WilliamsV Cassette 1 Side 1
Media
Part of Interview: Williams, Viola
Title
WilliamsV Cassette 1 Side 1
Source
Viola Williams Interview
Date
1990-07-19
Description
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:40--Biographical Information.
1:30--Her first memories of Fort Hill can be traced to around the time she was seven years of age. Her mother was a domestic worker at the home. Her grandmother, Nancy Legree, was a slave who worked for the Calhoun and Colhoun families. Legree was born in Abbeville County. After briefly working at Fort Hill, Legree moved with Ransom Colhoun [William Ransom Colhoun--died in 1862?] to Columbia, SC. Slaves were not allowed to pray, sing, or proclaim their faith. A story was passed down to Mrs. Williams by her grandmother Legree detailing an incident that occurred to another slave while in Columbia. An older slave named Ms. Dina was overheard by Ransom Colhoun proclaiming her faith in song. When confronted, she continued to proclaim her faith even at the threat of death. After emancipation, Nancy Legree returned to the Abbeville, SC area and married a man from Charleston, SC. Pictures and news articles regarding her grandmother were destroyed in a house fire. Williams goes on to describe some of the responsibilities that her mother had as a domestic worker for Margaret, Carrie, Ida, and Rebecca Calhoun.
22:28--Her mother lived in the servant house behind the mansion [the physical appearance of this building is described]. She can also recall that servant's quarters were very near the contemporary location of the football stadium. The Whitt, Martin, and Dupree families lived there, among others. Williams is not sure if these buildings were pre or post Civil War era. She also recalls that the college post office was located on the upper story of the mansion for a period of time.
31:11--Audio ends.
Side 1
00:40--Biographical Information.
1:30--Her first memories of Fort Hill can be traced to around the time she was seven years of age. Her mother was a domestic worker at the home. Her grandmother, Nancy Legree, was a slave who worked for the Calhoun and Colhoun families. Legree was born in Abbeville County. After briefly working at Fort Hill, Legree moved with Ransom Colhoun [William Ransom Colhoun--died in 1862?] to Columbia, SC. Slaves were not allowed to pray, sing, or proclaim their faith. A story was passed down to Mrs. Williams by her grandmother Legree detailing an incident that occurred to another slave while in Columbia. An older slave named Ms. Dina was overheard by Ransom Colhoun proclaiming her faith in song. When confronted, she continued to proclaim her faith even at the threat of death. After emancipation, Nancy Legree returned to the Abbeville, SC area and married a man from Charleston, SC. Pictures and news articles regarding her grandmother were destroyed in a house fire. Williams goes on to describe some of the responsibilities that her mother had as a domestic worker for Margaret, Carrie, Ida, and Rebecca Calhoun.
22:28--Her mother lived in the servant house behind the mansion [the physical appearance of this building is described]. She can also recall that servant's quarters were very near the contemporary location of the football stadium. The Whitt, Martin, and Dupree families lived there, among others. Williams is not sure if these buildings were pre or post Civil War era. She also recalls that the college post office was located on the upper story of the mansion for a period of time.
31:11--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.