Interview: Walker, Minnie
Item
Identifier
Mss-0282, Tape 91
Title
Interview: Walker, Minnie
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
1990-01-03
Description
Minnie Walker was born in Anderson County, SC. No other biographical information is provided, other than the names of her grandparents: Simon and Rosa Williams.
Side 1
1:35-5:20--Her family did not own their own home. The family is buried at Mt. Pleasant Methodist in Anderson County. Her parents and grandparents were sharecroppers. In 1925, her brother moved to Greensboro, NC in order to find better employment opportunities.
5:25-12:47--Mrs. Walker's family shopped at white owned stores in Seneca, SC. They utilized both the cash and credit systems. Clothing for the family was both homemade and store-bought. Most food was grown at home; they had their own livestock and garden. Sugar and spices, however, were store-bought. Furniture in the house was either second-hand or handmade by her grandfather. White oak baskets that were handmade are still in possession of the family. Some family talents included preaching (uncle J.L. Williams) and blacksmithing (maternal grandfather). She can recall the flu epidemic; many fell ill and neighbors helped each other.
12:50-16:59--Church--there are several denominations represented within Mrs. Walker's family: Methodist, Holiness, and Baptist. Reverend Smith is the first minister she can recall; he attended seminary in Atlanta, GA. She goes on to describe activities during camp meetings and church conferences.
17:10-22:10--Education--Mrs. Walker first attended Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in Townville, SC. Teachers she can recall are: Logan, Pratt, and Richardson. In those days, the school term lasted only around three months. She later attended and graduated from Seneca Junior College. After graduation, Mrs. Walker became a teacher. Black history was not taught in her school. One of the main differences between black and white schools was a considerably shorter school term for blacks.
22:18-30:52--When Mrs. Walker was growing up, it was understood that blacks had to be differential and show respect towards whites in social situations. A lynching that she can remember older people talking about involved two Gibson brothers from Oconee County. She mentions that blacks were treated badly by the law when she was younger. Her family went to Anderson, SC twice a year by wagon in order to purchase materials for clothes. Picnics, fish-fry's, ballgames, and box suppers were popular social events in the black community. Mrs. Walker greatly admired her Sunday school teacher, Reverend Marcus.
31:07--Audio ends.
Side 2
Blank
Side 1
1:35-5:20--Her family did not own their own home. The family is buried at Mt. Pleasant Methodist in Anderson County. Her parents and grandparents were sharecroppers. In 1925, her brother moved to Greensboro, NC in order to find better employment opportunities.
5:25-12:47--Mrs. Walker's family shopped at white owned stores in Seneca, SC. They utilized both the cash and credit systems. Clothing for the family was both homemade and store-bought. Most food was grown at home; they had their own livestock and garden. Sugar and spices, however, were store-bought. Furniture in the house was either second-hand or handmade by her grandfather. White oak baskets that were handmade are still in possession of the family. Some family talents included preaching (uncle J.L. Williams) and blacksmithing (maternal grandfather). She can recall the flu epidemic; many fell ill and neighbors helped each other.
12:50-16:59--Church--there are several denominations represented within Mrs. Walker's family: Methodist, Holiness, and Baptist. Reverend Smith is the first minister she can recall; he attended seminary in Atlanta, GA. She goes on to describe activities during camp meetings and church conferences.
17:10-22:10--Education--Mrs. Walker first attended Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in Townville, SC. Teachers she can recall are: Logan, Pratt, and Richardson. In those days, the school term lasted only around three months. She later attended and graduated from Seneca Junior College. After graduation, Mrs. Walker became a teacher. Black history was not taught in her school. One of the main differences between black and white schools was a considerably shorter school term for blacks.
22:18-30:52--When Mrs. Walker was growing up, it was understood that blacks had to be differential and show respect towards whites in social situations. A lynching that she can remember older people talking about involved two Gibson brothers from Oconee County. She mentions that blacks were treated badly by the law when she was younger. Her family went to Anderson, SC twice a year by wagon in order to purchase materials for clothes. Picnics, fish-fry's, ballgames, and box suppers were popular social events in the black community. Mrs. Walker greatly admired her Sunday school teacher, Reverend Marcus.
31:07--Audio ends.
Side 2
Blank
Subject
African Americans -- History. -- South Carolina -- Pickens County
Interviewer
Aiken, Cassandra
Interviewee
Walker, Minnie
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
