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 Hans Morgenthau - OH 058
Hans J. Morgenthau
OH 058
IN PROCESSING
Lecture on 20th century foreign policy before an unidentified group that was transferred from the Williford Papers.
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Interview with Pam Morrell - OH 619
Pam Morrell
OH 619
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 Pam Morrell. Pam, who professionally worked as a realtor and a professional mediator, was a member of the Community Leaders Advisory Board, York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and a member of Winthrop’s Presidential Advisory Board. In this interview she discusses her experiences and impressions working with Winthrop President, Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.
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Interview with Ellen Mosley - OH 329
Ellen Mosley
OH 329
In her June 1984 interview with Michael Cooke, Ellen Mosley detailed her experience working for the James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Foundation and the problems with informing communities of sickle cell anemia. Mosley discussed the problems had with DHEC, funding the foundation, and aiding the communities in the Midlands area. She also discussed possible exploitation of the Black community, stigmas that the Black community had towards sickle cell, and the many misconceptions about sickle cell of all races. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Ethel Hughes Muhvich - VHP 037
Ethel Hughes Muhvich
VHP 037
In her November 11, 2004 interview with Lauren Weldishofer, Ethel Hughes Muhvich recalls her time in service during WWII. Muhvich describes why she enlisted, what her assignment was, and why her generation was the greatest. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Gussie Mumey - OH 379
Gussie Mumey
OH 379
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 Minnie Murphey - OH 427
Minnie Murphey
OH 427
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 Estella Myers - OH 409
Estella Myers
OH 409
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 Dora Elizabeth Bailey Neal - OH 158
Dora Elizabeth Bailey Neal
OH 158
This interview was conducted by Susan Ghent who interviewed her grandmother Dora Neal for her Gerontology 504 class project. The contents of the interview centers around the life of Mrs. Dora Elizabeth Bailey Neal (1890-1984) who grew up on a farm in Lancaster, SC. In the interview, Mrs. Neal talks about her parents, her three brothers and two sisters, her childhood, her husband who died of cancer, her three daughters, and how things were when she was growing up and what she thinks about things now.
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Interview with Hautie Nelson - OH 468
Hautie Nelson
OH 468
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 Minnie Ness - OH 388
Minnie Ness
OH 388
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 Betty Newman - OH 463
Betty Newman
OH 463
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 Josephine Nixon - OH 499
Josephine Nixon
OH 499
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 Richard Norman and Lucy Gordon - OH 288
Richard Norman and Lucy Gordon
OH 288
IN PROCESSING
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Interview with Charles B. Notess - OH 145
Charles Boris Notess
OH 145
This interview was done by Winthrop student, Debbie Mollycheck, for an article for the Johnsonian (student newspaper). Debbie Mollycheck is a Winthrop College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in 1976 and a Master of Science in 1979 and worked for a time as a student editor for the Johnsonian. She conducted this interview with Dr. Charles B. Notess (1928-2008) who was a professor of Sociology at Winthrop College from 1975 to 1981. The subject of the interview is the international folk-dance group formed at Winthrop College through Dr. Notess’ efforts in September 1975. The group met weekly, and all students and community members were encouraged to join along. Dr. Notess discusses how he became interested in folk dance when he was in college, why he feels folk dance is important, and how it offers insight into the cultures from which the dances originate.
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Interview with Melvin Ernest "Ernie" Nunnery - OH 136
Melvin Ernest Nunnery
OH 136
This interview was conducted with South Carolina House Representative Melvin Ernest “Ernie” Nunnery (1951-1991) regarding the mysterious death of eighteen-year-old black man Mickey McClinton which sparked a series of protests in Chester, SC during the fall of 1979. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) organized these protests. Mickey McClinton’s death was initially determined to be the result of a hit-and-run accident, but rumors quickly spread that McClinton was the victim of a racially motivated slaying sparking the protests. Mr. Nunnery was a member of the South Carolina House of Representative from 1975-1982 and discusses the incident and how the events of unfolded during the fall of 1979. Subjects include civil rights in Chester; and social unrest among blacks in Chester. Subject Mr. Golden Frinks and Chester Civil Rights.
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Interview with Jennifer Dixon-McKnight - OH 729
O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, Winthrop University, and COVID-19 Pandemic
OH 729
This interview was conducted by Abby B. Hieber with Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight as part of Project 2020: A Collaborative Oral History. Dr. Dixon-McKnight offers insight into the challenges she faced as an educator, parent, and American amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the pivotal year 2020. She details her experiences in terms of the evolution of higher education, particularly virtual learning. She also discusses the personal and professional hurdles she faced due to the lack of social interaction with students, colleagues, and friends. Her interview sheds light on the Winthrop experience amid the pandemic, especially as a faculty member.
Otha Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, Ph.D. is a native of Burgaw, NC but now residents in Rock Hill, SC. She is an Assistant Professor of History & African American Studies and serves as Program Coordinator for the African American Studies minor at Winthrop University. She holds several degrees including a Ph.D. in History from UNC-Chapel Hill, specializing in Women’s and Gender history, U.S. history, and African American studies. She is a former Faculty Advisor for the Council of Student Leaders at Winthrop. In 2023, Dr. Dixon-McKnight was awarded the Outstanding Junior Professor Award and the Student Affairs Faculty Student Life Award. Dr. Dixon-McKnight is the director of Project 2020.
Spearheaded by Dr. Dixon-McKnight, Project 2020 is best summarized in her words: “The goal was to conduct interviews that explored the various ways in which Americans were experiencing and being impacted by the various watershed moments that emerged during 2020 (the global pandemic, social unrest, financial challenges, issues with healthcare, etc.)."
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Interview with Glenda Pittman Owens - OH 620
Glenda Pittman Owens
OH 620
This interview was conducted as part of the Winthrop History Project, an initiative led by Winthrop President Emeritus Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio and Rebecca Masters. The project aimed to document Winthrop’s transformation over Dr. DiGiorgio’s 24-year tenure, tracing the institution’s evolution from Winthrop College to Winthrop University. Designed to supplement Dr. Ross Webb’s The Torch is Passed, which chronicles Winthrop’s history up to Dr. DiGiorgio’s presidency, this project sought to provide a comprehensive account of this significant period.
A key component of the initiative was a series of recorded interviews with members of the extended Winthrop community who played a role in shaping the university’s progress. These firsthand narratives preserve the voices, experiences, and perspectives of those who contributed to Winthrop’s growth and development.
This interview features Glenda Pittman Owens, a 1959 Winthrop graduate. Owens dedicated many years of service to the university in various leadership roles, including:
- Board Member of the Alumni Association (1991–1997)
- President of the Alumni Association (1997–1999)
- Member of the Winthrop Foundation Board
- Steering Committee Member for Winthrop’s Capital Campaign
- Trustee on the Winthrop Board of Trustees (2000–2009)
In recognition of her and her husband, Charles Jerry Owens’ contributions, Owens Hall on campus bears their name. In this interview, she reflects on her undergraduate experience at Winthrop, her extensive service to the university, and her working relationship with President DiGiorgio.
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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 James Earl Padgett, Jr. - OH 316
James Earl Padgett Jr. and Sickle Cell Anemia
OH 316
In his interview with Michael Cooke, Dr. James Earl Padgett, Jr. (1930-2016) discusses his work with the Department of Health and Environmental Control of South Carolina. Dr. Padgett describes the efforts to develop a program for sickle cell anemia. He details how the Health Department set up their program to screen and counsel people who might have the disease.
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Interview with Irving C. Pahl - OH 141
Irving C. Pahl
OH 141
IN PROCESSING
Subjects include background information and when he entered the service. Colonel Irving C. Pahl represented the U.S. in Czechoslovakia when the country was invaded by Soviet troops in 1968.
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Interview with Paige C. Woodham - OH 775
Paige C. Woodham, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Healthcare Worker
OH 775
This interview was conducted by Jackson Branch with Paige C. Woodham as part of Project 2020: A Collaborative Oral History. Dr. Woodham shares her experiences as a medical professional amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses the evolution of the medical field due to the pandemic, notably the lab environment. She also notes the overall challenges and triumphs that both healthcare workers and patients endured amid the pandemic. Notable topics of conversation include COVID-19 testing and protocols, personal protective equipment (PPE), medical personnel shortages, and the pathology field.
Paige Cribb Woodham, MD, is a cytopathology specialist practicing in Charleston, S.C. Dr. Woodham earned her M.D. degree from The University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2016 and completed her residency at the Medical University of South Carolina (M-USC).
Spearheaded by Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, an Assistant Professor of History & African American Studies at Winthrop University, Project 2020 is best summarized in her words: “The goal was to conduct interviews that explored the various ways in which Americans were experiencing and being impacted by the various watershed moments that emerged during 2020 (the global pandemic, social unrest, financial challenges, issues with healthcare, etc.).”
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Interview with Pamela Stephens - OH 766
Pamela Stephens, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Sun City Carolina Lakes
OH 766
This interview was conducted by Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight with Pamela Stephens as part of Project 2020: A Collaborative Oral History. Stephens shares her experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the critical year 2020, particularly as a retired American and active church member. Notable topics of conversation include the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, vaccination, religion and faith, education, social unrest, and the evolution of everyday following the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020.
Pamela Stephens (b. 1953), a native of Chicago, Illinois, is a resident of Sun City Carolina Lakes in Indian Land, SC. At the time of the interview, Stephens had resided in the community for nearly ten years. She is an active member of the Faith Presbyterian Church in Indian Land, SC.
Spearheaded by Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, an Assistant Professor of History & African American Studies at Winthrop University, Project 2020 is best summarized in her words: “The goal was to conduct interviews that explored the various ways in which Americans were experiencing and being impacted by the various watershed moments that emerged during 2020 (the global pandemic, social unrest, financial challenges, issues with healthcare, etc.).”
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Interview with Donald Parrish - OH 542
Donald Parrish, Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company, Bleachery, and Alexander Keith Windham
OH 542
In his May 20, 2017 interview with Alex Windham, Donald Parrish detailed his thoughts and memories of his time at the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company referred to locals as the Bleachery. Parrish spoke of the time period of the 1950s through 2017 and on the following topics: segregation, integration, race relations, plant management, day to day job responsibilities and actions, technology changes, the buyout of the Bleachery by Springs, worker attitudes, interactions with co-workers, the decline of the Bleachery, family, and finally retirement to the year 2017. Parrish also offered his opinions on how Rock Hill was impacted by the Bleachery from the 1950s to 2017.