Thompson Cassette 1 Side 1
Media
Part of Interview: Thompson, Robert H.
Title
Thompson Cassette 1 Side 1
Source
Robert H. Thompson Interview
Date
1989-04-19
Description
Cassette 1
Side 1
**Note** This interview was not originally part of the BHUP Project. This field research was added to complement the Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont Project.
00:30--Mr. Thompson begins the interview by giving a detailed history of his family origins in Walhalla, SC. A young Native American servant who worked for the Grisham family had a child named Betty as the result of a relationship with Mr. Grisham. Betty later married a black Mexican named Reuben Thompson, who had migrated to the SC upstate area. Thompson first details his family's involvement in the foundation of the Oak Grove School before giving a short history of Kings Chapel AME Church, of which he is a member. At the time of this interview, he is the President of the Board of Trustees at this church. His wife Elsie provides a few remarks regarding her own family.
11:10--Mr. Thompson describes jobs that were commonly available to black men during his childhood. His father was a blacksmith; he describes the responsibilities of individuals in this line of work. He goes on to give brief historical sketches regarding both the family home place and the land that it was built upon. Popular social events and celebrations such as May Day, as well as church picnics at the Seneca River bottoms are recalled.
17:57--Mr. Thompson describes the first local black schools and attempts at providing education. Early black schools were not state certified. He makes comment on the operation of Anderson County Training School before pointing out that there is a recent emphasis on technical training and the increased high tech industry in the area that has helped keep the brightest individuals from moving away to other states. He goes on to detail certain aspects of the integration of Anderson County schools.
31:48--Audio ends.
Side 1
**Note** This interview was not originally part of the BHUP Project. This field research was added to complement the Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont Project.
00:30--Mr. Thompson begins the interview by giving a detailed history of his family origins in Walhalla, SC. A young Native American servant who worked for the Grisham family had a child named Betty as the result of a relationship with Mr. Grisham. Betty later married a black Mexican named Reuben Thompson, who had migrated to the SC upstate area. Thompson first details his family's involvement in the foundation of the Oak Grove School before giving a short history of Kings Chapel AME Church, of which he is a member. At the time of this interview, he is the President of the Board of Trustees at this church. His wife Elsie provides a few remarks regarding her own family.
11:10--Mr. Thompson describes jobs that were commonly available to black men during his childhood. His father was a blacksmith; he describes the responsibilities of individuals in this line of work. He goes on to give brief historical sketches regarding both the family home place and the land that it was built upon. Popular social events and celebrations such as May Day, as well as church picnics at the Seneca River bottoms are recalled.
17:57--Mr. Thompson describes the first local black schools and attempts at providing education. Early black schools were not state certified. He makes comment on the operation of Anderson County Training School before pointing out that there is a recent emphasis on technical training and the increased high tech industry in the area that has helped keep the brightest individuals from moving away to other states. He goes on to detail certain aspects of the integration of Anderson County schools.
31:48--Audio ends.
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.