Thomas Dupree Interview
Item
Identifier
Box 1:24-26
Title
Thomas Dupree Interview
Type
Interview
Language
Source
Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina Collection
Rights
Date
July 23, 1990
Description
Speakers-Thomas Dupree, W.J. Megginson, unknown female speaker
Audio Quality-Good
Location-Clemson, SC
**Note** cassette one, side one was apparently not recorded--the first available audio indicates that the interview has been underway for some time prior. Also, side two as stated by Megginson is actually side one on the user cassette. In addition, these interviews were originally part of a research project regarding the town of Calhoun, SC. They were later moved to complement the Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont Project.
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:42--Dupree discusses local street names in the black community. Local streets that are named Shaw, Brewster, Stevens, Pressley, etc. are all named after local black families. Mr. Dupree thinks these streets were named around the time of the late 1970s or early 1980s.
4:00--Recollections of his mother and the steps that were involved in washing at local wells and springs. Washing utensils were left at the spring in order that they could be used at all times by whoever needed them.
6:14--The local lady known as "Aunt Amelia" was related to Mr. Dupree. She worked for people in and around Calhoun, SC while his mother worked for people in Clemson, SC. Neither group made any more than the other in terms of wages.
10:15--Church--Mr. Dupree has attended Abel Baptist his entire life. He thinks that "Little Abel" church eventually became New Hope across from the Old Stone Church. Abel held church services once a month. A few preachers that can be recalled are: John Watson, Broaddus, Beech, and Collins. Abel met on every second Sunday, while Goldenview met on the first. The longtime bookkeeper at Abel, Suzy Haywood is recalled.
18:14--Megginson briefly mentions Suzy Haywood's father Harrison who, along with other local blacks, were involved in the lynching of a white man who had raped one of Mr. Harrison's daughters. The governor pardoned these men.
20:23--All of Mr. Dupree's relatives are buried at Abel Cemetery. He discusses aspects of burials and funerals in the black community.
24:30--Megginson is interested in who was responsible for digging local wells. The Hawthorne's and Green's are mentioned by name, Mr. Dupree dug several himself.
25:57--Mr. Dupree never attended school. Alec Dupree was a relative involved in local school life. He briefly taught at the local black school after graduating from Benedict College. He and his wife Elvira had a house and land in the Keowee area.
29:34--Mr. Dupree explains the differences in "country work" vs. city or "inside work."
31:14--Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
Blank
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:25--Mr. Dupree recalls the long workdays that local blacks had to endure. He describes a typical workday using his aunts as an example.
2:50--His brother-in-law John Whitt worked for Clemson College. College employees were paid by the month. He names other individuals who worked around the College.
6:53--The John C. Calhoun slave quarters had already been torn down when he was a youth.
7:20--Aspects of the Greenlee and Brewster families are recalled such as where they lived and what types of work they did.
12:20--The first black family to own a car in the community were the Reid's.
13:23--In their free time as youngsters, blacks would occasionally play with local whites.
15:35--The Dupree family utilized their own livestock and vegetable gardens, but also bought goods from the local Boggs and Smith stores. He discusses purchasing issues and the cash or credit system.
18:24--Aspects of the local cotton trade are discussed.
24:47--Megginson is interested in what types of work Mr. Dupree was involved in. He explains that permanent employment was not widespread in those days. Most people did farm work and odd jobs. The Clinkscale and Galloway families had large farm operations.
26:57--There was a local lumberyard opposite where the local Holiday Inn is located. He states that it was known as the old "Boon Place." Work there was dangerous, involving large saw-blades and floating logs down the river.
30:50--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 2
00:57--Mr. Dupree discusses how the Aaron Boggs land was divided after his death. His daughter Myra Boggs Payne had rental houses located where the local Ramada Inn is now. This area was called the "Payne Quarters." She charged between 2 1/2 and 5 dollars rent each month.
3:47--The best local wages Mr. Dupree ever received were from the railroad. The construction of the double-track directly affected wages in the Calhoun/Clemson area. The railroad simply paid out better wages than the community, so in order to keep employees from going to the railroad, most local wages were increased. Mr. Dupree discusses the life of a railroad worker.
10:12--Mr. Dupree recalls the Smith boarding house and the George Shaw farm.
14:52--Megginson is interested to know of the most prosperous families in the black community. Butler Reid seemed to do quite well. He worked a large portion of farmland that he rented from the Boggs family. He even owned his own grocery store located in front of Goldenview Church.
16:30--The changes in the direction of the railroad and its impact on the local community is discussed.
20:00--More often than not, clothes were made at home utilizing cloth bought at local stores. Mr. Dupree's mother used a Singer sewing machine to make clothes and quilts.
22:04--Mr. Dupree was married to the former Elizabeth Butler. Her parents were Ike and Ellie Butler. The couple was married at a pastor's house in Seneca. They had eight surviving children. Mr. Dupree's wife did some domestic work, but most often focused on the home and helping to raise the children.
28:08--All of Mr. Dupree's children attended school.
29:30--The Depression didn't really affect him. Times were hard for his community prior to the national troubles, so getting by on very little didn't have a huge impact.
31:43--Audio ends.
Cassette 3
Side 1
00:14--The experiences of blacks that served in World War I is touched upon.
1:55--Mr. Dupree can remember the flu epidemic that occurred around 1917-1918. His recollection is that fatality rates were low where he lived out in the country compared to the more populated areas.
3:15--Three of Mr. Dupree's son served in World War II. Although he doesn't elaborate, he gives the impression that this experience made more of an impact for blacks than what had occurred with the previous World War I generation.
4:43--Megginson mentions the local Singleton family and specifically Mrs. Singleton the educator in Calhoun. This sparks a conversation between Megginson and the female speaker. Mr. Dupree never attended school.
10:14--Megginson encourages Mr. Dupree to talk about everyday life in the black community, including holidays. Mr. Dupree talks of days when families were close-knit; living and eating meals together. At Christmas, people would shoot fireworks and leave out stockings for Santa Claus. Gospel singing groups occasionally came to town. Camp meetings at Bethel Grove were common.
16:35--Megginson thanks Mr. Dupree for the interview.
17:28--Audio ends.
Cassette 3
Side 2
Blank
Audio Quality-Good
Location-Clemson, SC
**Note** cassette one, side one was apparently not recorded--the first available audio indicates that the interview has been underway for some time prior. Also, side two as stated by Megginson is actually side one on the user cassette. In addition, these interviews were originally part of a research project regarding the town of Calhoun, SC. They were later moved to complement the Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont Project.
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:42--Dupree discusses local street names in the black community. Local streets that are named Shaw, Brewster, Stevens, Pressley, etc. are all named after local black families. Mr. Dupree thinks these streets were named around the time of the late 1970s or early 1980s.
4:00--Recollections of his mother and the steps that were involved in washing at local wells and springs. Washing utensils were left at the spring in order that they could be used at all times by whoever needed them.
6:14--The local lady known as "Aunt Amelia" was related to Mr. Dupree. She worked for people in and around Calhoun, SC while his mother worked for people in Clemson, SC. Neither group made any more than the other in terms of wages.
10:15--Church--Mr. Dupree has attended Abel Baptist his entire life. He thinks that "Little Abel" church eventually became New Hope across from the Old Stone Church. Abel held church services once a month. A few preachers that can be recalled are: John Watson, Broaddus, Beech, and Collins. Abel met on every second Sunday, while Goldenview met on the first. The longtime bookkeeper at Abel, Suzy Haywood is recalled.
18:14--Megginson briefly mentions Suzy Haywood's father Harrison who, along with other local blacks, were involved in the lynching of a white man who had raped one of Mr. Harrison's daughters. The governor pardoned these men.
20:23--All of Mr. Dupree's relatives are buried at Abel Cemetery. He discusses aspects of burials and funerals in the black community.
24:30--Megginson is interested in who was responsible for digging local wells. The Hawthorne's and Green's are mentioned by name, Mr. Dupree dug several himself.
25:57--Mr. Dupree never attended school. Alec Dupree was a relative involved in local school life. He briefly taught at the local black school after graduating from Benedict College. He and his wife Elvira had a house and land in the Keowee area.
29:34--Mr. Dupree explains the differences in "country work" vs. city or "inside work."
31:14--Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
Blank
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:25--Mr. Dupree recalls the long workdays that local blacks had to endure. He describes a typical workday using his aunts as an example.
2:50--His brother-in-law John Whitt worked for Clemson College. College employees were paid by the month. He names other individuals who worked around the College.
6:53--The John C. Calhoun slave quarters had already been torn down when he was a youth.
7:20--Aspects of the Greenlee and Brewster families are recalled such as where they lived and what types of work they did.
12:20--The first black family to own a car in the community were the Reid's.
13:23--In their free time as youngsters, blacks would occasionally play with local whites.
15:35--The Dupree family utilized their own livestock and vegetable gardens, but also bought goods from the local Boggs and Smith stores. He discusses purchasing issues and the cash or credit system.
18:24--Aspects of the local cotton trade are discussed.
24:47--Megginson is interested in what types of work Mr. Dupree was involved in. He explains that permanent employment was not widespread in those days. Most people did farm work and odd jobs. The Clinkscale and Galloway families had large farm operations.
26:57--There was a local lumberyard opposite where the local Holiday Inn is located. He states that it was known as the old "Boon Place." Work there was dangerous, involving large saw-blades and floating logs down the river.
30:50--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 2
00:57--Mr. Dupree discusses how the Aaron Boggs land was divided after his death. His daughter Myra Boggs Payne had rental houses located where the local Ramada Inn is now. This area was called the "Payne Quarters." She charged between 2 1/2 and 5 dollars rent each month.
3:47--The best local wages Mr. Dupree ever received were from the railroad. The construction of the double-track directly affected wages in the Calhoun/Clemson area. The railroad simply paid out better wages than the community, so in order to keep employees from going to the railroad, most local wages were increased. Mr. Dupree discusses the life of a railroad worker.
10:12--Mr. Dupree recalls the Smith boarding house and the George Shaw farm.
14:52--Megginson is interested to know of the most prosperous families in the black community. Butler Reid seemed to do quite well. He worked a large portion of farmland that he rented from the Boggs family. He even owned his own grocery store located in front of Goldenview Church.
16:30--The changes in the direction of the railroad and its impact on the local community is discussed.
20:00--More often than not, clothes were made at home utilizing cloth bought at local stores. Mr. Dupree's mother used a Singer sewing machine to make clothes and quilts.
22:04--Mr. Dupree was married to the former Elizabeth Butler. Her parents were Ike and Ellie Butler. The couple was married at a pastor's house in Seneca. They had eight surviving children. Mr. Dupree's wife did some domestic work, but most often focused on the home and helping to raise the children.
28:08--All of Mr. Dupree's children attended school.
29:30--The Depression didn't really affect him. Times were hard for his community prior to the national troubles, so getting by on very little didn't have a huge impact.
31:43--Audio ends.
Cassette 3
Side 1
00:14--The experiences of blacks that served in World War I is touched upon.
1:55--Mr. Dupree can remember the flu epidemic that occurred around 1917-1918. His recollection is that fatality rates were low where he lived out in the country compared to the more populated areas.
3:15--Three of Mr. Dupree's son served in World War II. Although he doesn't elaborate, he gives the impression that this experience made more of an impact for blacks than what had occurred with the previous World War I generation.
4:43--Megginson mentions the local Singleton family and specifically Mrs. Singleton the educator in Calhoun. This sparks a conversation between Megginson and the female speaker. Mr. Dupree never attended school.
10:14--Megginson encourages Mr. Dupree to talk about everyday life in the black community, including holidays. Mr. Dupree talks of days when families were close-knit; living and eating meals together. At Christmas, people would shoot fireworks and leave out stockings for Santa Claus. Gospel singing groups occasionally came to town. Camp meetings at Bethel Grove were common.
16:35--Megginson thanks Mr. Dupree for the interview.
17:28--Audio ends.
Cassette 3
Side 2
Blank
Creator
Publisher
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository