Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation

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Interview with Rose Alford - OH 319

Rose Alford and Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation

This collection contains an interview of Rose Alford (1952-), a social worker with the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) crippled children’s rehabilitative clinic in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Mrs. Alford gives a brief overview of her life, her association with the DHEC, and her work on the sickle cell project throughout the 1970s. Mrs. Alford also describes South Carolina’s private sickle cell groups, the creation of some groups by the community (outside of the DHEC), the goals of the DHEC’s sickle cell programs, and health screenings or tests for sickle cell disease. She also discusses the tension and cooperation between the DHEC and the private sickle cell groups as well as similarities and differences between the two.
Interview with Louvenia Barksdale - OH 325

Louvenia Delores Barksdale and Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation

This collection includes an interview of Louvenia D. Barksdale (1913-1990), who founded the Sickle Cell Foundation in 1974 (which was renamed the L.D. Barksdale Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation in her honor). In this interview, Ms. Barksdale discusses her early life, education, and experience as an African American educator in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Ms. Barksdale also discusses her initial interest in sickle cell disease, the formation of her organization, the South Carolina Genetic Grant, the functions of the L.D. Barksdale Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation (particularly testing, screening, transportation, and caring for the community), the difficulties of running the organization, donations from other organizations, the educational campaign about sickle cell disease, and the experience of sickle cell patients. She also describes the connection between her foundation and Dr. James R. Clark (a well-known sickle cell anemia expert from South Carolina).
Interview with Dr. Dee Campbell Breeden - OH 323

Dee Campbell Breeden and Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation

This collection includes an interview with Dr. Dee Campbell Breedon (1938-1998) concerning his work with the Department of Health and Environmental Control of South Carolina. Dr. Breedon discusses his early life, his education, the beginning of his career with the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), the creation of the sickle cell program of the DHEC, and Sickledex, which is a test for sickle cell disease. Dr. Breedon also describes the funding from the state, the formation of new community organizations to combat sickle cell disease, the relationships between the community groups and the DHEC, Dr. James Clark, and the politics surrounding sickle cell disease. Dr. Breedon also discusses the economic constraints surrounding healthcare in South Carolina, the concept of basic healthcare as a right, and the accomplishments of the DHEC and the community sickle cell groups.
Interview with Edward Bynum - OH 322

Edward Bynum and Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation

This collection includes an interview of Edward Bynum (1933-2012) concerning his work with the Dr. James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation. Bynum discusses his education, his service in the Korean War on a hospital ship, and his medical career in hematology afterwards. Bynum discusses Dr. James R. Clark, the foundation of Dr. Clark’s sickle cell foundation, hematology testing for multiple diseases, the need for educating the public about sickle cell anemia, funding from various (mostly Black) organizations, hemoglobinopathy, and his work within Dr. Clark’s sickle cell foundation. Bynum also describes his sickle cell research and work in other parts of the U.S., his creation of the Center for Disease Control in Columbia, SC, training for technicians who can test for sickle cell, and the politics surrounding sickle cell disease.
Interview with Rudy Canzater - OH 321

Rudy S. Canzater and Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation

This collection includes an interview of Rudy S. Canzater (1939-2019) regarding the Dr. James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Foundation. In her interview, Mrs. Canzater discusses her education, her personal connection to sickle cell anemia and Dr. Clark’s sickle cell Foundation, her work within the Foundation, the goals of the Foundation, support from Black organizations in the community, the scope of the Foundation’s community outreach, assistance from the Committee on Better Racial Assurance (COBRA), the role of South Carolina legislators in securing funding, Brenda Stone as the sickle cell coordinator for the Department of Health and Environmental (DHEC) sickle cell clinic, the DHEC’s waning commitment to sickle cell treatment, the political nature of the DHEC and sickle cell treatment, reasons for the success of Dr. Clark’s Foundation, and cooperation between different sickle cell organizations.
Interview with Joe Chambers - OH 330

Joe Chambers and Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation

This collection consists of an interview with Dr. Joe Chambers (1932-2019) concerning his work with the Health Department in South Carolina involving sickle cell disease. Dr. Chambers begins the interview by discussing his education, his time working in public health, his military service, his medical career, and his introduction to sickle cell disease in medical school. Dr. Chambers also discusses William Saunders and his work, the objectives of the Health Department concerning sickle cell disease, genetic counseling, testing and screening, the stigma surrounding sickle cell disease, community interest in sickle cell disease, the purpose of public health services, and issues surrounding public health budget cuts.
Interview with Albertha Cook

Albertha Cook

In her August 1984 interview with Michael Cooke, Albertha Cook discussed her time at the Committee on Better Racial Assurance (COBRA) and the organization’s association with DHEC. Cook covered the issues with the health system and physicians not understand what sickle cell anemia was and how to diagnose it, the lack of education in Black communities on genetic disorders, and the Black community’s aversion to admitting illness. She also discussed the issues with testing for sickle cell anemia, COBRA’s sickle cell anemia program’s goals, and DHEC’s involvement with sickle cell anemia education, prevention, and treatment. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
Interview with Charles Wesley Fruit, Jr.

Charles Wesley Fruit Jr.

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 Isaac Haigler - OH 317

Isaac Haigler and Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation

In his interview with Michael Cooke, Isaac Haigler discusses his work with the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Mr. Haigler discusses his educational and military background, his history with sickle cell anemia awareness, his work with the Foundation, the Foundation’s goals, educating the community about sickle cell anemia, the Foundation’s impact on the black community of Orangeburg County, the community’s response to the Foundation, the causes of the continued existence of the Foundation, the impact of the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DEHC) on the Foundation, and his dedication to the sickle cell anemia cause and the Black community. This interview was conducted as a part of the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of SC Project.
Interview with Shirley James

Shirley James

IN PROCESSING

This collection of interviews examines the origins and development of the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of South Carolina.
Interview with Edna Louise Jenkins

Edna Louise Jenkins

In her interview with Michael Cooke, Edna Louise Jenkins (1918-2009) discusses her involvement with the Wateree Council for Sickle Cell Anemia. Mrs. Jenkins details how the council was founded and its efforts in the Sumter, South Carolina area. Mrs. Jenkins discusses the efforts to educate and assist the local community about sickle cell anemia. She also describes the cooperation with the local DHEC Health Department in those efforts.
Interview with Dora Jones - OH 327

Dora Jones

In her June 1984 interview with Michael Cooke, Dora Jones detailed her work with DHEC’s sickle cell program. Jones discussed the misconceptions of sickle cell within South Carolina communities, the role of community groups, and what DHEC’s work with these groups. Jones also discussed the merging of DHEC’s sickle cell program with the Crippled Children’s division of DHEC and the controversies of that merge. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
Interview with Ruth Erline Mathis Martin

Ruth Erline Mathis Martin and Sickle Cell Anemia

In her June 1984 interview with Michael Cooke, Ruth Erline Mathis Martin (1934-2020) discussed her time as a DHEC employee in the sickle cell anemia program. She covered topics of DHEC’s involvement with community groups, sickle cell anemia community groups and their success and failures, and the James R. Clark Sickle Cell Foundation. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
Interview with Ellen Mosley

Ellen Mosley

In her June 1984 interview with Michael Cooke, Ellen Mosley detailed her experience working for the James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Foundation and the problems with informing communities of sickle cell anemia. Mosley discussed the problems had with DHEC, funding the foundation, and aiding the communities in the Midlands area. She also discussed possible exploitation of the Black community, stigmas that the Black community had towards sickle cell, and the many misconceptions about sickle cell of all races. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
Interview with James Earl Padgett, Jr.

James Earl Padgett Jr.

In his interview with Michael Cooke, Dr. James Earl Padgett, Jr. (1930-2016) discusses his work with the Department of Health and Environmental Control of South Carolina. Dr. Padgett describes the efforts to develop a program for sickle cell anemia. He details how the Health Department set up their program to screen and counsel people who might have the disease.
Interview with William Saunders - OH 200

William Saunders and Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation

This collection consists of an interview with William Saunders (1935- ), the executive director of Committee on Better Racial Assurance (COBRA). In this interview, Saunders discusses his early life, his experience in the Army, life on Johns Island, the Progressive Club, the Gullah language spoken on Johns Island, his introduction to sickle cell disease, media coverage, the origin of the COBRA organization in 1970, the hospital workers’ strike in Charleston in 1969, police brutality and excessive sentencing towards Black men, the sickle cell program within COBRA, unethical sickle cell testing on Johns Island, other contributors to the formation of the COBRA sickle cell program, the educational process surrounding sickle cell, the unique features of COBRA, and the objectives of the COBRA sickle cell program.
Interview with Brenda Stone

Brenda Stone

In her June 1984 interview with Michael Cooke, Brenda Stone discussed her work with DHEC and her relationship with the community organizations that dealt with sickle cell. Stone discussed topics of DHEC’s role in handling sickle cell patients, the community organizations, and sickle cell patient care. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
Interview with W. H. Winborne

W. H. Winborne

In his July 1984 interview with Michael Cooke, W. H. Winborne described his work with the Orangeburg Area Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, the Family Health Center, and the outreach programs related to the foundation. Winborne discussed DHEC’s involvement with sickle cell anemia prevention, the foundation’s role, and the community’s response to the program efforts. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.