An Interview with
Kathryn Coram Gagnon

Excerpt from: Voices of Rondo: Oral Histories of Saint Paul’s Historic Black Community

Syren Books, September 2005

Part IV - The Eight “Debs”

We had a group called the Eight Debs. [2] We were not Debutants. There were eight of us who had been friends for—let’s see, now we’re all seventy. We’ve been friends for at least sixty years. Anyway, the eight of us decided, since the druggist’s daughter had a coming-out party, a debutante ball. We were pretty good kids, so why can’t we have one? We got together and decided, okay, if each of our parents can come up with $25, that’s eight-people with $25 each. Out of that, we will rent the Columbia Chalet. We will get a some snacks to serve, some punch. We had dresses made, and some of us had our own material. My material was antique lace. We could each choose what color we wanted. And the dresses were all made on the identical pattern. Sent out invitations, and the eight of us had a ball. Then they came back to my house and we had a sleepover after that. It was just great fun!

2. The Eight Debs are Connee Brown Freeman, Earline Neil Estes, Ladoris Foster, Connie Hill Walker, Yvonne Crushshon Robinson Harrington, Mary Lue Sizemore McCoy, Joyce Vassar Smith Clark, and Kathryn Coram Gagnon.

Next: < Part V - Skin Color >

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