Interview: Shaw, Grace
Item
Identifier
Mss-0282, Tape 78
Title
Interview: Shaw, Grace
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
1990-07-24
Description
Grace Shaw was born in Oconee County, South Carolina, the daughter of Dalton and Florence Ann Young Williams. She was married to Lewis H. Shaw of Pickens, SC.
**Note** Daniel Shaw, Lewis H. Shaw's brother, provides information regarding his brother. By the time of this interview, Lewis H. Shaw had developed Alzheimer's disease.
Side 1
1:01--Mrs. Shaw recalls that her maternal grandparents were from the Seneca area.
1:35--Her parents rented their home; they were sharecroppers.
1:53--An older relative she can remember is her Aunt Louise Williams, who had five children.
2:23--Most of her immediate family is buried at Mount Nebo.
3:52--Some of her siblings moved north for employment opportunities; Detroit and Chicago were two such destinations.
4:54--Mrs. Shaw had several uncles that worked on the railroad. Her husband Lewis also was involved in rail work. Daniel Shaw states that his brother started working with the Southern Railroad in 1926, and retired when he was around 56 years old. Lewis Shaw was also involved in local ministry.
7:15--Mrs. Shaw herself farmed, and looked after her children at home.
7:40--The family shopped in Seneca, SC at white owned businesses, though much of the food that the family needed was produced at home.
9:05--Her father was talented at making white-oak baskets. Her mother made quilts.
10:07--Daniel Shaw begins to speak regarding hard times. He agrees that there were hard times, but points out that there seems to be no hope of advancement for poor people in modern times. In the old days, even people within the bounds of poverty had skills enough to attempt to make ends meet. He states that the community has lost its strong focus on education, parents these days don't seem to stress it as much. For example, Mr. Shaw states that by the time he was 5 he had already been taught to read and write by his father (this was even before he had entered school).
15:36--Mrs. Shaw's family is predominantly Baptist. Local ministers usually did other work such as farming and rail work.
17:09-18:19--Mrs. Shaw recalls local camp meetings and singing conventions.
21:00--Education--She went to the school set up by Bethel Grove. This was a "country school." The term lasted 6 weeks. She later attended schools in Seneca, in which the term lasted 9 months. Mrs. Shaw recalls a huge fight that once broke out at the Bethel Grove School. Her parents didn't get to attend much school. Mrs. Shaw had two sons that attended college. She names where her children are currently living and their occupations. She did learn about "black history" at school, but had to quit on account of farming.
30:27-31:07--Mrs. Shaw recalls social events such as dancing before detailing how she met her husband.
31:45--Audio ends.
Side 2
00:14--Her parents sometimes talked about the family's experiences with slavery, but she can no longer recall specific stories.
1:42--She had the general feeling that she was expected to act a certain way around whites.
3:55--Her family never went to Greenville, SC, but did go to Anderson occasionally to shop or see relatives.
4:35--Mrs. Shaw makes brief comment on celebrations such as Christmas.
5:21--"Hot Suppers" involved dancing and purchased meals.
6:34-8:37--Mrs. Shaw states that she was the third child in her family, lists happy childhood moments, and states that looking back; she would have liked to have been a teacher.
12:30--Audio ends.
**Note** Daniel Shaw, Lewis H. Shaw's brother, provides information regarding his brother. By the time of this interview, Lewis H. Shaw had developed Alzheimer's disease.
Side 1
1:01--Mrs. Shaw recalls that her maternal grandparents were from the Seneca area.
1:35--Her parents rented their home; they were sharecroppers.
1:53--An older relative she can remember is her Aunt Louise Williams, who had five children.
2:23--Most of her immediate family is buried at Mount Nebo.
3:52--Some of her siblings moved north for employment opportunities; Detroit and Chicago were two such destinations.
4:54--Mrs. Shaw had several uncles that worked on the railroad. Her husband Lewis also was involved in rail work. Daniel Shaw states that his brother started working with the Southern Railroad in 1926, and retired when he was around 56 years old. Lewis Shaw was also involved in local ministry.
7:15--Mrs. Shaw herself farmed, and looked after her children at home.
7:40--The family shopped in Seneca, SC at white owned businesses, though much of the food that the family needed was produced at home.
9:05--Her father was talented at making white-oak baskets. Her mother made quilts.
10:07--Daniel Shaw begins to speak regarding hard times. He agrees that there were hard times, but points out that there seems to be no hope of advancement for poor people in modern times. In the old days, even people within the bounds of poverty had skills enough to attempt to make ends meet. He states that the community has lost its strong focus on education, parents these days don't seem to stress it as much. For example, Mr. Shaw states that by the time he was 5 he had already been taught to read and write by his father (this was even before he had entered school).
15:36--Mrs. Shaw's family is predominantly Baptist. Local ministers usually did other work such as farming and rail work.
17:09-18:19--Mrs. Shaw recalls local camp meetings and singing conventions.
21:00--Education--She went to the school set up by Bethel Grove. This was a "country school." The term lasted 6 weeks. She later attended schools in Seneca, in which the term lasted 9 months. Mrs. Shaw recalls a huge fight that once broke out at the Bethel Grove School. Her parents didn't get to attend much school. Mrs. Shaw had two sons that attended college. She names where her children are currently living and their occupations. She did learn about "black history" at school, but had to quit on account of farming.
30:27-31:07--Mrs. Shaw recalls social events such as dancing before detailing how she met her husband.
31:45--Audio ends.
Side 2
00:14--Her parents sometimes talked about the family's experiences with slavery, but she can no longer recall specific stories.
1:42--She had the general feeling that she was expected to act a certain way around whites.
3:55--Her family never went to Greenville, SC, but did go to Anderson occasionally to shop or see relatives.
4:35--Mrs. Shaw makes brief comment on celebrations such as Christmas.
5:21--"Hot Suppers" involved dancing and purchased meals.
6:34-8:37--Mrs. Shaw states that she was the third child in her family, lists happy childhood moments, and states that looking back; she would have liked to have been a teacher.
12:30--Audio ends.
Subject
African Americans -- History. -- South Carolina -- Pickens County
Interviewer
Lawrence, Audrey
Interviewee
Shaw, Grace; Shaw, Lewis H.; Shaw, Daniel
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
