Norma Lee, Full Interview

Collection: Queens Memory Project Collection at Queens College Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives: Norma Lee

Date: Time Period: 1960 - 2013; 2013-05-22; Interview recorded: May 22 2013 Material: Digital audio recording made using H2 Zoom digital recorder digital recorder. Dimension: Total running time: 0:49:16/0:05:21

Creator: Norma Lee interviewed by Marguerite Luizzo Identifier: aql:20498 lee_norma_full

Description: Norma C. Lee was born in 1941 in the West Indies island of Jamaica. She lived in Manhattan on 105th Street as a child, moved down to 81st Street after marrying her husband Robert Lee and then moved to her current home in Laurelton in 1971. Whether in her workplace, her neighborhood or her children's school, Norma always takes a leading role in improving her community and fostering good relationships amongst people. Working as a nurse in different hospitals, Norma was involved in organizing staff parties and events. She attends neighborhood block committees that are responsible for welcoming new neighbors and planning initiatives to beautify Laurelton. Today, Norma notes that Laurelton faces many challenges. The neighborhood is now mostly home to renters who are not planning to permanently settle in the area and are therefore not as invested in the improvement of the community. Parks and recreational areas have become dirt lots. Residents have to tolerate noise pollution from airplane and train thoroughfare without receiving any compensation or assistance from the MTA or other government agencies. Despite these challenges, Norma highly enjoys living in Laurelton and is not planning to move. She hopes that future Laurelton residents, including her children, take active roles in maintaining their homes and beautifying the neighborhood.

Title : Norma Lee, Full Interview

Collection : aql:20455; aql:20670

Creator : Norma Lee interviewed by Marguerite Luizzo

Date : Time Period: 1960 - 2013; 2013-05-22; Interview recorded: May 22 2013

Summary/Description : Norma C. Lee was born in 1941 in the West Indies island of Jamaica. She lived in Manhattan on 105th Street as a child, moved down to 81st Street after marrying her husband Robert Lee and then moved to her current home in Laurelton in 1971. Whether in her workplace, her neighborhood or her children's school, Norma always takes a leading role in improving her community and fostering good relationships amongst people. Working as a nurse in different hospitals, Norma was involved in organizing staff parties and events. She attends neighborhood block committees that are responsible for welcoming new neighbors and planning initiatives to beautify Laurelton. Today, Norma notes that Laurelton faces many challenges. The neighborhood is now mostly home to renters who are not planning to permanently settle in the area and are therefore not as invested in the improvement of the community. Parks and recreational areas have become dirt lots. Residents have to tolerate noise pollution from airplane and train thoroughfare without receiving any compensation or assistance from the MTA or other government agencies. Despite these challenges, Norma highly enjoys living in Laurelton and is not planning to move. She hopes that future Laurelton residents, including her children, take active roles in maintaining their homes and beautifying the neighborhood.

Subject : Suburban life; Nurses; Cultural pluralism; Lee, Robert E.; Arne, Ann-Smith

Relation : Queens Memory Project Collection at Queens College Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives: Norma Lee

Rights : This recording is the property of Queens College Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives. Please contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.

Coverage : Locations discussed: Laurelton, Queens and Manahattan, NY Manhattan (New York, N.Y.) Laurelton (New York, N.Y.) Queens (New York, N.Y.)

Type : Oral history

Format : Digital audio recording made using H2 Zoom digital recorder digital recorder.; Total running time: 0:49:16/0:05:21

Identifier : aql:20498 lee_norma_full