Mary Agnes Greenlee Interview
Item
Identifier
Box 1:31-33
Title
Mary Agnes Greenlee Interview
Type
Interview
Language
Source
Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina Collection
Rights
Date
February 20-21, 1990
Description
Speakers-Agnes Greenlee, Matthew Oglesby
Audio-Good
Location-Clemson, SC
Cassette 1
Side1
1:28--Greenlee recalls her family background, including her maternal grandparents Barry and Mary Simpson. Greenlee's parents lived between Central and Calhoun, SC. Her grandparents were slave, but any specific stories have faded from her memory. She recalls aspects of weddings and funerals in the black community as well as her relatives (Greenlee's) through marriage
10:30--She describes old family pictures, identifying individuals and their occupations.
13:00--Aspects of farming and the cultivation of tobacco are recalled.
15:55--The family went to Pendleton, SC during some weekends in order to earn additional money working crops. Her father occasionally went to Alabama in order to work in the coalmines.
19:50--Greenlee recalls her family's shopping habits, tending to fruits, vegetables, and livestock, and homemade clothes.
24:11--Furniture was both bought and handmade depending on the piece.
25:52--Quilting and making baskets were talents that her family was known for.
29:00--She can recall the flu epidemic of 1917-1918. There was sickness, but no family members died.
30:52--Greenlee makes brief mention of her uncle Dillard Walker who served in World War I.
31:35--Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
00:20--Greenlee recalls church life in the black community with her home church Abel, as well as the activities of other local black churches. She discusses camp meeting, singing conventions, and church affiliated interest groups. Whites and blacks occupationally came together during funeral services.
9:37--She recalls aspects of her education, the school building, her teachers, as well as the educational levels of her grandparents. Her brother was the first in the family to attend college. Differences in black and white schools, as well as curriculum are discussed.
24:00--Social issues in the black community are covered. Blacks were often blamed by law enforcement for crime in the area. Marriage relationships were equal in her parent's household.
31:47--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
**Note** this interview took place February 21, 1990, the day after the first interview. This is not a follow-up interview, however. The same questions are asked, and Mrs. Greenlee gives similar answers.
Side 1--30:00 of audio.
Side 2--18:00 of audio.
Cassette 3
Side 1
1:25--She occasionally went to Anderson, SC as a youth in order to visit with family who lived there. She never went to Greenville, SC as a youth.
3:05--During Thanksgiving celebrations, the men would hold "shooting matches" where they shot at targets for prizes. During Christmas friends and family would put up trees and exchange gifts. Another Christmas tradition was to have "fireball parties" out in the fields. Birthday parties were celebrated with cake and presents.
5:30--Her mother's most prized possessions were her quilts and embroidered pieces. Women would hold quilting parties and treated the occasion as a social event. Her father prized music and singing, as well as hunting.
8:03--Mrs. Green most admired her grandmother for her tireless help around the house.
10:38--Her fondest childhood memories are of singing with her family.
11:05--Mrs. Green didn't feel different because she was black. She got along with whites quite well. She wouldn't really change anything about her life.
13:25--Audio ends.
Cassette 3
Side 2
Blank
Mary Agnes Greenlee was born April 23, 1905 in the Ravenel area in Seneca, SC. She was the daughter of Lindsey and Maggie Simpson Walker. Mrs. Greenlee died on January 14, 1998.
Audio-Good
Location-Clemson, SC
Cassette 1
Side1
1:28--Greenlee recalls her family background, including her maternal grandparents Barry and Mary Simpson. Greenlee's parents lived between Central and Calhoun, SC. Her grandparents were slave, but any specific stories have faded from her memory. She recalls aspects of weddings and funerals in the black community as well as her relatives (Greenlee's) through marriage
10:30--She describes old family pictures, identifying individuals and their occupations.
13:00--Aspects of farming and the cultivation of tobacco are recalled.
15:55--The family went to Pendleton, SC during some weekends in order to earn additional money working crops. Her father occasionally went to Alabama in order to work in the coalmines.
19:50--Greenlee recalls her family's shopping habits, tending to fruits, vegetables, and livestock, and homemade clothes.
24:11--Furniture was both bought and handmade depending on the piece.
25:52--Quilting and making baskets were talents that her family was known for.
29:00--She can recall the flu epidemic of 1917-1918. There was sickness, but no family members died.
30:52--Greenlee makes brief mention of her uncle Dillard Walker who served in World War I.
31:35--Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
00:20--Greenlee recalls church life in the black community with her home church Abel, as well as the activities of other local black churches. She discusses camp meeting, singing conventions, and church affiliated interest groups. Whites and blacks occupationally came together during funeral services.
9:37--She recalls aspects of her education, the school building, her teachers, as well as the educational levels of her grandparents. Her brother was the first in the family to attend college. Differences in black and white schools, as well as curriculum are discussed.
24:00--Social issues in the black community are covered. Blacks were often blamed by law enforcement for crime in the area. Marriage relationships were equal in her parent's household.
31:47--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
**Note** this interview took place February 21, 1990, the day after the first interview. This is not a follow-up interview, however. The same questions are asked, and Mrs. Greenlee gives similar answers.
Side 1--30:00 of audio.
Side 2--18:00 of audio.
Cassette 3
Side 1
1:25--She occasionally went to Anderson, SC as a youth in order to visit with family who lived there. She never went to Greenville, SC as a youth.
3:05--During Thanksgiving celebrations, the men would hold "shooting matches" where they shot at targets for prizes. During Christmas friends and family would put up trees and exchange gifts. Another Christmas tradition was to have "fireball parties" out in the fields. Birthday parties were celebrated with cake and presents.
5:30--Her mother's most prized possessions were her quilts and embroidered pieces. Women would hold quilting parties and treated the occasion as a social event. Her father prized music and singing, as well as hunting.
8:03--Mrs. Green most admired her grandmother for her tireless help around the house.
10:38--Her fondest childhood memories are of singing with her family.
11:05--Mrs. Green didn't feel different because she was black. She got along with whites quite well. She wouldn't really change anything about her life.
13:25--Audio ends.
Cassette 3
Side 2
Blank
Mary Agnes Greenlee was born April 23, 1905 in the Ravenel area in Seneca, SC. She was the daughter of Lindsey and Maggie Simpson Walker. Mrs. Greenlee died on January 14, 1998.
Publisher
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository