This interview was conducted with Mary Ann Gregory, better known as Mimi Gregory in her apartment in Joslen Commons in Hudson, NY. Mimi recounts her Childhood memories growing up in their brownstone on Weirfield Street in Brooklyn, NY. She shares her life history traversing the pain of her parents divorce, to her time spent in the music business where she met her husband Chuck Gregory. Mimi shares many stories about her daughter Dina, who was the impetus for her move to Hudson. Throughout the interview, she discusses many family stories that took place in their old home in Nyack, NY and recounts her dreams to be jazz singer and the fears that held her back from pursuing her dream. She spends time reflecting on the state of the world and her hopes for a more peaceful and loving place where people connect over food, music, and practice kindness.
Dina Gregory is an educator, activist, and daughter of interviewee Mary Ann Gregory. Dina currently teaches English Language Learners at Ichabod Crane in Valatie, NY. She also serves as facilitator for the Social Harmony Institute where she develops programming that systematically provides school communities with a functional took kit for promoting social and emotional well-being and the skills necessary to move conflicts that naturally arise in all relationships towards growth and understanding. Dina is excited about the role that oral history can play in creating greater intimacy and connection among the communities that she belongs.
Oral history is an iterative process. In keeping with oral history values of anti-fixity, interviewees will have an opportunity to add, annotate and reflect upon their lives and interviews in perpetuity. Talking back to the archive is a form of “shared authority.”