Interviewer
Alexander Keith Windham
Files
Abstract
This interview with Mrs. Vivian Zeiders was conducted by Alex Windham for the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University as part of its oral history program. In the interview, Mrs. Zeiders reflects on her experiences working at the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company, locally known as “the Bleachery,” where she was employed from 1976 to 1982.
Mrs. Zeiders discusses her work in the finishing department, where she mixed textile finishes, operated machinery, and later drove a forklift—roles that were traditionally held by men. She describes the gender dynamics of the workplace, noting both the challenges she faced as a young woman entering a male-dominated department and the support she received from many of her coworkers. She also reflects on workplace culture, including training practices, union influence, and the largely segregated nature of departments within the plant.
In addition to her duties at the Bleachery, Mrs. Zeiders places her experience within the broader context of the regional textile industry. She compares her time at the Bleachery with her work at the Celanese plant in Rock Hill and Springs Mills in Chester, South Carolina, highlighting differences in management, labor conditions, and union presence. She emphasizes the Bleachery’s family-oriented atmosphere and its importance as a major employer in the community.
Mrs. Zeiders also describes the Bleachery’s significant social and economic impact on Rock Hill, including its role in shaping neighborhood life, providing recreational opportunities such as Joslin Park, and sustaining generations of local families. She reflects on the plant’s gradual decline in the late twentieth century, citing layoffs, economic changes, and increased global competition, as well as the uncertainty faced by longtime workers.
Overall, the interview provides insight into the daily realities of textile work, the role of organized labor, and the lasting impact of the Bleachery on both the Rock Hill community and Mrs. Zeiders’s personal and family life.
Publication Date
6-6-2017
Unique Identifier
OH 552
Format
MP3;
Length
00:34:03
Restrictions
This interview is open for use.
Disciplines
Law
Recommended Citation
Zeiders, Vivian; Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company; Bleachery; and Windham, Alexander Keith, "Interview with Vivian Zeiders - OH 552" (2017). Winthrop University Oral History Program. OH 552.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/oralhistoryprogram/628