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Lucinda Reid Brown & Family Interview

Item

Identifier

Box 1:15

Title

Lucinda Reid Brown & Family Interview

Type

Interview

Source

Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina Collection

Rights

No Known Copyright

Description

Speakers-Anna Reid, Jack Brown, Lucinda Reid Brown, Lucy Reid Brown McDowell, Vennie Deas-Moore

Audio Quality-Good

Location-Clemson, SC

Side 1

**Note** this interview was not originally part of the Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont Project. This field research conducted by Deas-Moore was added to complement the Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont Project.

00:07-8:10--Anna Reid gives a brief biographical statement before Mrs. Reid Brown begins to speak. Mrs. Reid Brown discusses her age and gives a short family history. She states that her grandfather was one of John C. Calhoun's slaves. She begins to recount several stories; one involves her first husband's death on the way to Fourth of July picnic. Other recollections include childhood experiences with games, birthdays, picnics, dancing, and listening to music on a victrola. The interviewer is curious about talented family members; Mrs. Reid Brown states that her daughter Lucy Reid Brown McDowell was a very talented tap dancer.

8:13-11:38--Lucy Reid Brown McDowell is now speaking. She gives brief biographical information before detailing when and where she learned to dance. She can remember dancing with a live band, and also being able to do the "Jitterbug."

11:41-20:05--The focus of the interview returns to Mrs. Reid Brown. She first describes family celebrations during the Christmas season before recalling certain aspects of her education. When she was a child, there were no public black schools in the area, so she attendee a school set up by Abel Baptist Church. She goes on top describe special celebrations at Abel such as revival meetings, Easter Sunday, and Watch Night Service (New Year's Eve).

20:08-31:40--Deas-Moore is interested to know what children did during the summer months. Children often worked alongside their parents in the fields on sharecropping farms. She goes on to discuss family reunions that took place on her parent's birthday. Mrs. Reid Brown has traveled extensively, and gives a lengthy story about her travels to Haiti.

31:45--Audio ends.

Side 2

00:37-7:10--Mrs. Reid Brown continues to describe her travels throughout the United States before briefly touching upon her involvement with Abel Baptist Church. She then describes activities during Fourth of July and Emancipation celebrations.

7:19-17:12--Mrs. Reid Brown's son Jack begins to speak. He recalls square dances in the 1940's, and states that he was the first black person to be in the Clemson Christmas parade. He goes on to describe his employment with Clemson University, including his time running the ice cream parlor.

17:15--Audio ends.