The Oral History Program's mission is to record unique life histories, documenting historical events and memories of our time by preserving and adding these voices to the historical record. The Pettus Archives have been collecting and preserving stories, personal accounts, and recollections through recorded interviews as part of the Oral History Program since 1973. The Archives holds more than 800 interviews in audio, video and text formats, on a wide variety of subjects, including life at Winthrop, Rock Hill, SC and the Catawba Region and people, mill life and workers, American Wars and conflicts, Veteran History Project, women in politics and society, African American, and many other topics.
Disclaimer: The content of oral history interviews are personal and interpretive in nature, relying on memories, experiences, perceptions, and opinions of the interviewee. They do not represent the policy, views, or official history of Winthrop University and the University makes no assertions about the veracity of statements made by individuals participating in the Oral History Program.
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Interview with Bill Martin - OH 187
Bill Martin
OH 187
This interview was conducted by Director of Winthrop Archives, Ron Chepesuik, with Bill Martin who was the Head of Library and Information Services at Queens University in Belfast, Ireland. The interview was conducted for an article Mr. Chepesuik was writing about Libraries in Ireland.
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Interview with Jalie Martin - OH 454
Jalie Martin
OH 454
IN PROCESSING
Interviews with extension members and agents throughout the country documenting the history and development of the extension movement in the U.S. The interviews describe homemaking, child bearing and family management in the small towns and rural areas where they live. They also discuss the role of extension homemakers groups in their lives.
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Interview with Ruth Erline Mathis Martin - OH 328
Ruth Erline Mathis Martin and Sickle Cell Anemia
OH 328
In her June 1984 interview with Michael Cooke, Ruth Erline Mathis Martin (1934-2020) discussed her time as a DHEC employee in the sickle cell anemia program. She covered topics of DHEC’s involvement with community groups, sickle cell anemia community groups and their success and failures, and the James R. Clark Sickle Cell Foundation. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Henrietta Massey - OH 700
Henrietta Massey and Emmett Scott High School
OH 700
This interview was conducted by Dr. George Garrison with Mrs. Henrietta Massey for his History of Emmett Scott High School project. Emmett Scott High School was the segregated school for African Americans in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It was named for Emmett Scott, a former aide to Booker T. Washington and President Woodrow Wilson. Emmett Scott High School was opened in 1920 and closed in 1970 with the integration of the Rock Hill School District. Mrs. Massey was a teacher at Emmett Scott High School during the 1960s and then was moved along with the students to Rock Hill High School following integration of the school district. Mrs. Massey was born in Laurens, SC and worked in Abbeville, SC under the principal Lemuel B. Moore Jr., the son of Lemuel B. Moore who was the second principal at Emmett Scott. She discusses her experience as a teacher in the Rock Hill School District both in the segregated system and the integrated system. Mrs. Massey also discusses her personal experiences in the Rock Hill black community during the Civil Rights Movement and the student sit-ins that occurred in 1971. She details the impact of the faculty as individuals as well as Emmett Scott as a whole on the community.
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Interview with Mary Elizabeth Massey - OH 44
Mary Elizabeth Massey
OH 044
Dr. Mary Elizabeth Massey (1915-1974) was an historian, educator, and author. She was a Winthrop History Professor from 1950 through 1974 with a focus on the American Civil War. This recording consists of Dr. Massey’s address during the December 15, 1972 Winthrop graduation ceremonies at Byrnes Auditorium. The recording begins with the organ playing and then Winthrop President Charles Shepard Davis introduces Dr. Massey. Dr. Masey addresses the graduates of 1972 from the 00:09:08 mark through the 00:29:05 mark of the recording.
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Interview with Willie T. "Dub" Massey - OH 138
Willie T. Massey
OH 138
In his April 27th, 1981 interview with Phil O’Quinn, Rev. Willie T. "Dub" Massey recollects his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement as one of the Friendship 9 protestors and non-violent activists. Massey retells the preparation and events leading up to the sit-in at McCrory’s lunch counter. Massey also shares the negative effects he experienced with his involvement as an activist and leader in the Civil Rights Movement, in particular, his arrest from the McCrory’s sit-in. Massey concludes his interview with advice and hope for the black community. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Frances Matthews - OH 398
Frances Matthews
OH 398
IN PROCESSING
Interviews with extension members and agents throughout the country documenting the history and development of the extension movement in the U.S. The interviews describe homemaking, child bearing and family management in the small towns and rural areas where they live. They also discuss the role of extension homemakers groups in their lives.
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Interview with Mary Denny Matthews - OH 016
Mary Denny Matthews
OH 016
In her April 21, 1975 interview with Ann Yarborough Evans, Mary Denny Matthews shares her experiences as a student from 1915-1919 and her career at Winthrop from 1920-1942. Matthews lends stories of student life and how WWI shaped Winthrop. Matthews also explains why she decided not to teach and instead have a career at Winthrop. Matthews concludes her interview with details on the strike at Winthrop for equal pay for women. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Harvey Mayhill - VHP 115
Harvey Cecil Mayhill
VHP 115
In his November 29, 2017 interview with Emily Cranwell Deinert, Harvey Cecil Mayhill (1943-2024) describes his time in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He shares why he enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, as well as what the basic training experience was like. He then discusses his time at various Air Force bases across the United States and what his responsibilities were as part of a Communications squadron. Mayhill also talks at length of how his Commander, Wayne Schrame, had invited Mayhill over for Thanksgiving the year Mayhill's mother died -- Mayhill points to this act of kindness as influencing the way Mayhill volunteers and serves those around him. He then describes some of the volunteer service he currently participates in.
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Interview with Elizabeth McAdams - OH 450
Elizabeth McAdams
OH 450
IN PROCESSING
Interviews with extension members and agents throughout the country documenting the history and development of the extension movement in the U.S. The interviews describe homemaking, child bearing and family management in the small towns and rural areas where they live. They also discuss the role of extension homemakers groups in their lives.
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Interview with Letha McCall - OH 466
Letha McCall
OH 466
IN PROCESSING
Interviews with extension members and agents throughout the country documenting the history and development of the extension movement in the U.S. The interviews describe homemaking, child bearing and family management in the small towns and rural areas where they live. They also discuss the role of extension homemakers groups in their lives.
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Interview with Beatrice McCann - OH 456
Beatrice McCann
OH 456
IN PROCESSING
Interviews with extension members and agents throughout the country documenting the history and development of the extension movement in the U.S. The interviews describe homemaking, child bearing and family management in the small towns and rural areas where they live. They also discuss the role of extension homemakers groups in their lives.
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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 Florence McDonald - OH 423
Florence McDonald
OH 423
IN PROCESSING
Interviews with extension members and agents throughout the country documenting the history and development of the extension movement in the U.S. The interviews describe homemaking, child bearing and family management in the small towns and rural areas where they live. They also discuss the role of extension homemakers groups in their lives.
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Interview with Rebecca McGee - OH 080
Rebecca McGee
OH 080
IN PROCESSING
This is an interview with Rebecca McGee, the niece of Mary Bethune who reminisces about the life of her aunt.
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Interview with Jacquelyn McGirt - OH 707
Jacquelyn McGirt and Emmett Scott High School
OH 707
This interview was conducted by Dr. George Garrison with Jacquelyn McGirt for Dr. Garrison’s project on the History of Emmett Scott High School. Emmett Scott was the segregated high school for African-Americans, which was named after Emmett Scott, a former aide to Booker T. Washington and President Woodrow Wilson. The school opened in 1920 and closed in 1970 when full integration was implemented in Rock Hill, South Carolina schools. Ms. McGirt is the daughter of Ralph McGirt, who was the principal of Emmett Scott from 1938 until he passed away in 1959. In this interview, Ms. McGirt discusses her father, her experiences and recollections of Emmett Scott High School and the impact it had in the black community of Rock Hill, South Carolina.
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Interview with Virginia McIntyre - OH 464
Virginia McIntyre
OH 464
IN PROCESSING
Interviews with extension members and agents throughout the country documenting the history and development of the extension movement in the U.S. The interviews describe homemaking, child bearing and family management in the small towns and rural areas where they live. They also discuss the role of extension homemakers groups in their lives.
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Interview with Carole McIver and Laurance Mitlin - OH 173
Carole R. McIver and Laurance Mitlin
OH 173
IN PROCESSING
This interview was conducted in preparation for an article for the Wilson Library Bulletin entitled “SOLINET: Impact on a Member Library.” The discussion centers on changes in public and technical services that were brought on by the computer system SOLINET and CLSI.
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Interview with John Paul McKee - OH 618
John Paul McKee
OH 618
This interview was conducted for the as part of the Winthrop History Project spearheaded by Winthrop President Emeritus Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio and Rebecca Masters to “document the 24-year path of the original Winthrop College to becoming Winthrop University.” This effort was to produce a history of the institution and Dr. DiGiorgio’s tenure as president as a supplement to Dr. Ross Webb’s history of Winthrop (The Torch is Passed) that covered Winthrop history up to Dr. DiGiorgio becoming president. A key aspect of the project was a series of audio-taped interviews conducted with various members of the extended Winthrop community who participated in or helped guide the advancement of Winthrop over these years. That way, the Winthrop story will be told in an array of participants’ own words, own voices and from their own perspectives.
This interview is with John Paul “J.P.” McKee. JP came to Winthrop University as a graduate student from 1975-1976 and graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration. He was hired in August 1976 as budget Analyst. He later became an Assistant Vice President and then under President Martha Kime Piper, he was promoted to Vice President for Finance and Business until he retired in 2018. In this interview he discusses his early Winthrop career and his experiences and impressions working with Winthrop President, Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.
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Interview with Howard McKinney - OH 706
Howard McKinney and Emmett Scott High School
OH 706
This interview was conducted by Dr. George Garrison with Howard McKinney for the Emmett Scott High School History project. Emmett Scott High School was the segregated high school for African-Americans named after Emmett Scott, a former aide to Booker T. Washington and President Woodrow Wilson. The school opened in 1920 and closed in 1970 when full integration was implemented in Rock Hill, South Carolina school district. Mr. McKinney attended Emmett Scott High School. He discusses his experiences growing up in Rock Hill and in the segregated school system. Mr. McKinney also details his experiences while attending Friendship College during the Civil Rights Movement in Rock Hill. He was an active participant in the sit-in movement, though not a member of the Friendship Nine. Mr. McKinney discusses the pros and cons of the integrated school systems as well as the changes in the community has a whole.
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Interview with Marion W. McLester - OH 146
Marion W. McLester
OH 146
Dr. Marion Woodward Wright McLester (1895-1994) was a civic leader and a principal and public school teacher in Sumter County, South Carolina from 1919 to 1964. Subjects include her background, her grandparents and slavery, voting for African Americans, education, family life, farm life and the roles of church and African American women.
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Interview with Joanne Woods McMaster and Lois Morton - OH 299
Joanne Woods McMaster and Lois Morton
OH 299
IN PROCESSING
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Interview with Hillard McMoore - OH 135
Hillard McMoore
OH 135
IN PROCESSING
Subjects include background information on his life, who raised him, his marriages and where he lived.
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Interview with Marjorie Clinton McMurray - OH 147
Marjorie Clinton McMurray
OH 147
This interview was conducted with Marjorie Clinton McMurray (1911-2006) who was the first African American to write a column for The Lancaster News in Lancaster, SC. This recording begins partway through the interview. In this interview, Mrs. McMurray discusses her research into her family history, which includes several African Americans serving on the state legislature including Frederick Albert Clinton (1834-1890), who in addition to successful political career, was also a very successful farmer. She also discusses organizing a celebration for an important black history month in Lancaster County. She had trouble not only getting her ancestor recognized as black but also getting memorials and celebrations in place due to various committees blocking her proposals. She also discusses her research into Mt. Carmel A.M.E. Zion Church and the Mt. Carmel Campground it owned.
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Interview with Jason Dector McSwain - OH 115
Jason Dector McSwain
OH 115
Mr. Jason Dector McSwain (1917-2007) talks of his service in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Kings Mountain, S.C., which was part of the New Deal program established by President Roosevelt during the great depression. He talks about how he joined the C.C. Camp and his lifestyle living in the barracks, including his uniforms, schedule, food, activities, classes and lessons, writing home, and getting paid each month. Mr. McSwain also talks about serving in the military for a time before returning to the Civilian Conservation Corps as a leader. Mr. McSwain served in World War II and served as Post Commander of the V.F.W. in Clover, SC. He worked at the Celanese Plant in Rock Hill and was a farmer.