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 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 Tolley
OH 518
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 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
IN PROCESSING
Artist and resident of Aiken, South Carolina, Tropp discusses her floral painting and life as a Jew in South Carolina.
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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 mother and professional amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She specifically details the challenges presented to her as the parent of an eighth-grader and fourth-grader during the critical year 2020—all while trying to manage her work responsibilities. Notable topics of conversation include motherhood, parenting, family dynamics, mental health, education, health protocols (masking, etc.), and the evolution of everyday life.
Tysheeka T. Purvis (b. 1983), a native of Bennettsville, SC, is a Child Support Case Coordinator in Mecklenburg County, NC. She earned her B.S. degree in Finance and Economics from Grand Canyon University and completed her M.S. degree in Human and Social Sciences from Walden University.
Spearheaded by Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, an Assistant Professor of History and 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 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.
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Interview with Brenda Van Meter - OH 514
Brenda Van Meter
OH 514
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 Regina Varnadore - OH 277
Regina Varnadore
OH 277
In her June 26, 2013 interview with Martha Manning, Regina Varnadore details her time at Winthrop from 1986-1989 as an Elementary Education major. In particular, Varnadore describes the process of earning a degree in Elementary Education. Varnadore discusses her experience student teaching and her career as a teacher. Varnadore mentions her opinions on education in Rock Hill and employees in the school district. Provided is information on Varandore’s family, the story of Varnadore earning her Master’s degree, and her future in the teaching profession. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
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Interview with Cynthia Venables - OH 278
Cynthia Venables
OH 278
In her July 3, 2013 interview with Martha Manning, Cynthia Burris Venables shares her experiences at Winthrop from 1985-1989, as well as her career teaching English. Discussed is Venables coursework as an English major and the rigor of her studies. Additionally, Venables talks about Latin and Biology courses and who her favorite professors were. Venables details what it is like teaching in the 21st Century, her opinions on technology and teaching, and her accomplishments as an educator.
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Interview with David E. Vipperman and Elizabeth King Vipperman - OH 633
David E. Vipperman and Elizabeth King Vipperman
OH 633
This interview is part of the Winthrop History Project, an initiative led by Winthrop President Emeritus Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio and Rebecca Masters to document the university’s transformation during Dr. DiGiorgio’s 24-year tenure. Designed to supplement Dr. Ross Webb’s The Torch is Passed, which chronicles Winthrop’s history up to Dr. DiGiorgio’s presidency, this project preserves firsthand accounts of the institution’s evolution through recorded interviews with key members of the Winthrop community.
This interview features David E. Vipperman and Elizabeth King “Kloo” Vipperman. David Vipperman served as a member of the Winthrop Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2011 and was appointed to the South Carolina Educational Television Commission in 2012 by Governor Nikki Haley. Kloo Vipperman, a Winthrop alumna, served on the Winthrop Alumni Association Board and comes from a family with deep ties to the university. In this conversation, they share their experiences and insights on working with President Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio and reflect on their connections to Winthrop.
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Come-See-Me Festival Interview - OH 048
David Vipperman, Phil Pierce, Dennis Parlow, Bob Hope, Charlie McConnell, Vernon Grant, C. H. Albright, Emmett Jerome, and Come-See-Me Festival
OH 048
In this April 21, 1978 interview, the origins and history of the Come-See-Me Festival are discussed. Included is an overview of the events for the 1978 event. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program
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Interview with Mary Kell Wade - OH 122
Mary Kell Wade
OH 122
IN PROCESSING
Mrs. Wade was the granddaughter of John R. Schorb. Mrs. Wade identifies photographs from the John R. Schorb Collection to be used in an article for Sandlapper magazine by Ron Chepesiuk. She also discusses her genealogical research on the Schorb family.
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Interview with Gloria Walker - OH 691
Gloria Walker, Emmett Scott High School, and Civil Rights
OH 691
This interview was conducted by Dr. George Garrison with Gloria Walker with a focus 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 was closed in 1970 when full integration was implemented in Rock Hill, SC schools. Gloria Walker is a 1969 graduate of Rock Hill High School discusses attending Rock Hill Schools during integration and the civil rights movement at large.
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Interview with Hattie Walker - OH 66
Hattie Walker
OH 066
This interview with Ms. Hattie Walker discusses the lives of African Americans in Chester, South Carolina around the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ms. Walker talks about what she remembers being told about slavery and what she remembers from her childhood about share cropping, going to school and church, shopping, railroads, lynching and the KKK, not being able to vote, segregation, presidents, and African American leaders. She also talks about what changes she would like to see made in the south that would further benefit the lives of African Americans.
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Interview with Alice Wand - OH 478
Alice Wand
OH 478
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 McKinley Washington - OH 357
McKinley Washington
OH 357
Rev. McKinley Washington (1936-2022) was a lawmaker having served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1975 through 1990 and in the South Carolina Senate from 1990 through 2000. He also served as pastor of the Edisto Presbyterian Church for 50 years. In this interview. Rev. Washington discusses his up bringing and his career, while focusing on his role as chairman of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.