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Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina

WilliamsM Cassette 3 Side 2

Media

Part of Interview: Williams, Maxie

Title

WilliamsM Cassette 3 Side 2

Source

Maxie Williams Interview

Date

1989-11-28

Description

Cassette 3

Side 2

0:05--Relatives of hers attended Benedict, South Carolina State, and Morehouse Colleges. Books, newspapers, catalogs, and magazines were available in her home; chief among these was the Holy Bible.

4:30--She gives the location of the East End School, which she attended. She was not taught "black history" per se, because at that time the history was an oral one and not yet widely published. Blue-back spelling books were prized educational tools when she was a youth. Among the schools she attended were: Boiling Springs, St. Paul's, and the East End School. Due to overcrowding, some older students who were educated in certain subjects were asked to help teach the younger children. School years were limited for children who helped their parent's farm. Williams herself had a four to five mile walk to and from school everyday. She describes carrying large lunch buckets, and recalls an educator named Clarence Howard.

19:05--Employment options after graduation varied; for higher education graduates, ministry and educational jobs were available. She did have a few relatives who left the area; blacks were always on the move in search of better opportunity.

26:00--Williams recalls common recreational activities such as dancing, making ice cream, and attending box suppers.

27:40--Shopping--her parents shopped at the Dobbins', Nimmons', and Gignilliat establishments locally, utilizing both the cash and credit systems depending on the time of year (cash-winter, credit-summer). Since most food was raised at home, her family only bought staples such as sugar, coffee, fruits, and candy from local stores.

31:40--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.