Interview: Brown, Lucinda Reid
Item
Identifier
Mss-0279, Cassette 5-6
Title
Interview: Brown, Lucinda Reid
Type
Sound
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Source
Town of Calhoun, South Carolina Oral History 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
1988-08-15
Description
Lucinda Reid Brown was born on March 11, 1890 in the Clemson/Calhoun area. She was the daughter of Alfred B. and Harley Reid. She married Jack Brown in 1910. They had seven children. Mrs. Reid Brown died on March 30, 1990.
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:32: Mrs. Reid Brown is aged 98 in 1988. She was born at home "in the country" between Clemson and Central.
2:05: Dr. Hines is the first local doctor she can recall. The University doctor was Dr. Redfern. Another doctor she can recall is Dr. Watkins (known as Dr. Billy). She states that he was "...a great friend of poor people."
4:40: Her parents were Alfred B. and Harley Reid. Her grandfather Isaac Butler was a slave of John C. Calhoun. In his elderly years, he lived with the Brown family.
6:10: Her grandfather did occasionally speak of his experiences as a slave, but Mrs. Reid Brown admits that she was young, and didn't really pay attention to such stories. She can remember that her grandfather stated that John C. Calhoun was a good master and not cruel to his slaves.
6:51: She briefly recalls the John Crawford and Sloan families. The Sloan and Poe families joined through marriage.
12:58: Her grandmother was Amy Butler. Both her grandparents were African natives. Amy Butler was a slave "across the river" under slave master John Hughen (?).
16:57: Mrs. Reid Brown had many "dear" white friends. She discusses helping raise white children and the close relationships that were forged over the years.
22:03: Her father was Alfred Butler Reid. His mother was Easter (Ester?) Reid. She never married. She was a local midwife. Megginson states that according to the census, she was born in 1835. Mrs. Reid Brown's father was an intelligent man, who attended school as an adult when education was first being made available to blacks. He was a sharecropper and owned a grocery store across from Goldenview Church. He also owned his own property.
29:03: Mrs. Reid Brown briefly discusses her grandfather and his skill with basket weaving.
30:43: Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
00:07: Her mother was Polly Butler. She was known in the community as "Aunt Polly." She did domestic work.
2:16: They briefly discuss the Cochran family and their property.
4:55: Mrs. Reid Brown credits the University with many of the opportunities afforded local blacks. She had two sons who were employed at the University.
8:53: Aspects of school life are discussed. She went to school at Abel Church initially, though redistricting of school lines prevented her from continuing there. She can recall a Mr. Dupree teaching there. The black community built a school of their own. Children had to work crops so the school year lasted just a few months a year. Books had to be bought, which was a financial hardship. Her grandparents were illiterate, though her parents could read and write.
16:43: Shopping--Mrs. Reid Brown states that people didn't do a lot of shopping in those days, but on occasion they would visit Seneca or the Boggs and Smith stores locally.
21:44: The post office was located behind the Boggs store. She can remember the Chapman's working there.
23:26: Train travel was utilized for longer trips. A ticket was perhaps $0.20.
24:38: Entertainment--kids made their own fun, from hide-and-go-seek, to drop-the-handkerchief, to just playing around the train depot. Blacks could not attend movies in those days.
26:14: Megginson brings up the story of a Clemson cadet who dated a black woman. Mrs. Reid Brown is surprised that he is aware of this information, but adds that romantic encounters did occur--she will not elaborate further.
27:37: She is a charter member of the local Goldenview Church. She discusses its foundation and the reasons for leaving Abel.
31:53: Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:07: Church--Douglas Brown was the first minister at Goldenview. He stayed for two years. She briefly recalls other preachers and states that in those days church was only held on the first Sunday of every month. Both Morris and benedict colleges were supported through donations. Church was an enormous influence in the black community.
6:00: Local black and white communities were segregated. She can remember signs in public places that stated either "white" or "colored."
10:30: Mrs. Reid Brown has lived in her current residence since 1910. She was married that same year to Jack Brown. He worked at the University. They had seven children.
12:30: She considered "Calhoun" to be the area around the Smith boarding house.
13:28: Mrs. Reid Brown briefly discusses utilities that were available to the local community.
16:37: Mariah English (Aunt Mariah), the Brewster's, Hunter's, and Shaw's are all discussed.
23:00: She remembers Captain and Cora Clinkscales as very pleasant people. They were a friend to the black people.
29:02: People in her community mostly read the Pickens Sentinel, but she was aware of such media as The State through working over the years in white homes.
31:48: Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 2
00:56: "Aunt" Amelia Hicks lived close to Daniel high school and did domestic work in the local community.
1:56: Jane Prince--Mrs. Reid Brown states that the rumor about her daughter was untrue. She can remember her grandmother telling her that Jane Prince had already had the child by the time she first came to work for Mr. Clemson.
4:55: Aaron and Elmira Boggs lived quite close in proximity to Mrs. Reid Brown. She knew many black individuals that were sharecroppers on his land. Macrina Campbell is another local individual who owned a large portion of land. Mrs. Reid Brown can remember seeing an elderly Macrina Campbell sitting on her front porch and smoking a pipe.
9:05: Holidays--Christmas was very special to children; they would set out stockings and on Christmas morning find them filled with fruits, candy, and nuts. She cannot recall having a Christmas tree in those days. On the Fourth of July, the local men would play baseball.
11:12: Megginson thanks Mrs. Reid Brown for the interview.
11:30: Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:32: Mrs. Reid Brown is aged 98 in 1988. She was born at home "in the country" between Clemson and Central.
2:05: Dr. Hines is the first local doctor she can recall. The University doctor was Dr. Redfern. Another doctor she can recall is Dr. Watkins (known as Dr. Billy). She states that he was "...a great friend of poor people."
4:40: Her parents were Alfred B. and Harley Reid. Her grandfather Isaac Butler was a slave of John C. Calhoun. In his elderly years, he lived with the Brown family.
6:10: Her grandfather did occasionally speak of his experiences as a slave, but Mrs. Reid Brown admits that she was young, and didn't really pay attention to such stories. She can remember that her grandfather stated that John C. Calhoun was a good master and not cruel to his slaves.
6:51: She briefly recalls the John Crawford and Sloan families. The Sloan and Poe families joined through marriage.
12:58: Her grandmother was Amy Butler. Both her grandparents were African natives. Amy Butler was a slave "across the river" under slave master John Hughen (?).
16:57: Mrs. Reid Brown had many "dear" white friends. She discusses helping raise white children and the close relationships that were forged over the years.
22:03: Her father was Alfred Butler Reid. His mother was Easter (Ester?) Reid. She never married. She was a local midwife. Megginson states that according to the census, she was born in 1835. Mrs. Reid Brown's father was an intelligent man, who attended school as an adult when education was first being made available to blacks. He was a sharecropper and owned a grocery store across from Goldenview Church. He also owned his own property.
29:03: Mrs. Reid Brown briefly discusses her grandfather and his skill with basket weaving.
30:43: Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
00:07: Her mother was Polly Butler. She was known in the community as "Aunt Polly." She did domestic work.
2:16: They briefly discuss the Cochran family and their property.
4:55: Mrs. Reid Brown credits the University with many of the opportunities afforded local blacks. She had two sons who were employed at the University.
8:53: Aspects of school life are discussed. She went to school at Abel Church initially, though redistricting of school lines prevented her from continuing there. She can recall a Mr. Dupree teaching there. The black community built a school of their own. Children had to work crops so the school year lasted just a few months a year. Books had to be bought, which was a financial hardship. Her grandparents were illiterate, though her parents could read and write.
16:43: Shopping--Mrs. Reid Brown states that people didn't do a lot of shopping in those days, but on occasion they would visit Seneca or the Boggs and Smith stores locally.
21:44: The post office was located behind the Boggs store. She can remember the Chapman's working there.
23:26: Train travel was utilized for longer trips. A ticket was perhaps $0.20.
24:38: Entertainment--kids made their own fun, from hide-and-go-seek, to drop-the-handkerchief, to just playing around the train depot. Blacks could not attend movies in those days.
26:14: Megginson brings up the story of a Clemson cadet who dated a black woman. Mrs. Reid Brown is surprised that he is aware of this information, but adds that romantic encounters did occur--she will not elaborate further.
27:37: She is a charter member of the local Goldenview Church. She discusses its foundation and the reasons for leaving Abel.
31:53: Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:07: Church--Douglas Brown was the first minister at Goldenview. He stayed for two years. She briefly recalls other preachers and states that in those days church was only held on the first Sunday of every month. Both Morris and benedict colleges were supported through donations. Church was an enormous influence in the black community.
6:00: Local black and white communities were segregated. She can remember signs in public places that stated either "white" or "colored."
10:30: Mrs. Reid Brown has lived in her current residence since 1910. She was married that same year to Jack Brown. He worked at the University. They had seven children.
12:30: She considered "Calhoun" to be the area around the Smith boarding house.
13:28: Mrs. Reid Brown briefly discusses utilities that were available to the local community.
16:37: Mariah English (Aunt Mariah), the Brewster's, Hunter's, and Shaw's are all discussed.
23:00: She remembers Captain and Cora Clinkscales as very pleasant people. They were a friend to the black people.
29:02: People in her community mostly read the Pickens Sentinel, but she was aware of such media as The State through working over the years in white homes.
31:48: Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 2
00:56: "Aunt" Amelia Hicks lived close to Daniel high school and did domestic work in the local community.
1:56: Jane Prince--Mrs. Reid Brown states that the rumor about her daughter was untrue. She can remember her grandmother telling her that Jane Prince had already had the child by the time she first came to work for Mr. Clemson.
4:55: Aaron and Elmira Boggs lived quite close in proximity to Mrs. Reid Brown. She knew many black individuals that were sharecroppers on his land. Macrina Campbell is another local individual who owned a large portion of land. Mrs. Reid Brown can remember seeing an elderly Macrina Campbell sitting on her front porch and smoking a pipe.
9:05: Holidays--Christmas was very special to children; they would set out stockings and on Christmas morning find them filled with fruits, candy, and nuts. She cannot recall having a Christmas tree in those days. On the Fourth of July, the local men would play baseball.
11:12: Megginson thanks Mrs. Reid Brown for the interview.
11:30: Audio ends.
Subject
South Carolina -- Pickens County
Interviewer
Megginson, W. J.
Interviewee
Brown, Lucinda Reid
Publisher
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository
