Manuscript Collection

City of Rock Hill, H. Lee Waters Film - Accession 865 - M386 (437)

City of Rock Hill, H. Lee Waters Film - Accession 865 - M386 (437)

Identifier

Accession 865 - M386 (437)

Inclusive Dates

1937

Restrictions

Open under the rules and regulations of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections

Collection Size

2 VHS Tapes

Language

English;

Historical Note

H. Lee Waters (1902-1997) was the owner and operator of the H. Lee Waters Studio in Lexington, NC which he founded in 1926. He worked as a commercial photographer, however the Great Depression forced him to look for other means to support his family. From 1936 to 1942 Waters toured North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia and filmed local people. He would then show the film at the local theater so the locals could see themselves on film. He supported his family in this fashion until the United States entered World War II. Following WWII he returned to his work in his photography studio.

Scope and Content Note

The City of Rock Hill Film consists of a film of Rock Hill, SC citizens produced by H. Lee Waters in March and November 1937. The film is just under 43 minutes long. Waters traveled the town and filmed Rock Hill schools including Rock Hill High School, Winthrop Training School, among many others and focused on filming students and staff. He also filmed hundreds of citizens walking around town especially downtown Rock Hill. He captured crowds and traffic scenes, groups around town, and other scenes of the local community including many businesses and their employees, the Herald Office, and the Tom Johnston Civilian Conservation Corp Camp. The film was transferred to VHS and the original 35 mm film is with the City of Rock Hill.

Provenance

The Winthrop Archives had a copy made from the original 35 mm film housed at the City of Rock Hill on February 9, 1995. A digital copy of the film is available for viewing in the Archives Research Area.

Copyright

For information concerning copyright please contact the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University.

City of Rock Hill, H. Lee Waters Film - Accession 865 - M386 (437)

LC Subject Headings

Rock Hill (S.C.)--Social life and customs; Rock Hill (S.C.)--History

Share

COinS