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.
-
Interview with Hon. Ernest Adolphus Finney, Jr. - OH 365
Ernest Adolphus Finney Jr.
OH 365
Honorable Ernest Adolphus Finney, Jr. (1931-2017) represented the “Friendship Nine,” which was a group of Friendship College students attested during a sit-in protest at the McCrory’s lunch counter in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Hon. Finney later became the first African American appointed to the South Carolina Supreme Court since Reconstruction and served from 1985 through 2000 and served as Chief Justice of South Carolina from 1994-2000.
This interview was conducted for the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus. In this interview, Justice Finney describes his early life, education, and his law practice. He was a teacher in Conway during the 1950s due to racial discrimination making it hard for a black lawyer to get work. He describes how he and his family got involved with politics and worked with members of the Sumter county community to increase the amount of people registered to vote. He discusses the civil rights movement, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the state of the black community during this time. He talks about his experiences during the special sessions of 1973, during which South Carolina tried to reapportion its numbers in the House of Representatives. He discusses his involvement in the development of a black caucus for South Carolina and the impact it had on the state.
-
Interview with Leslye Fleniken - OH 013
Leslye Lightsey Fleniken
OH 013
This interview features Leslye Lightsey Fleniken (1920–2019), a native of Fairfax, South Carolina, who attended Winthrop College from 1936 to 1940, graduating in 1940. Following her graduation, Fleniken taught for 35 years in the public schools of Williston-Elko, Bamberg, and Lake City, South Carolina, before later serving as a guidance counselor. In this interview, she reflects on her experiences as a student at Winthrop, discussing dormitory life, academics, the infirmary, student organizations, campus activities, dining services, college regulations, and long-standing traditions. The interview provides a vivid snapshot of the Winthrop College student experience during the late 1930s.
-
Interview with Dalton B. Floyd, Jr. - OH 597
Dalton Buford Floyd Jr.
OH 597
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 Dalton B. Floyd, Jr. who was a longtime member of the Winthrop Board of Trustees. He served on the board for many years and was also Chairman of the Winthrop Board of Trustees for a number of years. He also served on the Commission on Higher Education and as Chairman of the Commission before he served on Winthrop’s Board. In this interview he discusses his involvement with Winthrop with a focus on his relationship working with Winthrop President, Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.
-
Interview with Cheryl Fortner - OH 598
Cheryl Ann Fortner
OH 598
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 Dr. Cheryl Ann Fortner. Dr. Fortner came to Winthrop in 1998 and is a Professor of Psychology. Fortner received Winthrop's Kinard Award for Excellence in Teaching (2017). College of Arts and Sciences' Outstanding Advising Award (2005), and multiple awards for service. Her campus service includes serving as the Chair of Faculty Conference (2007-09), Chair of the College Faculty Assembly (2003-04), and Chair of the Psychology Department's Curriculum and Assessment Committee. However, she is most proud of her involvement in Winthrop's numerous successful bids for U.S. Department of Education TRiO Achievers Program and Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate grants which provide life-changing opportunities for disadvantaged students. In addition to her role in Psychology, Dr. Fortner is the Director of the Winthrop McNair Scholars Program which is housed in University College. In this interview she discusses her involvement with Winthrop with an emphasis on her working relationship with Winthrop President, Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.
-
Interview with Evie Foster - OH 384
Evie Foster
OH 384
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 Samuel Foster, Sr. - OH 142
Samuel Rufus Foster Sr.
OH 142
This interview is with Samuel Rufus Foster, Sr. (b. 1938). In this interview, Mr. Foster discusses his background including his upbringing and his education. He also discusses his motivation to get into working with kids at the elementary school level. He discusses the difficulties with school integrations and the current station blacks have in society. Mr. Foster also discusses his opinions on how the integration of schools should have occurred. More specifically, he discusses his belief that integration should not have started at the top (High School Level) where students had already “established their customs, their concerns, and their prejudices and expect them to get in there immediately begin to understand and like each other.” Mr. Foster felt that starting at the kindergarten and/or first grade level and then integrating one year at a time would have been more successful and seamless.
Mr. Foster was a Chester, SC native but has lived in Rock Hill, since 1958. He worked in public education before serving in the South Carolina General Assembly from 1980-1992. He also served on the South Carolina Employment Commission. Mr. Foster served as principal of Fairfield and Sunset Park Elementary before being appointed principal of the segregated Emmett Scott High School in 1968 where he oversaw the closing of Emmett Scott as Rock Hill Schools became fully integrated. He then became the first principal of Northwestern High School in 1971. For all his work as a “Local Hero”, Mr. Foster was recognized by the Rock Hill Freedom Walkway as an inductee in 2021.
-
Interview with Samuel Foster, Sr. - OH 599
Samuel Rufus Foster Sr.
OH 599
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 Samuel Rufus Foster, Sr. (b. 1938) who was a member of the Winthrop Board of Trustees. Mr. Foster was a Chester, SC native but has lived in Rock Hill, since 1958. He worked in public education before serving in the South Carolina General Assembly from 1980-1992. He also served on the South Carolina Employment Commission. Mr. Foster served as principal of Fairfield and Sunset Park Elementary before being appointed principal of the segregated Emmett Scott High School in 1968 where he oversaw the closing of Emmett Scott as Rock Hill Schools became fully integrated. He then became the first principal of Northwestern High School in 1971. For all his work as a “Local Hero”, Mr. Foster was recognized by the Rock Hill Freedom Walkway as an inductee in 2021. In this interview, Mr. Foster focuses on his involvement with the Winthrop Board of Trustees and his working relationship with Winthrop President, Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.
-
Interview with Jim Fouratt - OH 234
Jim Fouratt
OH 234
In his February 28, 1993 interview with Ron Chepesiuk, Jim Fouratt discussed his involvement with the Gay Liberation Front and the anti-war movement. Fourrat is an actor and has been since before he was a gay rights activist. Fourrat explained his role as a leader in the Gay Liberation Front, a non-violent activist group. He also covered the topics of “outing”, hippies, the New Left, the Black Panther Party, J. Edgar Hoover, Stonewall, homophobia, blacklisting in Hollywood, self-empowerment, the AIDS epidemic, and non-violence versus violence. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
-
Interview with Mary Fouts - OH 050
Mary Fouts
OH 050
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 Judy Fowler - OH 310
Judith Earle Buddin Fowler
OH 310
This interview was conducted with 1962 Winthrop graduate, Judith “Judy” Earle Buddin Fowler. In this interview, Judy discusses her childhood, how she ended up at Winthrop, and her experiences while attending Winthrop. She discusses her experiences through anecdotes, stories, and recollections of her time at Winthrop, including Winthrop sponsored shows, lectures, and performances, as well as extracurricular activities the students did during their free time. Judy also discusses how she initially decided not to go to Winthrop after a visitation during her junior year of high school, however her friend had decided to attend so she went as well. Judy who hailed from Simpsonville, South Carolina describes her long distance relationship with her family and her campus life experience. She also describes her classes, specifically the ones she enjoyed and did not like, including her first English class which was a real struggle for her as a business major.
-
Interview with Richard B. Fowler - OH 600
Richard Bradley Fowler Jr.
OH 600
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 Richard Bradley “Rich” Fowler, Jr., a 2006 graduate of Winthrop University. During his time at Winthrop from 2002 to 2006, Fowler served as Chair of the Council of Student Leaders, acting as the student representative to the Board of Trustees during the 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 academic years. He was honored with a "Resolution for Meritorious Service" by Winthrop University in 2005 (winthrop.edu) .He was also President of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. In this discussion, Fowler reflects on his experiences as a student leader and his interactions with President Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio, providing insights into the university's growth and development during that period.
-
Interview with Gladys Fox - OH 505
Gladys Fox
OH 505
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 John Hope Franklin - OH 194
John Hope Franklin
OH 194
This interview was conducted with Dr. John Hope Franklin (1915-2009) on April 12, 1985 by Ron Chepesiuk. Dr. Franklin is a renowned historian and author of the black experience drawing from both his own background and his research into history. He has published over twenty books both as a single author and in collaboration. Dr. Franklin discusses his family history, growing in an all-black community and childhood education. He also details his experiences with racial discrimination during and after his education. Dr. Franklin discusses his work in the Civil Rights Movement alongside Thurgood Marshall and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also details his opinion of the status of the African American community under the Reagan administration. He also discusses his hobby of orchid growing and having an orchid named in his honor.
-
Interview with Carolyn Frederick - OH 059
Carolyn Essig Frederick
OH 059
IN PROCESSING
Civic leader and member of the South Carolina State Legislature for Greenville County (1967-1976), Frederick discusses her college days at Agnes Scott College, her career in advertising, her marriage, the role of the ERA movement in South Carolina and home life.
-
Interview with Grace B. Freeman - OH 161
Grace Beacham Freeman
OH 161
Grace Beacham Freeman (1916-2002) was a writer, poet, and educator and was the fourth South Carolina Poet Laureate (1985 to 1986). She was married to Winthrop Biology Professor John Alderman Freeman. In this interview, Mrs. Freeman discusses her early interest in poetry, her first published poem, her experience as an undergraduate student at Converse College with her friend Poppy Birch, awards she won at Converse, Archibald Rutledge as her mentor, her most popular poem, her hiatus from writing and publishing poetry, writing feature articles for the New Orleans Times, her work on a radio show, raising a family, her experience in the James Dickey poetry workshop at the University of South Carolina, her experience with teaching children to write poetry, poetry as therapy, writing for the “At Our House” Syndicated Newspaper Column by Kings Feature Incorporated from 1954 to 1964, her children’s experience with her poetry, her poetry book Children Are Poetry and her other published poetry books, her experience with publishing, her experience with coming to terms with the concept of death, and positive reviews of her poetry books. Mrs. Freeman concludes her interview by discussing her identity and style as a contemporary poet.
-
Interview with John Freeman - OH 174
John A. Freeman
OH 174
IN PROCESSING
This interview was conducted to gather information on Dr. Freeman and his book Survival Gardening for an article to be published. Dr. Freeman discusses the ideas, philosophy and research for his book on small plot gardening for optimum nutritional value.
-
Interview with John Ralph Friday - OH 114
John Ralph Friday
OH 114
This interview was conducted with John Ralph Friday (1926-1994). Mr. Friday was a Judge based in North Carolina and in this interview he discusses his collegiate, military, and early law career of Judge Friday and his views about parole, capital punishment, prisoner rights and other judicial and penal topics.
-
Interview with Eddie Friel, Kathleen Neill, Donna Hotaling - OH 082
Eddie Friel, Kathleen Neill, and Donna Hotaling
OH 082
IN PROCESSING
Subjects include genealogical research facilities in Ireland, problems in genealogical research and how to use certain types of public records.
-
Interview with Nellie Frost - OH 389
Nellie Frost
OH 389
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 Charles Wesley Fruit, Jr. - OH 057
Charles Wesley Fruit Jr.
OH 057
In his interview with Michael Cooke, Charles W. Fruit, Jr. (1925-1985) discusses his work with the United Way and their involvement in the sickle cell anemia program in South Carolina. Mr. Fruit details United Way’s efforts to establish the program in Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Fruit also details their involvement in furthering the research and development in the sickle cell programs as well as in aiding the cooperation of the different agencies involved in program.
*Charles Wesley Fruit, Jr. states in the interview that he was born in 1925, however other records indicate that his birthday was February 23, 1926.
-
Interview with James Thomas Funderburk - OH 137
James Thomas Funderburk
OH 137
This interview was conducted with Chester Mayor James Thomas Funderburk (1922-1983) concerning 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. Mayor Funderburk (Mayor of Chester, SC 1975-1983) 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.
-
Interview with Christine Gaffin - OH 443
Christine Gaffin
OH 443
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 Lee C. Gardner, Jr. - OH 601
Lee C. Gardner Jr.
OH 601
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 Lee C. Gardner, Jr. Lee is the CEO of Family Trust Credit Union. He moved to Rock Hill, SC in 1979 and beginning in the mid-1990s began a working relationship President DiGiorgio in an attempt discuss the future of the Textile Corridor in Rock Hill and how best for it to develop so that it could benefit Winthrop and the community. Lee later served on the Advisory Board that oversaw the Textile Corridor development. He also served on Winthrop’s Foundation Board and Real Estate Foundation, while he also met frequently with the Winthrop Business Department as well. In this interview he discusses his involvement with the Textile Corridor development, his roles with Winthrop and his experiences and impressions working with Winthrop President, Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.
