Whittenberg Cassette 1 Side 1
Media
Part of Interview: Whittenberg, Ezra W.
Title
Whittenberg Cassette 1 Side 1
Source
Ezra W. Whittenberg Interview
Date
1990-07-03
Description
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:20--Biographical Information.
1:20--His paternal grandparents were Jonas and Sara McKinney Whittenberg. His maternal grandparents were Jerry and Mariah Ross.
2:38--His grandfather Jonas was originally a slave from the Portsmouth, Virginia area. A white owner from Greenville County, SC named Grey bought him off the block in order that he began work at a gristmill. After freedom, Jonas took the name of his former master from Virginia. Mr. Whittenberg was a much kinder master than was Mr. Grey, who was harsher in his treatment.
9:20--Mr. Whittenberg knew his maternal grandparents fairly well; they lived to a much older age than those on his paternal side. Jerry Ross had been a local minister as well as a worker on the Southern Railroad (Charlotte to Atlanta) while still a slave. His grandfather said that many bodies of slaves who died while laying the track are buried up and down the line.
15:30--Mr. Whittenberg begins to recall at length several aspects of local education. The Black Baptist Association was heavily involved with the foundation of schools. In addition, he discusses the efforts of Mr. Rosenwald and Mr. Huff, two men who were important financial contributors to black educations. Whittenberg names the location of seven local Rosenwald schools.
28:18--Most of his family is buried at Reedy Forks Baptist Church in Greenville County, SC. His oldest sister is buried at Pleasant Grove near Ware Place, SC.
31:38--Audio ends.
Side 1
00:20--Biographical Information.
1:20--His paternal grandparents were Jonas and Sara McKinney Whittenberg. His maternal grandparents were Jerry and Mariah Ross.
2:38--His grandfather Jonas was originally a slave from the Portsmouth, Virginia area. A white owner from Greenville County, SC named Grey bought him off the block in order that he began work at a gristmill. After freedom, Jonas took the name of his former master from Virginia. Mr. Whittenberg was a much kinder master than was Mr. Grey, who was harsher in his treatment.
9:20--Mr. Whittenberg knew his maternal grandparents fairly well; they lived to a much older age than those on his paternal side. Jerry Ross had been a local minister as well as a worker on the Southern Railroad (Charlotte to Atlanta) while still a slave. His grandfather said that many bodies of slaves who died while laying the track are buried up and down the line.
15:30--Mr. Whittenberg begins to recall at length several aspects of local education. The Black Baptist Association was heavily involved with the foundation of schools. In addition, he discusses the efforts of Mr. Rosenwald and Mr. Huff, two men who were important financial contributors to black educations. Whittenberg names the location of seven local Rosenwald schools.
28:18--Most of his family is buried at Reedy Forks Baptist Church in Greenville County, SC. His oldest sister is buried at Pleasant Grove near Ware Place, SC.
31:38--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.