Interview with Grace B. Freeman - OH 161

Interviewee

Grace Beacham Freeman

Interviewer

Ron Chepesiuk

Files

Abstract

Grace Beacham Freeman (1916-2002) was a writer, poet, and educator and was the fourth South Carolina Poet Laureate (1985 to 1986). She was married to Winthrop Biology Professor John Alderman Freeman. In this interview, Mrs. Freeman discusses her early interest in poetry, her first published poem, her experience as an undergraduate student at Converse College with her friend Poppy Birch, awards she won at Converse, Archibald Rutledge as her mentor, her most popular poem, her hiatus from writing and publishing poetry, writing feature articles for the New Orleans Times, her work on a radio show, raising a family, her experience in the James Dickey poetry workshop at the University of South Carolina, her experience with teaching children to write poetry, poetry as therapy, writing for the “At Our House” Syndicated Newspaper Column by Kings Feature Incorporated from 1954 to 1964, her children’s experience with her poetry, her poetry book Children Are Poetry and her other published poetry books, her experience with publishing, her experience with coming to terms with the concept of death, and positive reviews of her poetry books. Mrs. Freeman concludes her interview by discussing her identity and style as a contemporary poet.

Publication Date

2-20-1983

Unique Identifier

OH 161

Format

1 Cassette, MP3; WAV:

Length

00:59:18

Restrictions

This interview is open for use.

Disciplines

Oral History

Keywords

Poetry, Converse and Spartanburg, Archibald Rutledge, James Dickey Poetry Workshop, Poetry as Therapy, Kings Feature Syndicate, "Poet in the Schools", "At Our House"

Recommended Citation

Freeman, Grace Beacham, "Interview with Grace B. Freeman - OH 161" (1983). Winthrop University Oral History Program. OH 161.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/oralhistoryprogram/85