Interview with Gina Price White - OH 172

Interviewee

• Gina Price White

Interviewer

Amber E. Kelley

Files

Streaming Media

Abstract

This interview was conducted by Amber Kelley for her History 590 capstone course with Mrs. Gina Price White, Director of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University. Drawing on her extensive research and familiarity with institutional records, Mrs. White discusses the early history of Winthrop and its relocation from Columbia to Rock Hill in the 1890s.

Mrs. White explains that the move resulted from the school outgrowing its original facilities in Columbia and the transition to state support in 1891. She outlines the formal bidding process through which various towns and cities competed to host the institution, emphasizing that the process was largely fair and based on the quality of proposals submitted. According to her account, Rock Hill ultimately secured Winthrop by offering the most attractive package of financial and material incentives, including land, building materials, and local support.

The interview also addresses the roles of key figures such as Benjamin Tillman and David Bancroft Johnson. Mrs. White clarifies that while Tillman, as governor and a member of the Board of Trustees, held influence, the decision-making process involved a committee review of bids and final approval by the state legislature. She highlights Johnson’s leadership and the committee’s role in evaluating proposals, noting that the final decision was driven primarily by practical and economic considerations rather than any single individual’s preference.

Additionally, Mrs. White addresses common misconceptions about the move, including assumptions about political or social motivations, and emphasizes that institutional needs and local incentives were the primary determining factors. Overall, the interview provides insight into the administrative, political, and economic context surrounding Winthrop’s relocation and the collaborative process that shaped its establishment in Rock Hill.

Publication Date

3-2-2015

Unique Identifier

OH 172

Format

MP3;

Length

00:12:40

Restrictions

This interview is open for use.

Series

Alumni, Faculty and Staff

Disciplines

Oral History

Recommended Citation

White, Gina Price, "Interview with Gina Price White - OH 172" (2015). Winthrop University Oral History Program. OH 172.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/oralhistoryprogram/257