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Interview with John S. Cole
John S. Cole
OH 206
This interview includes a brief biographical history of John S. Cole. This interview also discusses the Warring Decision which did away with the literacy test that was administered at the voting polls. The Progressive Democratic Party and the Democratic Party also discussed along with the many methods for registration voters.
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Interview with John S. Coleman
John S. Coleman
OH 206
IN PROCESSING
This interview includes a brief biographical sketch about John S. Coleman. Topics include the Waring Decision, which did away with the literacy test that was administered at the voting polls, the Progressive Democratic Party and Democratic methods for registering voters.
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Interview with Alvin Danielsen
Alvin Danielsen
OH 263
IN PROCESSING
Alvin Danielsen is a former member of the Ku Klux Klan and discusses how it operated.
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Interview with St. Julian F. Devine
St. Julian F. Devine
OH 207
In his interview with Michael Cooke, St. Julian F. Devine (1916-2000) discusses his life and experiences in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Mr. Devine details his work with the South Carolina Progressive Democratic Party as well as various other political organizations such as the Palmetto Voters Association. He also details his political work in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Devine served on the Charleston City Council from 1967 to 1975, making him the first African American member on the council since Reconstruction. He also served as Mayor Pro Tem in 1975. Mr. Devine was a very active participant in the Civil Rights Movement and efforts to improve the lives of the black community.
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Interview with James A. Hodge
James A. Hodge
OH 211
In his interview with Michael Cooke, James A Hodge discusses his life and experiences in rural South Carolina. He also details his time with and memories of the Progressive Democratic Party, integration, African American voter registration and various politicians from Mullins, South Carolina. Mr. Hodge discusses the influence he witnessed within the black community especially in regards to the voter registration efforts.
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Interview with Rhudine V. Johnson - OH 205
Rhudine V. Johnson
OH 205
In this interview, local South Carolina activist Rhudine Johnson (1915-) discussing her experience living in South Carolina in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Mrs. Johnson was the first Black nurse to be appointed to the National Federation of Nurses and one of the first Black poll workers in the state. In this interview, Mrs. Johnson discusses her early life, her work as a licensed practical nurse, organizing a glee club, her education at Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia, her motivation for political activism, events that radicalized her, the political climate for Black people in South Carolina in the 1930s-1950s, the need for Black political candidates, her involvement with the Progressive Democrat Party, key members of the party, the goals of the party, voter registration, John McCray and his newspaper (The Lighthouse Informer), The Palmetto Voters Association, the downfall of the Progressive Democrat Party, accomplishments of the Party, and the need for Black people as elected officials.
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Interview with Jonas Thomas Kennedy
Jonas Thomas Kennedy
OH 265
In his interview with Michael Cooke, Jonas T. Kennedy discusses his experience with the Progressive Democratic Party in South Carolina. Mr. Kennedy details the process and difficulties black people would face in registering and voting during the 1940s and 1950s. Mr. Kennedy also discusses the difficulties and expectations involved with the attempted buying of votes for certain candidates.
Dr. Jonas Thomas Kennedy (1917-2014) was a farmer and philanthropist from Bennettsville, SC. His parents and his two sisters both graduated from Claflin College, a historically black university in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Dr. Kennedy attended Claflin College before transferring to South Carolina State College to study Agriculture from which he graduated. He managed his 1200 acre farm and was a very successful farmer, even being named the 1977 Framer of the Year. Dr. Kennedy maintained a strong relationship with Claflin College and served as a trustee from 1969 to 1983. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree in 1975 from Claflin and inducted into the University Hall of Fame in 1993. He also made major donations to Africa University in Zimbabwe which was sponsored by the South Carolina United Methodist Conference. The University has buildings named in his honor. He served his community in several capacities and was the president of the Marlboro County NAACP for eleven years from 1947 to 1958.
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Interview with John Henry McCray - OH 212
John Henry McCray
OH 212
John Henry McCray (1910-1987) was a journalist, newspaper publisher, politician, civil rights activist who was instrumental in forming the Progressive Democratic Party which was the African American party of choice throughout the South including many counties in South Carolina. In this interview, Mr. McCray discusses Jim Crow Laws, African American voter registration, Aa newspaper called the Black National Farmer's Paper which which he founded. This newspaper was an early voice for civil rights.
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Interview with Reverend Thomas J. Moore - OH 210
Thomas J. Moore
OH 210
In his interview with Michael Cooke, Reverend Thomas J. Moore (1922-1989) discusses his participation in the Progressive Democratic Party and their efforts during the Civil Rights Movement. Mr. Moore details his experiences growing up and living in Marion South Carolina. He discusses the impact the Progressive Democratic Party had on the area around Marion as well as the State of South Carolina in improving the lives of the black community. He also discusses the Warring Decision which did away with the Literacy Test in South Carolina, African American voter registration, and Jim Crow Laws.
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Interview with Mary Agnes Morgan - OH 251
Mary Agnes Morgan
OH 251
In her interview with Michael Cooke, Mary Agnes Morgan discusses growing up in South Carolina, her education, and her experience with the Progressive Democratic Party. Mrs. Morgan details the impact the Progressive Democratic Party had on the local black community of Mullins, South Carolina. She also discusses how private education was established in the South for African Americans, the rise of African American politics in the South and race equality.
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Interview with Mazie Owens - OH 204
Mazie Owens
OH 204
In her interview with Michael Cooke, Mazie Owens discusses her experience and efforts to encourage the black community to register to vote in South Carolina. Mrs. Owens details her involvement in the efforts to assist people with the process of voter registration and the obstacles that black people faced with the Jim Crow laws, as well as the Progressive Democratic Party and the Democratic Party.
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Interview with Fred D. Phillips
Fred D. Phillips
OH 209
IN PROCESSING
Fred Phillips gives an overview of his life experiences including his involvement with the Progressive Democratic Party and voter registration.
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Interview with Martha Kime Piper - OH 202
Martha Kime Piper
OH 202
Dr. Martha Kime Piper (1932-1988) served as the eighth president of Winthrop from 1986 to 1988. She was the first woman to serve as president of Winthrop, as well as the first sitting president to die while in office since Dr. D. B. Johnson. This interview, which was conducted by Johnsonian Reporter, Kris Sykes, was intended to gain insight on Dr. Piper’s life so that students could become better acquainted with her. In this interview, Dr. Piper discusses her experience as an undergraduate in college, advice for graduating students, the difficult aspects of her job as Winthrop’s president, her open door policy and availability, day-to-day activities of a Winthrop president, plans for future renovations of Winthrop buildings, her taste in books and music, chocolate as a reward for herself, Winthrop’s centennial year, the legacy she would like to leave as president, funding for Winthrop, changes that should be made on campus, and her hope for Winthrop students.
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Interview with Norman T. Robinson Jr.
Norman T. Robinson Jr.
OH 255
IN PROCESSING
Reverend Robinson provides details about his life and accomplishments.
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Interview with Modjeska Monteith Simkins - OH 646
Modjeska Monteith Simkins
OH 646
This interview was conducted with Modejeska Monteith Simkins (1899-1992) who was a Civil Rights leader in South Carolina and an advocate of public and social reform. In this interview, Simkins discusses her background, upbringing, and her education. She also discusses black politics in the South. The NAACP, the fight for blacks to vote, and the Civil Rights Movement.
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Interview with Daniel W. Thompson
Daniel W. Thompson
OH 208
In his interview with Michael Cooke, Daniel W. Thompson discusses his involvement with the Progressive Democratic Party. Mr. Thompson details his involvement in the start of the Party and his role as the Secretary of the Columbia South Carolina Chapter. Mr. Thompson discusses the local chapter of the Progressive Democratic Party and its impact on the Columbia South Carolina area and African American voter registration.
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Interview with Gilbert Blue
Gilbert Blue
OH 191
This interview was conducted in April 1985 by Ron Chepesuik with Gilbert Blue (1933-2016) who was the Chief of the Catawba Nation Chief Blue discusses the Treaty of 1840 and the Catawba’s efforts to reclaim their tribal lands. He discusses the reorganization of the Catawba leadership in 1974 in order to receive benefits from the state and federal governments. Chief Blue discusses getting both land and money for the Catawba people to use for things like education and development. They have financial support from the Native American Rice Fund, or N.A.R.F. He discusses the hope that the Catawba Nation would receive federal recognition for the tribe (which later occurred under his stewardship), a development fund for the Catawba nation, and more land.
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Interview with Wiley Austin Branton, Sr. - OH 359
Wiley Austin Branton Sr.
OH 359
This interview was conducted for the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus. Wiley Austin Branton, Sr. (1923-1988) first discusses his early life and experiences. Born in Arkansas, he was drafted into World War II before returning home and participating in his family’s taxi business. Mr. Branton wanted to attend the University of Arkansas but blacks were not allowed at the time so he pushed for the desegregation of the school. He graduated law school in 1952, and filed the original “Little Rock 9” lawsuit. He has an extensive record working with civil rights and the black community. From a young age he was interested in getting involved in the issue of voter registration in the black community. He worked with the NAACP to try and raise voting awareness in Arkansas during the late 1940s. He ended up getting convicted for the crime of using voting ballots for education instead of an official vote and this fueled his desire to go to law school. He goes into detail on his support of the black community and how he continued advocating for voter registration and civil rights.
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Interview with Dan Byrd
Dan Byrd
OH 189
Mr. Byrd gives the Tri-County Landowner’s Association perspective of the Catawba Indian Land Law suite. He discusses the Non-Intercourse Act of 1790, the Treaty of 1840, and the Catawba Termination Act of 1959. According to Dan, the main issue is if the Catawba have the right to bring a lawsuit to the federal government due to them violating the Non-Intercourse Act. The Catawba’s argument is that South Carolina made the land agreement with the Catawba in 1840 without consent of Congress, thus violating the act and making the land agreement void. Dan and the Landowner’s Association believe that the Catawba Termination Act of 1959 rendered the Catawba unable to sue as an Indian nation. Dan believes this case would set a precedent for other terminated Indian tribes to try and reclaim land.
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Interview with Nancy Jane Day - OH 188
Nancy Jane Day
OH 188
This interview with Ms. Nancy Jane Day (1905-1995) talks about her work as a librarian in South Carolina. Ms. Day talks about working as a teacher before working in a high school library, college libraries, and public libraries. She was also the first Supervisor of Library Services of the South Carolina State Department of Education (1946-1970) and taught Library Science programs at various South Carolina colleges including Winthrop and Emory. Finally, she discusses what she accomplished as the Supervisor of Library Services and what she thinks about the future of libraries.
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Interview with John Hope Franklin
John Hope Franklin
OH 194
This interview was conducted with Dr. John Hope Franklin (1915-2009) on April 12, 1985 by Ron Chepesiuk. Dr. Franklin is a renowned historian and author of the black experience drawing from both his own background and his research into history. He has published over twenty books both as a single author and in collaboration. Dr. Franklin discusses his family history, growing in an all-black community and childhood education. He also details his experiences with racial discrimination during and after his education. Dr. Franklin discusses his work in the Civil Rights Movement alongside Thurgood Marshall and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also details his opinion of the status of the African American community under the Reagan administration. He also discusses his hobby of orchid growing and having an orchid named in his honor.
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Interview with Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. - OH 360
Vernon Eulion Jordan Jr.
OH 360
Interview conducted for the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus with Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. (1935-2021) about his background and his involvement in organizations and projects like the Board of Education Project. Vernon Jordan is from Atlanta, Georgia and he was the second head of the Board of Education Project and wanted to improve African American education, voting rights, and political involvement. He also discusses the Board of Education Project’s objectives and how effective he believed it was.
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Interview with Rosalie Anderson "Andie" MacDowell - OH 195
Rosalie Anderson MacDowell
OH 195
This recording consists of a press conference held by Winthrop Public Information Office (PIO) with several media outlets regarding Actress/Model Andie MacDowell’s return to Winthrop for Alumni Weekend. Rosalie Anderson “Andie” MacDowell attended Winthrop for two years (1976-1978) before her modeling and acting career. Know as “Rose” when she attended Winthrop, she talks about her time at Winthrop. She also discusses her role in the movie “Greystoke” and the new movie “Saint Elmo’s Fire,” her modeling career before getting into acting, her previous acting experience, her lifestyle and hobbies, traveling and living in Paris for a while, and how her career as a model and now an actress has changed her plans for her future.
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Interview with Betty Williams Perkins - OH 192
Betty Williams Perkins
OH 192
Betty Williams Perkins (1943-2020) was a Northern Irish peace activist who won the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize for her work. In this interview, Mrs. Williams discusses her life in Northern Ireland in the 1960s, the Provisional IRA, her experience during the conflict within Northern Ireland, the events that led her to decision to begin her activism, her involvement in the Community of the Peace People, her reasons for leaving the peace movement in the 1980, her move to the United States, her social activism in the U.S., and the necessity of the unification of Northern Ireland before peace can be achieved.
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Interview with Frances Patton Statham - OH 647
Frances Patton Statham
OH 647
Frances Patton Statham (1931-2020) was born in Catawba, South Carolina to Ernest Boyd & Kathleen Patton. She attended Winthrop College and graduated with a B.S. degree in 1951. The next year on June 28 Frances married Dr. George Wilkes Statham. Continuing her education, Mrs. Statham attended the University of Georgia and received a M.F.A in 1970. Frances also studied at the Royal Conservatory in Canada and with tenor Ralph Errolle. In November of 1976, France Patton Statham divorced her husband and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. Statham has written several historical romances set in the south. In this interview, Mrs. Statham discusses the Winthrop College sextet, the changes in Winthrop since her time there, her work on the Winthrop College Foundation Board, her research in Europe for some of her novels (including Wings of Fire), “creative listening/looking” within her research process, her process for completing her novels, her latest novel To Face the Sun, the key to being a successful historical author, and the success of Wings of Fire.