Interview: Spencer, Cato
Item
Identifier
Mss-0282, Tape 79
Title
Interview: Spencer, Cato
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
1990-08-24
Description
Cato Spencer was born circa 1899-1903 in the area near the Georgia/South Carolina border in Anderson County, SC. He was the son of "Ju" and Della Spencer. He was married to Katie Park Spencer. They had four children. Mr. Spencer worked for Clemson College for over 40 years in various aspects of agriculture. Mr. Spencer died circa 1997.
Side 1
00:07-11:40--Mr. Spencer talks briefly about several subjects; namely that of the possible origins of the Spencer surname, funerals he experienced as a child, families related to him by marriage, and his parent's occupations. His father was a farmer who for 18 years worked the land of a gentleman named Clay Doyle. His mother did domestic work.
11:46-21:10--Spencer begins recalling family members who worked with the local railroad. He had two older stepbrothers (Jim and Horace) who worked with the railroad laying track and crossties. Jobs that were commonly available to black men included work in blacksmith shops or agriculture. His family shopped at Hunter's Store in Pendleton, SC. There one could find just about anything from food and fresh produce, to clothes and shoes. Cash and credit were both utilized from time to time. In Mr. Spencer's case, his family never had to buy much accept staples because they grew most of their food products at home. Clothes were handmade, as were quilts and some furniture as well. Harrell reads a few names from a prepared Spencer family tree.
21:15-31:37--The flu epidemic struck his family during around the 1917-1918 period. Virtually the entire family became ill, though only his brother Pat died. Spencer goes on to discuss his family's church affiliation with Bethel Grove Methodist Church, along with a few recollections of camp meetings and singing conventions. The local black community named a slavery era church that preceded Bethel Grove "Brush Harbor."
31:40--Audio ends.
Side 2
00:19-10:24--Spencer continues to discuss aspects of singing conventions such as "note-singing." He mentions that blacks and whites occasionally did worship together, though gives no specifics. He recalls his educational experience. Spencer received very little education, on account that he had to work in the fields. He got to attend school, for example, "only when it rained." The school was a log cabin style building named Vance Grove. A teacher he can recall working at the school was Tim Grant. There were no books or magazines in his house as a youth, his parents belonged to no fraternal organizations, nor were they politically active. He cannot recall them ever voting. The main impressions of slavery times are that his ancestor's were worked extremely hard in the fields.
10:30-19:46--Spencer discusses experiences with sharecropping. His family would work "cane to cane" (daylight until dark). Wages were perhaps $0.25 per day. He can remember eating meals such as lunch or supper while still in the fields; they didn't have time often to go back home to eat. Blacks had to do whatever the white's said, and also had to show respect and be mannerly around them. Mulattos were often treated better; they were not expected to work as hard. Mr. Spencer traveled to Anderson, SC occasionally in order to purchase fertilizer.
19:50-26:55--Spencer makes brief comment on holidays such as Christmas, as well as celebrations such as cake walks and hot suppers. He most admired and liked his mother when he was younger.
27:01--Spencer recalls aspects of his employment with Clemson College. He worked with the college for over 40 years. Much of the farmland is now under Hartwell Lake.
29:12--Audio ends.
Side 1
00:07-11:40--Mr. Spencer talks briefly about several subjects; namely that of the possible origins of the Spencer surname, funerals he experienced as a child, families related to him by marriage, and his parent's occupations. His father was a farmer who for 18 years worked the land of a gentleman named Clay Doyle. His mother did domestic work.
11:46-21:10--Spencer begins recalling family members who worked with the local railroad. He had two older stepbrothers (Jim and Horace) who worked with the railroad laying track and crossties. Jobs that were commonly available to black men included work in blacksmith shops or agriculture. His family shopped at Hunter's Store in Pendleton, SC. There one could find just about anything from food and fresh produce, to clothes and shoes. Cash and credit were both utilized from time to time. In Mr. Spencer's case, his family never had to buy much accept staples because they grew most of their food products at home. Clothes were handmade, as were quilts and some furniture as well. Harrell reads a few names from a prepared Spencer family tree.
21:15-31:37--The flu epidemic struck his family during around the 1917-1918 period. Virtually the entire family became ill, though only his brother Pat died. Spencer goes on to discuss his family's church affiliation with Bethel Grove Methodist Church, along with a few recollections of camp meetings and singing conventions. The local black community named a slavery era church that preceded Bethel Grove "Brush Harbor."
31:40--Audio ends.
Side 2
00:19-10:24--Spencer continues to discuss aspects of singing conventions such as "note-singing." He mentions that blacks and whites occasionally did worship together, though gives no specifics. He recalls his educational experience. Spencer received very little education, on account that he had to work in the fields. He got to attend school, for example, "only when it rained." The school was a log cabin style building named Vance Grove. A teacher he can recall working at the school was Tim Grant. There were no books or magazines in his house as a youth, his parents belonged to no fraternal organizations, nor were they politically active. He cannot recall them ever voting. The main impressions of slavery times are that his ancestor's were worked extremely hard in the fields.
10:30-19:46--Spencer discusses experiences with sharecropping. His family would work "cane to cane" (daylight until dark). Wages were perhaps $0.25 per day. He can remember eating meals such as lunch or supper while still in the fields; they didn't have time often to go back home to eat. Blacks had to do whatever the white's said, and also had to show respect and be mannerly around them. Mulattos were often treated better; they were not expected to work as hard. Mr. Spencer traveled to Anderson, SC occasionally in order to purchase fertilizer.
19:50-26:55--Spencer makes brief comment on holidays such as Christmas, as well as celebrations such as cake walks and hot suppers. He most admired and liked his mother when he was younger.
27:01--Spencer recalls aspects of his employment with Clemson College. He worked with the college for over 40 years. Much of the farmland is now under Hartwell Lake.
29:12--Audio ends.
Subject
African Americans -- History. -- South Carolina -- Pickens County
Interviewer
Harrell, Yolanda
Interviewee
Spencer, Cato
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
