Manuscript Collection

Fred Stamper Springs Cotton Mills Plaque - Accession 1867 M870 (928)

Fred Stamper Springs Cotton Mills Plaque - Accession 1867 M870 (928)

Identifier

Accession 1867 M870 (928)

Inclusive Dates

1963

Restrictions

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

Collection Size

1 piece

Language

English;

Scope and Content Note

The Fred Stamper Springs Cotton Mills Plaque Collection consists of a commemorative service plaque awarded to Fred Washington Stamper Jr. (1922-1989) in recognition of 25 years of employment with Springs Cotton Mills. The plaque was presented on September 8, 1963. Stamper was also a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a recipient of the Purple Heart.

The collection provides a tangible record of long-term industrial employment and employee recognition within the textile industry. Springs Cotton Mills traces its origins to the Fort Mill Manufacturing Company, established in 1888 in Fort Mill, and later expanded operations to Lancaster, Chester, and Kershaw, South Carolina. At its height, the company was one of the largest industrial employers in the state. In the early twenty-first century, Springs entered into a partnership with the Brazilian firm Coteminas and formally merged in 2005 to form Springs Global. By 2007, the company had ceased all manufacturing operations in South Carolina.

This plaque reflects both the personal history of Fred W. Stamper Jr. and the broader significance of textile manufacturing in South Carolina’s economic and labor history.

Provenance

The Fred W. Stamper Springs Cotton Mills Plaque was donated to the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University by Brittany Pigford on March 11, 2025.

Copyright

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

Fred Stamper Springs Cotton Mills Plaque - Accession 1867 M870 (928)

LC Subject Headings

Stamper, Fred W., Jr., 1922-1989; Springs Cotton Mills--Awards; Springs Cotton Mills--Employees--Awards; Textile workers--Awards

Share

COinS