Interview: White, Eldora
Item
Identifier
Mss-0282, Tape 99-100
Title
Interview: White, Eldora
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
1990-03-20, 1990-03-27
Description
Eldora White was born on July 26, 1908 in Nashville, Tennessee. She was the daughter of James A. and Rebecca Milliner Reese. After living in New York for a number of years, Mrs. White returned to the area and became involved with activities at the Pendleton Community Center. Mrs. White died on December 19, 2000.
Cassette 1
Side 1
1:09--Her maternal grandparents were Abraham and Carolyn Milliner (she died in 1908). Abraham married twice after her death: Daisy Walker and Florence Thompson.
3:23--White recalls aunts on the Reese side who lived in the Clemson area: Carrie, Maggie, and Lula.
5:31--Mrs. White's family was from the Seneca, Clemson, and Pendleton areas.
8:33--Her family is buried at King's Chapel AME Church.
12:14--White's father was a blacksmith; her mother was a teacher at the Central, Oak Grove, and Rosenwald Schools (she attended SC State). Her grandfather did farming related work.
15:12--Mrs. White lived in New York from 1928-1964; after which she returned to SC in order to take care of family and help run a café.
17:11--She had an uncle named Eddie Milliner who worked on the railroad; he was killed in some type of accident [White does not elaborate].
18:20-31:40--White makes short comment on a variety of topics: common employment opportunities for black men and women such as grocery store delivery, blacksmith-related work, railroad, teaching, and jobs at Clemson College. She goes on to discuss shopping at Hunter's Store, buying and making clothing, raising vegetables and livestock, aspects of furniture that was passed down through the generations, and her uncle Eddie who was sent overseas to fight in World War I.
31:44--Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
00:33--White speaks at length regarding local church life. Her family went to King's Chapel AME Church, though her father was originally a Baptist before he married. King's Chapel had a parsonage for their minister. Many of their ministers attended Allen University. Aspects of local camp meetings and singing conventions are discussed. Mrs. White herself sang in the choir; she can recall that Pauline Thompson taught music. The work of church groups such as the Women's Missionary Society, Men's Club, and Youth Group are recalled.
12:56--Education--she first attended school at King's Chapel AME in a two-room building. The building had a big wood-burning stove; the children sat on benches. School hours ran from 8am-3pm, with an hour for lunch and recess. Rena Clark is a teacher that she can recall being an educator there. White later attended high school at the Hampton Institute in Virginia. She later went to New York and was employed by the Naval Yard for a time before doing domestic work. She believes her mother was the first of the family to attend college. Books and newspapers were always available in her home.
28:21--Her father and mother were members of the Freemasons and Eastern Star, respectively.
31:44--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:40--Mrs. White's father was born in 1859 near Clemson, SC. Her mother was born in 1878 in Pendleton, SC.
4:14--White states that she married a native New Yorker around 1940. She states that his name was John White [the 12/22/2000 Greenville News Obituary states that her husband's name was David White].
8:19--She was never warned about how to act around white people. Life was segregated; she had little contact with whites growing up.
9:35--Her mother seemed to be the head of the family in many ways; she thinks this may be due to her education.
10:53--Romantic/sexual relations between whites and blacks occurred, but were not openly discussed. She knew of no one locally who "passed for white."
12:10--She never had reason to travel to either Greenville or Anderson as a youth.
16:42--Christmas holidays were very special; the family would visit relatives, swap gifts, and eat large meals of turkey, vegetables, and sweets. Santa Claus would visit on Christmas Eve.
19:30--"Hot Suppers" were often held in local homes as a sort of fundraising event. Yard parties were similar, and auctions were also occasionally held locally (Mr. Ben Keese would auction items he purchased in Philadelphia).
28:26--Her father loved baseball. She speaks briefly regarding local teams, prominent players, and the locations of local playing fields.
31:40--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 2
00:33--Aspects of baseball competition continue to be discussed, such as concessions sold at games, local baseball fields, and whites who came to watch the events.
4:35--She admires a cousin on her mother's side that lived in Charleston, SC. She was a very fancy dresser.
5:40--Happy childhood moments included the year she went to New York at age ten with relatives in order to attend school there.
9:06--"Color" meant nothing to her [white or black race].
12:35--They discuss an award that Mrs. White received to honor her service to the Pendleton Community Center.
14:55--Mrs. White talks about singing in the choir, and a few of her favorite songs such as Don't Turn Around.
20:36--Looking back, she would have liked to have completed her education.
26:29--Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 1
1:09--Her maternal grandparents were Abraham and Carolyn Milliner (she died in 1908). Abraham married twice after her death: Daisy Walker and Florence Thompson.
3:23--White recalls aunts on the Reese side who lived in the Clemson area: Carrie, Maggie, and Lula.
5:31--Mrs. White's family was from the Seneca, Clemson, and Pendleton areas.
8:33--Her family is buried at King's Chapel AME Church.
12:14--White's father was a blacksmith; her mother was a teacher at the Central, Oak Grove, and Rosenwald Schools (she attended SC State). Her grandfather did farming related work.
15:12--Mrs. White lived in New York from 1928-1964; after which she returned to SC in order to take care of family and help run a café.
17:11--She had an uncle named Eddie Milliner who worked on the railroad; he was killed in some type of accident [White does not elaborate].
18:20-31:40--White makes short comment on a variety of topics: common employment opportunities for black men and women such as grocery store delivery, blacksmith-related work, railroad, teaching, and jobs at Clemson College. She goes on to discuss shopping at Hunter's Store, buying and making clothing, raising vegetables and livestock, aspects of furniture that was passed down through the generations, and her uncle Eddie who was sent overseas to fight in World War I.
31:44--Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
00:33--White speaks at length regarding local church life. Her family went to King's Chapel AME Church, though her father was originally a Baptist before he married. King's Chapel had a parsonage for their minister. Many of their ministers attended Allen University. Aspects of local camp meetings and singing conventions are discussed. Mrs. White herself sang in the choir; she can recall that Pauline Thompson taught music. The work of church groups such as the Women's Missionary Society, Men's Club, and Youth Group are recalled.
12:56--Education--she first attended school at King's Chapel AME in a two-room building. The building had a big wood-burning stove; the children sat on benches. School hours ran from 8am-3pm, with an hour for lunch and recess. Rena Clark is a teacher that she can recall being an educator there. White later attended high school at the Hampton Institute in Virginia. She later went to New York and was employed by the Naval Yard for a time before doing domestic work. She believes her mother was the first of the family to attend college. Books and newspapers were always available in her home.
28:21--Her father and mother were members of the Freemasons and Eastern Star, respectively.
31:44--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:40--Mrs. White's father was born in 1859 near Clemson, SC. Her mother was born in 1878 in Pendleton, SC.
4:14--White states that she married a native New Yorker around 1940. She states that his name was John White [the 12/22/2000 Greenville News Obituary states that her husband's name was David White].
8:19--She was never warned about how to act around white people. Life was segregated; she had little contact with whites growing up.
9:35--Her mother seemed to be the head of the family in many ways; she thinks this may be due to her education.
10:53--Romantic/sexual relations between whites and blacks occurred, but were not openly discussed. She knew of no one locally who "passed for white."
12:10--She never had reason to travel to either Greenville or Anderson as a youth.
16:42--Christmas holidays were very special; the family would visit relatives, swap gifts, and eat large meals of turkey, vegetables, and sweets. Santa Claus would visit on Christmas Eve.
19:30--"Hot Suppers" were often held in local homes as a sort of fundraising event. Yard parties were similar, and auctions were also occasionally held locally (Mr. Ben Keese would auction items he purchased in Philadelphia).
28:26--Her father loved baseball. She speaks briefly regarding local teams, prominent players, and the locations of local playing fields.
31:40--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 2
00:33--Aspects of baseball competition continue to be discussed, such as concessions sold at games, local baseball fields, and whites who came to watch the events.
4:35--She admires a cousin on her mother's side that lived in Charleston, SC. She was a very fancy dresser.
5:40--Happy childhood moments included the year she went to New York at age ten with relatives in order to attend school there.
9:06--"Color" meant nothing to her [white or black race].
12:35--They discuss an award that Mrs. White received to honor her service to the Pendleton Community Center.
14:55--Mrs. White talks about singing in the choir, and a few of her favorite songs such as Don't Turn Around.
20:36--Looking back, she would have liked to have completed her education.
26:29--Audio ends.
Subject
African Americans -- History. -- South Carolina -- Anderson County
Interviewer
Harrell, Yolanda
Interviewee
White, Eldora
Spatial Coverage
Pendleton, Anderson County, South Carolina, United States, 34.64916, -82.78135, SC, 7172313, [34.64916, -82.78135] [id:7172313]
Publisher
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository
