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 Elizabeth Ellis Taylor - OH 196
Elizabeth Ellis Taylor
OH 196
The subject of the interview is Mrs. Mary Gordon Ellis (1890-1934), the first female senator in the South Carolina General Assembly from Jasper County, 1928-1932, and county Superintendent of Education from 1924-1928. She was involved in controversial issues such as school consolidation, hiring of African American supervisors, buses for both races, equal textbooks, and required in-service training for teachers.
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Interview with Lois Dean McLaughlin Taylor - OH 097
Lois Dean McLaughlin Taylor
OH 097
IN PROCESSING
Taylor, a Winthrop graduate, speaks of her experiences as a teacher in the Presbyterian Missionary School at Woodstock in the Himalayan Mountains in India during 1931-1939.
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Interview with Gale Teaster - OH 068
Gale Teaster
OH 068
In her October 2014 interview with Rebecca Nave, Gale Teaster detailed her thoughts and memories of her time at Winthrop University (then Winthrop College). Teaster spoke of the time period of 1971-1975 on the following topics: Coeducation, Winthrop traditions, student life, and outside opinions on the coeducation of Winthrop College. Teaster also offered her opinions on how Winthrop has changed between the 1970s and today. Teaster then discussed the change in diversity at Winthrop as a result of coeducation. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Terri B. Cowan - OH 725
Terri B. Cowan, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Healthcare
OH 725
The interview was conducted by Jackson Branch with Terri Cowan as part of Project 2020: A Collaborative Oral History. Cowan discusses her experiences as a healthcare worker in a rural community during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, notably as someone who conducted rapid COVID-19 test at a drive-thru testing clinic for nearly five months. Cowan also details the greater developments in the healthcare industry in response to the pandemic such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), patient-physician relations, telehealth, and the logistical evolutions in the field.
Terri B. Cowan, PA-C is a physician assistant in Bennettsville, SC. She has been in the medical field for nearly thirty years. Cowan completed her PA program (1993) at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Spearheaded by Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, 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 Bob Thompson - OH 547
Bob Thompson, Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company, Bleachery, and Alexander Keith Windham
OH 547
In his June 29, 2017 interview with Alex Windham, Bob Thompson detailed his thoughts and memories of his time at the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company referred to locals as the Bleachery. Thompson spoke of the time of the 1970s through 2017 and on the follow topics: Public relations, Springs buyout of the Bleachery, Springs perspective on the closing of the Bleachery, reasons for the decline of the textile industry and his ideas on the future of the Bleachery as University Center of Knowledge Park.
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Interview with Daniel W. Thompson - OH 208
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 Mabel Thompson - OH 164
Mabel Thompson
OH 164
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 Robert L. Thompson - OH 630
Robert L. Thompson
OH 630
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 Robert L. “Bob” Thompson, who played a significant role in Winthrop’s governance. Thompson was a member of the Board of Visitors in the mid-1980s and later served as President of the Winthrop Foundation Board. In 1992, he was appointed to Winthrop’s Board of Trustees, serving two terms from 1992–2005 and 2008–2014. In this conversation, he reflects on his experiences and insights from working with President Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.
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Interview with Winifred Thrush and Mary Shultz - OH 374
Winifred Thrush and Mary Shultz
OH 374
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 Larry Timbs Sr. - VHP 015
Lawrence C. Timbs
VHP 015
In his November 27, 2003 interview with Larry Timbs Jr., Larry Timbs Sr. recollects his career in the army during WWII and the Korean War. Timbs explains why he entered the service, his relationship with civilians while overseas, and comments on the Iraq War. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Rose Neel "Neely" Milling Todd - OH 218
Rose Neel Milling Todd
OH 218
IN PROCESSING
Ms. Todd describes college life during 1933-1937 including academics, leisure time, rules and regulations and campus activities.
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Interview with Marguerite Tolbert - OH 003
Emmie Marguerite Tolbert
OH 003
Marguerite Tolbert (1893-1982) was a Winthrop alumna (class of 1914), club woman, and administrator with the Opportunity School in Columbia, South Carolina. In this interview, Miss Tolbert discusses her experience as a student at Winthrop College. She discusses dining hall conversation and interactions with faculty members, her parents, and her home life with her parents. She also discusses riding the train to Winthrop, dorm life, holidays and weekends at Winthrop, Benjamin Tillman and his close supervision of Winthrop students, rules for Winthrop students, and the blue line. She also talks about her pride surrounding graduation, the training school, her internship, the Greatest Educators in America reception at the Waldorf in New York City, the controversy surrounding Billy Mitchell, summer school at Winthrop, notable male professors, Winthrop’s status as the best teaching college in the state, and Dr. D.B. Johnson. She also discusses dating at Winthrop, clubs, free time activities, and a pageant. Miss Tolbert also discusses the shift in her teaching philosophy as well as specific units taught at Winthrop. This interview also includes comments from Wil Lou Gray, (1883-1984) regarding the summer teaching training institute at Winthrop.
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Interview with Dorothy Tolley - OH 518
Dorothy Brokaw Barnett Tolley
OH 518
In Processing
This interview with Dorothy Brokaw Barnett “Dot” Tolley (1914-2010), conducted in Springdale, Arkansas, traces her lifelong engagement with Extension Homemakers Clubs from her early membership in Alton, Illinois in 1944 to her active participation in the Growing Fifty-Niners Club in Washington County, Arkansas. Dot reflects on the evolution of homemaker programs over the decades, from food-focused lessons and practical demonstrations—like “getting exercise while doing housework”—to more varied, family- and community-oriented topics in later years.
Dot shares vivid memories of her early life on a farm in Madison County, Illinois, where she grew up in a close-knit family of five daughters without modern conveniences. Her recollections include one-room schoolhouse education, Depression-era thrift, church-centered social life, and homemade holiday traditions. She describes how her upbringing instilled values of frugality, respect for others’ property, and strong family bonds.
Throughout the interview, Dot emphasizes the personal growth and leadership skills she gained through homemakers clubs, including her role as district program director. She also recounts humorous incidents, such as struggling to deliver a lesson on housework exercises while stifling laughter. Her storytelling is rich with detail—from threshing feasts and roller skating around the block to her father’s folk remedies and love of poetry and music.
Dot’s narrative offers a warm, detailed portrait of 20th-century rural and small-town life, highlighting the enduring impact of Extension Homemakers in fostering education, creativity, and community among women across generations.
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Interview with Lora Torsey - OH 418
Lora Torsey
OH 418
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 Kay Triplett - OH 631
Betty Kay Triplett
OH 631
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 Betty Kay Triplett, who served as Administrative Assistant to the President and later as Administrative Coordinator to the President from 1998 until her retirement in 2015. In this discussion, she reflects on her experiences working with President Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio and offers insight into her time at Winthrop.
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Interview with Mina Surasky Tropp - OH 056
Mina Surasky Tropp
OH 056
This interview was conducted by Dr. Arnold Shankman for the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Collection with Mina Surasky Tropp. In the interview, Mrs. Tropp reflects on her life, family, career, and experiences as a member of the Jewish community in the American South.
Mrs. Tropp recounts her childhood in Aiken, South Carolina, before relocating to New York as a young adult. She discusses her marriage and describes her family's work in the restaurant and hospitality industries in New York. She also details her involvement with several pro-Israel organizations, including Americans for Haganah and Materials for Israel, explaining her efforts to provide aid and relief in support of Israel during the years following World War II.
In addition to her humanitarian work, Mrs. Tropp discusses her career as a floral artist, describing how her artistic style developed through her personal experiences and lifelong appreciation of nature. She also reflects on her later years in Charleston, South Carolina, where she worked at the Country Club of Charleston. Throughout the interview, Mrs. Tropp offers insight into Jewish life in the South, the importance of community service, and the personal experiences that shaped her career, artistic pursuits, and commitment to philanthropy.
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Interview with Louise "Lou" Trucks - OH 046
Louise Trucks
OH 046
In her December 2014 interview with Michelle Dubert-Bellrichard, Louise “Lou” Trucks detailed her thoughts and memories of her time at Winthrop. Trucks spoke of the time period from 1960-1964 as a music and music education double major. Trucks shared the benefits of being a music major, her involvement in campus traditions and organizations, and the rigor of her studies. Trucks concludes her interview detailing her life after Winthrop in Bloomington, IN and Rochester, NY. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Stephen Turner - OH 632
Stephen Turner
OH 632
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 Stephen Turner, who served as Executive Director of the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation and Director of Economic and Urban Development for the City of Rock Hill. Turner played a vital role in Rock Hill’s economic growth, serving the city in various capacities from 1984 to 1996 and from 2000 until his retirement in 2020. In his role, he collaborated with Winthrop on numerous initiatives, particularly in the redevelopment of the area spanning from Winthrop University to Downtown Rock Hill, known as Knowledge Park. In this discussion, Turner shares his experiences and insights from working with President Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio and his contributions to the university’s broader community development efforts.
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Interview with Stephen Turner - OH 548
Stephen Turner, Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company, Bleachery, and Alexander Keith Windham
OH 548
In his June 28, 2017, interview with Alex Windham, Stephen Turner discussed his role in revitalizing the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company, commonly known as "The Bleachery." Turner provided insights into the history of The Bleachery and outlined future redevelopment plans aimed at transitioning Rock Hill into a new era. Serving the city in various capacities from 1984 to 1996 and from 2000 until his retirement in 2020, Turner held positions as the Executive Director of the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation and Director of Economic and Urban Development for the City of Rock Hill. His extensive tenure offered him a unique perspective on the economic and urban development of the area.
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Interview with Frank Bryan Tutwiler - OH 26
Frank Bryan Tutwiler
OH 026
This interview is with Dr. Frank Bryan Tutwiler who was born in Virginia on October 6, 1924 and he passed away in York, South Carolina on April 20, 1979. Dr. Tutwiler was a faculty member in the Chemistry Department at Winthrop College from 1955-1979. In this interview, Dr. Tutwiler discusses how different sciences are viewed, the relation between science and religion, how sciences are used in the world, both good and bad and those in between, and what the different sciences are, including physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and geology. He also talks about what science degree programs were offered at Winthrop while he taught there and how he attempted to create an astronomy program as well. Dr. Tutwiler also talks about stereotypes surrounding scientists and how these have affected which sciences are more popular and with whom they are more popular. He also discusses how the teaching of the sciences has changed and developed alongside the development of the sciences themselves.
*From 0:30:42 to 0:31:27 and again at 0:52:24 to 0:53:21, there is the start of a discussion about coeducation at Winthrop, but then it switches back to Dr. Tutwiler.
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Interview with Cleo Tyler - OH 410
Cleo Tyler
OH 410
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 Dorothy Tyrawski - OH 414
Dorothy Tyrawski
OH 414
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 Tysheeka Purvis - OH 756
Tysheeka T. Purvis, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Black Women
OH 756
This interview was conducted by Autumn Jackson with Tysheeka Purvis as part of Project 2020: A Collaborative Oral History. Purvis discusses her experiences as a working mother during the COVID-19 pandemic, including balancing her professional responsibilities with caring for her two children, an eighth grader and a fourth grader, while they attended school from home. Purvis, a native of Bennettsville, South Carolina, had moved to North Carolina in October 2019 and worked as a child support case coordinator when the pandemic began. She describes adjusting to working from home while caring for her children and managing household responsibilities.
Purvis discusses the challenges of remote education, childcare, and maintaining personal time during the pandemic. She describes feeling overwhelmed by her responsibilities as a mother, teacher, and employee and discusses finding support through friends, prayer, and crafting. She also discusses her reluctance to return to the workplace after approximately a year and a half of working from home and the difficulty of readjusting to an office environment.
The interview also addresses Purvis’s concerns about her children returning to in-person education, including COVID-19 exposure, masking policies, and their adjustment after a year of remote learning. She reflects on their academic progress and the challenges of transitioning to new grade levels. Notable topics include motherhood, parenting, employment, remote work, education, childcare, mental health, COVID-19 safety measures, and changes to everyday life during the pandemic.
Tysheeka T. Purvis (b. 1983) is a native of Bennettsville, South Carolina, and a Child Support Case Coordinator in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She earned a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Grand Canyon University and an M.S. in Human and Social Sciences from Walden University.
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Interview with Misaye Uno - OH 401
Misaye Uno
OH 401
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 Charles B. Vail and Emily Vail - OH 178
Charles Brooks Vail and Emily Vail
OH 178
Dr. Charles B. Vail (1923-) was the sixth president of Winthrop, serving from 1973 to 1982. He is joined in this interview by his wife, Emily Vail. Grace B. Freeman, editor of the Winthrop Alumni Magazine, interviews Dr. and Mrs. Vail for an article in the publication. In this interview, Dr. Vail discusses teaching and administration at multiple institutions, serving as an administrator, and having to quit teaching. Mrs. Vail discusses her husband’s personality, voice, desire for challenges, her role as the first lady, and finishing her graduate degree. Dr. Vail also discusses deciding to be a college president at Winthrop, his personal thoughts on the job of a university president, his thoughts about Winthrop, his commencement speeches, his inauguration, and the future issue of Winthrop Alumni Magazine that features Dr. Vail and Mrs. Vail. They also discuss how they met in high school, their early college careers at University of Alabama (Dr. Vail) and Birmingham Southern (Mrs. Vail), and Dr. Vail’s time serving in the Navy.