Interviewer
Roy Flynn
Files
Abstract
This interview was conducted by Roy Flynn with Leila Wicker "Lee" Kinard (1871–1963), a former Winthrop history professor and the wife of Dr. James Pinckney Kinard, Winthrop College's second president. Mrs. Kinard joined the Winthrop faculty in 1895, where she taught history after serving as an assistant in the Department of History and English. She married Dr. James Pinckney Kinard on June 29, 1899. Following the death of founding president Dr. David Bancroft Johnson in 1928, Dr. Kinard became president of Winthrop College, serving until 1934.
In this interview, Mrs. Kinard reflects on the founding ideals of Winthrop College and the legacy of Dr. David Bancroft Johnson. She argues that Johnson's enduring influence stemmed not from his personality but from his progressive vision that women should receive a rigorous academic education to prepare them for meaningful roles as citizens rather than solely as wives and mothers. She discusses Johnson's efforts to emphasize liberal arts education over purely industrial or vocational training, his relationship with her husband, and the intellectual climate that shaped the early years of the college. Mrs. Kinard also offers her perspectives on the purpose of higher education, the education of women, changing social attitudes in the South, and the importance of cultivating independent thought over vocational training alone. Drawing upon her experiences as both a faculty member and the wife of Winthrop's second president, she provides insight into the college's formative years, the character of its early student body, and the educational philosophy that influenced generations of Winthrop graduates.
Publication Date
5-26-1962
Unique Identifier
OH 784
Format
1 Cassette, MP3; WAV:
Length
00:30:17
Restrictions
This interview is open for use.
Recommended Citation
Kinard, Leila Wicker, "Interview with Lee Wicker Kinard - OH 784" (1962). Winthrop University Oral History Program. OH 784.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/oralhistoryprogram/701