tape: 4 Elyse White reflects upon how she would like to be remembered</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372954">Tape: 4 Elyse White describes her hopes for the African American community</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372955">Tape: 4 Elyse White describes her hopes for African countries</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372956">Tape: 4 Elyse White reflects upon her legacy</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372957">Tape: 4 Elyse White talks about her civic involvement in New York City's Harlem</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372958">Tape: 4 Elyse White recalls being arrested in Tunis, Tunisia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/372959">Tape: 4 Elyse White narrates her photographs</a>
1$1
1$3
14$1