Pauline Pelmore was born on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma. She is of Native-American, African-American, and European decent. Her mother was Cherokee Indian, and her father was Black Indian. She followed her siblings to Champaign after they migrated to seek job opportunities, and where soon began searching for income herself. She lived on Park Street for 41 years, and only left after several drug related murders took place in the neighborhood. Pauline did many jobs when she was younger, but her most profitable work emerged from her ability to sew. Selling her own handcrafts earned her enough moneyto buy two houses, one for herself and one for her sister. She continues to live in Champaign.

Pauline Pelmore Interview (June 25, 2010): Part 1

Pauline Pelmore Interview (June 25, 2010: Part 2