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 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.
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Interview with Arvilla Parshall - OH 437
Arvilla Parshall
OH 437
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 Kay Patterson - OH 366
Kay Patterson
OH 366
This interview was conducted by Michael A. Cooke with South Carolina Representative, Kay Patterson who was a member of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus. Kay Patterson was born in Darlington, South Carolina in 1931 and grew up in Sumter, South Carolina. Before entering politics, he was a teacher and advocate in his community for African American education and voting rights, including advocating for the voting rights act of 1965. In 1975, Kay Patterson became a member of the House of Representatives and served in the House for the 73rd district until 1985. In 1985, he became a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 19th district until he retired in 2008. He also served as the Secretary of the Black Caucus. In this interview, Kay Patterson discusses his background and his political career, including his personal goals and the goals of the Black Caucus.
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Interview with Ben Paxton - OH 215
Ben Paxton
OH 215
In his March 25, 2015 interview with Jenna Kasmarik, Ben Paxton shares his opinions on Title IX’s influence on athletics at Winthrop, specifically in track. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Gabriel Paxton - OH 151
Gabriel Paxton
OH 151
In his February 18, 2015 interview with Michelle Dubert-Bellrichard, Gabriel Paxton shares the story of founding the grassroots organization Rock Hill for Equality. Included are his experiences as an ally in the Southeast and the partnerships he made to support Rock Hill for Equality. Paxton provides insight on this civil rights movement and speculates why the South is slow to change. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Lillian Paxton - OH 313
Margaret Lillian Rivers Paxton
OH 313
Margaret Lillian Rivers Paxton’s interview covers her experience as an undergraduate student at Winthrop College. Lillian graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and became a teacher in Greenville County after graduation. She mentions that her grandmother, (Lillian C. Hughes 1881-1920) attended Winthrop in the early years (1895-1896). Lillian discusses her experience with the entrance exam, getting accepted to Winthrop, and moving onto campus. Mrs. Paxton recounts life in the dorms (McLaurin Hall, Phelps Hall) as well as fun activities during free time. She also discusses specific dress code regulations and rules enforced by Winthrop, the food in the dining halls, and the physical education requires. Mrs. Paxton also discusses the changes in Winthrop College as society changed in the 1960s.
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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 Persistent Pals - OH 421
Persistent Pals
OH 421
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 Esther Surasky Persky - OH 087
Esther Surasky Persky
OH 087
The interview conducted by Dr. Arnold Shankman of Winthrop College with 1918 Winthrop graduate Esther Surasky Persky outlines the life and experiences of a Jewish girl growing up and living in the South. Esther helped found the Hadassah chapter in Aiken, SC. Hadassah is an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. Subjects include education, family life, employment, college days at Winthrop College, marriage and Zionist organizations and activities.
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Interview with Dorothy Personette - OH 407
Dorothy Personette
OH 407
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 Ansel Peterson - OH 471
Ansel Peterson
OH 471
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 Cologera Petruzella - OH 120
Cologera Petruzella
OH 120
IN PROCESSING
Mrs. Petruzella talks about her life in Sicily and her life in the United States.
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Interview with Daniel Newton Pettus - OH 259
Daniel Newton Pettus, Fort Mill Manufacturing Company, Springs Industries, and Nancy Biggs Thomas Wofford
OH 259
This interview with Daniel Newton Pettus was conducted by Nancy Thomas Wofford for her 1984 Winthrop thesis titled, Fort Mill: Transition From A Farming To A Textile Community, 1880-1920. Subjects include Fort Mill Manufacturing Co., Springs Industries, Ivey’s Mill in Fort Mill, Catawba Power Company, and the Evolution of the Early Cotton Textile Mills in York County, SC.
Daniel Newton Pettus (1902-1998) left his father’s (Newton Thomas Pettus (1876-1954) farm in Belair, SC in Lancaster County and went to work for the Fort Mill Manufacturing Company in 1919. He filled batteries for 3 to 4 years, and “drawed ends” for 44 years, retiring in 1966 at the age of 62. He and his wife, Margaret Frances Lancaster Holcomb Pettus (1923-2017), lived in the mill village. Mr. Pettus discusses childhood and family who owned a three-room farm house in Belair, SC (which is an unincorporated community in Lancaster County near Indian Land today), cotton farm life, native Americans, 1916 flood, child labor, and much on the life working in the factory. Daniel Newton Pettus was a first cousin once removed of Louise Pettus (1926-2021) (namesake of the Winthrop Archives) and a first cousin of her father, Calvin Hall Pettus (1901-1949).
*Audio has an echo of the same interview in background of the recording.
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Interview with Louise Pettus - OH 258
Mildred Louise Pettus
OH 258
Louise Pettus shares her memories and thoughts about her years at Winthrop College (1942-1946). She discusses her switching her major from business to history, the kinds of productions and programs that occurred at Winthrop, and how buildings have changed since she was a student. She talks at length about the buildings and their uses, from Main Building becoming Tillman Hall to Carnegie Library becoming Rutledge. She also discusses the stricter student policies that took place while she was enrolled, like campusing students or shipping them home. If a student was campused as a punishment, they could not leave campus grounds for sometimes up to two weeks. She discusses the types of general education courses she took as well as some of the specialized classes for her history major. Some interesting classes she took include archery and spring hockey. She discusses the military men housed in Bancroft Hall during her time at Winthrop.
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Interview with Louise Pettus - OH 640
Mildred Louise Pettus
OH 640
Louise Pettus discusses her childhood growing up in Lancaster County, her experiences operating and working in a cotton gin owned by her family, her academic career, and her teaching career. Bob Gorman interviewed Ms. Pettus as part of his research into an article he wrote title “Queen Cotton: The Story of a Woman Ginner” that was published in the Winter 2005-2006 Sandlapper magazine.
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Interview with Emma Stella Higgins Phelps - OH 785
Emma Estella Higgins Phelps
OH 785
This audio recording is of Emma Estella Higgins “Stella” Phelps (1887-1971). Stella was the wife of Shelton Joseph Phelps who was the third president of Winthrop College (1934-1943).
This recording features Emma Estella Higgins Phelps 1887-1971) reading her reminiscences of Winthrop College during the presidency of her husband, Dr. Shelton J. Phelps, who served as the institution's third president from 1934 to 1944. Reflecting on their years at Winthrop, Mrs. Phelps describes the beauty of the campus, the construction of new buildings, improvements to academic programs, and the college's continued growth during her husband's administration.
Mrs. Phelps also recalls the friendships and relationships she and Dr. Phelps formed with faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, and prominent visitors. She reflects on the dedication of the Winthrop community, particularly its alumni, and shares memories of traveling throughout South Carolina on behalf of the college. Throughout the recording, Mrs. Phelps expresses her deep admiration for Winthrop's traditions, the loyalty of its people, and the lasting impact the college had on her life.
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Interview with Amy Phillips - OH 657
Amy Phillips
OH 657
This interview was conducted for the as part of the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks on the United States. This effort was to produce a history of the university’s, as well as the community’s, response in the days and weeks following the attacks. A key aspect of the project was a series of audio-taped interviews conducted with various members of the Rock Hill and Winthrop communities who felt their stories needed to be shared.
This interview is of Mrs. Amy Phillips, Residential Learning Coordinator and Academic Associate at Winthrop University. In her interview with Andrew Russell, Amy Phillips discusses her memories and experiences of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Mrs. Phillips describes her experiences and thoughts during the events as well as the response of her local community.
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Interview with Florence Phillips - OH 411
Florence Phillips
OH 411
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 Fred D. Phillips - OH 209
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 Henrietta Phillips - OH 199
Henrietta Phillips
OH 199
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 Esther Surasky Pinck - OH 073
Esther Surasky Pinck
OH 073
IN PROCESSING
Pinck discusses her life in Russia and coming to America. She lived in Aiken, South Carolina for several years. She discusses here time at Winthrop, her friends and of difficulties of being a Jew. Much of the interview revolves around her family and of the problems that they encountered because of their faith.
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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.
