Interview: Ross, Mattie
Item
Identifier
Mss-0282, Tape 74
Title
Interview: Ross, Mattie
Type
Sound
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Source
Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina Collection
Rights
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives.
Date
1989-04-17 or 1990-04-17
Description
Mattie Ross was born on January 26, 1917 in an area near Clemson, SC known as the "Quarters" near the Woodburn Plantation.
Side 1
00:51--Mrs. Ross states that her mother was originally from Pendleton, SC. Her father was from Toccoa, GA. She can remember that her maternal grandmother died in 1938, and one of her grandfathers died around 1920.
2:33--Her father owned a home on Jackson Street in Pendleton. The street is named after him.
3:08--Slavery--there were not many details passed down to her. Her grandparents were born before freedom was granted, however, and her grandfather's siblings took different surnames. Some were Washington's, while others chose the name Burke (Burch?).
4:21--Most of her immediate family members are buried at King's Chapel Church.
5:20--Ross states that in 1970, many of the family's possessions were destroyed in a house fire.
5:56--Her father worked with the Blue Ridge Railroad. He started working with the company when he was 16 years old. He retired in the 1950's. Her grandfather did farming work, while her grandmother did domestic work for the Harris and Sloan families locally.
7:16--Many young blacks went north for employment. Some of the destinations of her family members included Cleveland, Detroit, New York, and Philadelphia. She herself moved to New York to find work.
8:54--When she was young, most black men farmed, while black women did domestic work.
10:21-13:02--Mrs. Ross touches upon aspects of shopping at Hunter's store in Pendleton, the family garden, homemade clothing, quilting parties, and the fact that an antique victrolla survived the fire in 1970.
13:08--Her Uncle Ben was a very talented guitar player.
15:50--Ross mentions that she recalls the flu epidemic of 1917-1918 and that her father was drafted during World War II, but didn't have to serve because he had too many children to take care of back home.
17:05--Church--She has been a member of King's Chapel Church locally. Reverend Brown was an early minister that she recalled preaching there. He was also a teacher at the Anderson County Training School. Another local church was Silver Springs Methodist. She goes on to discuss camp meetings, revivals, youth groups, missionary societies, and church booster clubs.
23:12--Education--she attended Anderson County Training School. She had to walk to and from the location every day. Some of her teachers were: Principal Coreena Clark, Mamie Crawford, Rebecca Reese, and Cora Grove. There were 11 grades offered at this school.
27:20--After graduation, Mrs. Ross moved to New York in order to find work. She is very proud of her children; she lists some of their accomplishments.
30:41--The family had reading material at the house such as the Bible, newspapers from Anderson, SC, and magazines such as The Grit.
31:24--Mrs. Ross did learn black history while in school; she remembers reading many books by black authors.
31:36--Audio ends.
Side 2
00:21--Differences between black and white schools are discussed. There was a serious gap in facilities. White children played basketball inside their gymnasiums, while blacks had to platy outside. In her opinion, many of the black schoolhouses themselves were "firetraps." She states that her father sold some of the land on which Riverside High School was built.
5:52--White/black relationships--Ross gives the impression that she always stood her ground on issues, and didn't take her parent's advice to "keep her mouth shut." There was not much racial strife in the area in which she grew up. She states that it really was a "unique place."
11:05--Marriage relationships were equal in her family.
11:55--She details the mixed racial makeup of her family. Her father had half-brothers that were mixed. His mother had several children with a prominent man form Pendleton. A couple of his half-siblings were close (Sally and Jules), while the others didn't keep in as much contact.
16:22--20:14--Mrs. Ross makes comment on the condition of roads when she was younger, details holidays and celebrations, and recalls travel by train to destinations like Cincinnati and Cleveland, OH.
21:55--Biographical information is given regarding some of her relatives. Her grandfather was Jack Washington. Her grandmother Aida had a brother nicknamed "Goob." He had two daughters: Mattie and Aida.
23:57--Mrs. Ross was born in the "Quarters" on Woodburn Plantation.
31:40--Audio ends.
Side 1
00:51--Mrs. Ross states that her mother was originally from Pendleton, SC. Her father was from Toccoa, GA. She can remember that her maternal grandmother died in 1938, and one of her grandfathers died around 1920.
2:33--Her father owned a home on Jackson Street in Pendleton. The street is named after him.
3:08--Slavery--there were not many details passed down to her. Her grandparents were born before freedom was granted, however, and her grandfather's siblings took different surnames. Some were Washington's, while others chose the name Burke (Burch?).
4:21--Most of her immediate family members are buried at King's Chapel Church.
5:20--Ross states that in 1970, many of the family's possessions were destroyed in a house fire.
5:56--Her father worked with the Blue Ridge Railroad. He started working with the company when he was 16 years old. He retired in the 1950's. Her grandfather did farming work, while her grandmother did domestic work for the Harris and Sloan families locally.
7:16--Many young blacks went north for employment. Some of the destinations of her family members included Cleveland, Detroit, New York, and Philadelphia. She herself moved to New York to find work.
8:54--When she was young, most black men farmed, while black women did domestic work.
10:21-13:02--Mrs. Ross touches upon aspects of shopping at Hunter's store in Pendleton, the family garden, homemade clothing, quilting parties, and the fact that an antique victrolla survived the fire in 1970.
13:08--Her Uncle Ben was a very talented guitar player.
15:50--Ross mentions that she recalls the flu epidemic of 1917-1918 and that her father was drafted during World War II, but didn't have to serve because he had too many children to take care of back home.
17:05--Church--She has been a member of King's Chapel Church locally. Reverend Brown was an early minister that she recalled preaching there. He was also a teacher at the Anderson County Training School. Another local church was Silver Springs Methodist. She goes on to discuss camp meetings, revivals, youth groups, missionary societies, and church booster clubs.
23:12--Education--she attended Anderson County Training School. She had to walk to and from the location every day. Some of her teachers were: Principal Coreena Clark, Mamie Crawford, Rebecca Reese, and Cora Grove. There were 11 grades offered at this school.
27:20--After graduation, Mrs. Ross moved to New York in order to find work. She is very proud of her children; she lists some of their accomplishments.
30:41--The family had reading material at the house such as the Bible, newspapers from Anderson, SC, and magazines such as The Grit.
31:24--Mrs. Ross did learn black history while in school; she remembers reading many books by black authors.
31:36--Audio ends.
Side 2
00:21--Differences between black and white schools are discussed. There was a serious gap in facilities. White children played basketball inside their gymnasiums, while blacks had to platy outside. In her opinion, many of the black schoolhouses themselves were "firetraps." She states that her father sold some of the land on which Riverside High School was built.
5:52--White/black relationships--Ross gives the impression that she always stood her ground on issues, and didn't take her parent's advice to "keep her mouth shut." There was not much racial strife in the area in which she grew up. She states that it really was a "unique place."
11:05--Marriage relationships were equal in her family.
11:55--She details the mixed racial makeup of her family. Her father had half-brothers that were mixed. His mother had several children with a prominent man form Pendleton. A couple of his half-siblings were close (Sally and Jules), while the others didn't keep in as much contact.
16:22--20:14--Mrs. Ross makes comment on the condition of roads when she was younger, details holidays and celebrations, and recalls travel by train to destinations like Cincinnati and Cleveland, OH.
21:55--Biographical information is given regarding some of her relatives. Her grandfather was Jack Washington. Her grandmother Aida had a brother nicknamed "Goob." He had two daughters: Mattie and Aida.
23:57--Mrs. Ross was born in the "Quarters" on Woodburn Plantation.
31:40--Audio ends.
Subject
African Americans -- History. -- South Carolina -- Pickens County
Interviewer
Lawrence, Audrey
Interviewee
Ross, Mattie
Spatial Coverage
Clemson, Pickens County, South Carolina, United States, 34.68403, -82.81232, SC, 7169764, [34.68403, -82.81232] [id:7169764]
Publisher
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository
