Winthrop University Oral History Program

Follow

• 

  Interview with Tressa Waters - OH 475

  Tressa Waters

  OH 475

  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.

• 

  Interview with Tom Watson and I. A. Crawley - OH 075

  Tom Watson and I. A. Crawley

  OH 075

  IN PROCESSING

• 

  Interview with Hope Weatherly - OH 271

  Hope Weatherly

  OH 271

  In her May 22, 2013 interview with Martha Manning, Hope Weatherly detailed her thoughts and memories at Winthrop from 1970-1976. In particular, Weatherly discusses the evolution of her studies at Winthrop, starting as a music major then graduating with a degree in education. Weatherly recalls her opinions on University presidents, professors, and food. Weatherly concludes her interview by discussing her career as a social worker and the challenges she faced in her profession.

• 

  Interview with Ann Webb - OH 493

  Ann Webb

  OH 493

  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.

• 

  Interview with Thomas O. Webb - OH 786

  Thomas O. Webb and Dinkins Program Board

  OH 786

  This interview was conducted by Winthrop student, Debbie Mollycheck, for an article for the Johnsonian (student newspaper) that was published on April 26, 1976 titled, “Webb: “Activities Enhance Education.” 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 Thoms O. Webb, Jr. who was the Director of the Dinkins Student Center from 1975-2001. The subject of the interview is the Dinkins Program Board which started during the 1975/1976 academic year with 8 sub-committees and the interview starts with an interview of a student who was running for the 1976/1977 President of the Dinkins Program Board.

  The first 4:14 minutes of the recording are of an unknown student (possibly Debra J. Kimbrell, ’77, who served on the 1975/1976 ATS Committee and served as President of the Dinkins Program Board during the 1976/1977 academic year) who was serving on the ATS Committee or the Special Events Committee the year prior (1975/1976) and then ran for President of the Dinkins Program Board for the 1976/1977 academic year. The first interviewee discusses what the Dinkins Program Board is and the 8 committees that it comprises, their role in organization and what the role of the president is.

  The recording (00:04:14 – 00:36:01) then switches over to an interview with Dinkin Student Center Director, Tom Webb. Tom Webb discusses the differences between the Dinkins Program Board, the Dinkins Policy Board, and the Dinkins Student Center. He discusses the differences in makeup and the duties of the committees. Tom Webb also discusses the change in social atmosphere that has occurred at Winthrop with the admission of men as students. Webb also talks about the different types of Winthrop students, and the effect that their living situation has on their attendance of Winthrop events.

• 

  Interview with Roger Weikle - OH 634

  Roger Dale Weikle

  OH 634

  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 Dr. Roger Dale Weikle, who dedicated 42 years to Winthrop University, serving as a professor in the Department of Management and Marketing from 1975 until his retirement in 2017. He held the position of Dean of the College of Business Administration from 1996 to 2017. In this discussion, Dr. Weikle reflects on his experiences and insights while working with Winthrop President Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.

• 

  Interview with Frankie Welch - OH 183

  Frankie Welch

  OH 183

  Frankie Welch, born Mary Frances Barnett (1923- ), was a fashion designer and a former Distinguished Visiting Professor of Merchandising and Design in the School of Consumer Science at Winthrop College from 1982 through 1985. She became well-known for designing scarves for many prominent political figures from 1960s to 1990s, a dress design known as “The Frankie,” and a dress worn by First Lady Betty Ford in her official portrait. Subjects of the interview include Welch’s background, interest in designing, consulting business, relationships with family, friends, and Winthrop College and her views on the ERA.

• 

  Interview with James F. Wells - OH 682

  James F. Wells

  OH 682

  This interview was conducted by Dr. George Garrison with James Wells 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. Mr. James F. Wells (b. ca. 1942 - d. 2018) was a native of Rock Hill, SC and graduated from Emmett Scott High School in 1959 and attended Friendship Junior College. He was a member of a South Carolina civil rights group known as the Friendship Nine and spent a month in jail in 1961 after he and eight other black men were charged with trespassing at a whites-only lunch counter (McCrory’s) in Rock Hill. The men, who were attending nearby Friendship Junior College, chose to spend time in jail rather than pay a fine in what was called the "jail, no bail" movement. Their time on a chain gang in York County encouraged protesters to stay in jail to fight segregation, Jim Crow laws and other forms of racism. In the interview Mr. Wells discusses his experiences growing up in the area, attending the Emmett Scott High School and Friendship Junior College, his role in the Friendship Nine, and the Civil Rights movement in general.

• 

  Interview with Betty Wenig - OH 408

  Betty Wenig

  OH 408

  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.

• 

  Interview with Susan Winn Westbrook - OH 280

  Susan Winn Westbrook

  OH 280

  This interview was conducted with Rock Hill native Susan Winn Westbrook. Mrs. Westbrook is a 1987 Rock Hill High school graduate and initially came to Winthrop to become a teacher in 1987, but dropped out after her freshmen year. In 2006, she returned to Winthrop and graduated in 2011, majoring in early childhood education. She did not live on campus, but commuted to school and she discusses what being a commuter student is like. She discusses the friends she made on campus and her experience with her family while being a student, as well as the general experiences of a non-traditional student at Winthrop. She also discusses how Winthrop helped prepare her teaching career, specifically as a second grade teacher at Sunset Park Elementary School.

• 

  Interview with Susie Westbrook - OH 119

  Susie Ann Thomas Westbrook

  OH 119

  Mrs. Susie Ann Thomas Westbrook (1906-1994), a 1927 graduate of Winthrop College, talks about her student days at Winthrop, including the Winthrop Training School, teachers, uniforms, culture, entertainment and changes to the school.

• 

  Interview with Jane West - OH 274

  Martha Jane Cato West

  OH 274

  In her July 15, 2013 interview with Martha Manning, Jane Cato West (Class of 1968) details her time at Winthrop as a Biology major in the 1960s. Briefly, West discusses student life and Winthrop traditions, but she provides insight into her life student teaching at Florence High School. Additionally, West includes her experience in required courses like English and Math, as well as experiments conducted in her Biology courses. West concludes the interview with her overall perceptions of Winthrop.

• 

  Interview with David A. White - OH 635

  David Altman White

  OH 635

  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 David Altman White (1935-2024), who served on the Winthrop University Board of Trustees from 1990 to 2002, including a term as Chair beginning in 1998. Prior to his tenure on the Board, Mr. White was a member of the Winthrop Foundation Board from approximately 1985 to 1990. An attorney who began practicing in the area during the 1960s, he worked alongside longtime Board of Trustees member John T. Roddey. In this discussion, Mr. White shares his experiences and insights from working with President Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio, reflecting on his contributions to Winthrop's growth and development.

• 

  Interview with Gina Price White - OH 172

  Gina Price White

  OH 172

  In her March 2, 2015 interview with Amber Kelley, Gina Price White shares her opinions on Winthrop’s move from Columbia to Rock Hill. White explains how Winthrop ended up in Rock Hill and clears up misconceptions of Benjamin Tillman’s role in Winthrop’s move. Included is information on what records would be most useful for research on this topic. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.

• 

  Interview with Julia C. White - OH 508

  Julia C. White

  OH 508

  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.

• 

  Interview with Rev. Walter Banks White - OH 675

  Walter Banks White and Emmett Scott High School

  OH 675

  This interview was conducted by Dr. George Garrison with Reverend Walter White as part of the History of Emmett Scott High School project. Emmett Scott was the segregated African American high school named after Emmett Scott a former aid to Booker T. Washington and President Woodrow Wilson. Emmett Scott High School opened in 1920 and was closed in 1970 with the integration of the Rock Hill South Carolina School District. Reverend White attended Emmett Scott in the 1940s and graduated in the class of 1947. He discusses his childhood growing up in Rock Hill in the 1930s and ‘40s and his experience at Emmett Scott as a student. Reverend White also discusses his career in education and ministry and the influence Emmett Scott had in his life and the surrounding community. Reverend White Discusses at length impact of segregation on the education system both before and after integration. He details the struggles faced by minority students as well as the educators even after integration.

• 

  Interview with Phyllis Whitmire - OH 315

  Phyllis Whitmire

  OH 315

  IN PROCESSING

• 

  Interview with Marjorie Whitney - OH 446

  Marjorie Whitney

  OH 446

  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.

• 

  Interview with Eleanor Whittemore - OH 426

  Eleanor Whittemore

  OH 426

  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.

• 

  Interview with Bel Wiley - OH 027

  Bel Wiley

  OH 027

  IN PROCESSING

  She received a B.A. degree in 1921 from Winthrop College and was a suffragette and daughter of Columbia suffrage leader, Lottie Hammond. This interview includes information about her life, education at Winthrop, and involvement in the suffragist movement, including the Junior Suffragist Club.

• 

  Interview with William Calandro - OH 720

  William Calandro, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Winthrop University

  OH 720

  This interview was conducted by Kennedy Lawrence with William “Bill” Calandro as part of Project 2020: A Collaborative Oral History. Calandro discusses his experience amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other events that transpired during the critical year of 2020 including workplace hurdles, vaccination, social unrest, education, and the 2020 election cycle. He also notes the significance of the Black Lives Matter movement as well as sheds light on the slow return to normalcy, particularly in relation to professional life and his decision to pursue graduate studies in History.

  William Fredrick “Bill” Calandro (b. 1994), a native of Tampa, Florida, is a M.A. student and graduate assistant in the Department of History at Winthrop University. He currently resides in Columbia, SC.

  Spearheaded by Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, Assistant Professor of History and African American studies, the project 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.)."

• 

  Interview with Ernest D. Williams - OH 125

  Ernest D. Williams

  OH 125

  IN PROCESSING

  Subjects include background information, President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and running for political office.

• 

  Interview with Gary L. Williams - OH 549

  Gary L. Williams, Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company, Bleachery, and Alexander Keith Windham

  OH 549

  Gary Williams is a local businessman for Rock Hill, through his efforts he has redeveloped the Cotton Factory, and is currently as of 2017 working as a developer for University Center. In the interview he details the process by which he came to move his office to the old Rock Hill Cotton Factory Building and how he has helped in the redevelopment of the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company known as Knowledge Park along the Textile Corridor. He also talked at length about Rock Hill, SC’s development as well.

• 

  Interview with Jennie Williams - OH 496

  Jennie Williams

  OH 496

  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.

• 

  Interview with David Williamson, Jr. - OH 669

  David Williamson Jr., Emmett Scott High School, Friendship College, Friendship Nine, and Civil Rights

  OH 669

  This interview was conducted by Dr. George Garrison with David Williamson for his Emmett Scott History Project. David Williamson was a member of the Friendship Nine that participated in nonviolent protests in Rock Hill South Carolina. The Friendship Nine spent 30 days in jail in 1961 after being convicted of trespassing for sitting at an all-white lunch counter at McCrory’s. This sparked the “Jail, No Bail” strategy that developed as a part of the Civil Rights Movement and protests. Mr. Williamson grew up in Rock Hill and attended Emmett Scott High School and Friendship Junior College. Emmett Scott was the segregated high school for African Americans which was named for Emmett Scott a former aide to Booker T. Washington and President Woodrow Wilson. The school was opened in 1920 and closed in 1970 when full integration was implemented in the Rock Hill School district. Mr. Williamson discusses his childhood and growing up in the black community of Rock Hill. He details his education and experiences at Emmett Scott High School as well as the impact that school made on him and the black community in general. Mr. Isaiah Reid is also present in the interview and relates how the school impacted the local community.