Montana Haynes Interview
Item
Identifier
Box 1:35-36 Box 2:37
Title
Montana Haynes Interview
Type
Interview
Language
Source
Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina Collection
Rights
Date
April 26, 1990
Description
Speakers-Montana Haynes, Yolanda Harrell
Audio-Good
Location-Seneca, SC
Cassette 1
Side 1
1:20--Mrs. Haynes gives a lengthy family history, and reflects on memories of life in Oconee County from her childhood. She gives the unique story behind her name "Montana." She has mixed ancestry on both sides of her family. Her grandfather was an "Indian" that married a woman who "...was very white." Mrs. Haynes does not make clear whether this woman was a Caucasian or mulatto. In a later interview, speculation is that her grandfather may have been of East Indian descent, not a Native American. She goes on to explain that mulattos were known as "lily whites." There was some friction between the black and mulatto communities, because mulattos "acted white," and sought to stay higher in the social order than what blacks were allowed. Her parents worked for the influential Gignilliat family of Seneca with whom they enjoyed a great relationship. Mrs. Haynes states that issues regarding slavery were never really discussed by family members. Origins of her family names during slavery were passed down, however. She briefly discusses issues regarding the various jobs that were commonly available to black individuals.
31:22--Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
00:30--Haynes continues talking about jobs before the conversation turns toward shopping practices, including which items were produced at home versus which were purchased at local stores. The family raised its own food and only had to buy staples such as sugar and coffee. She recalls picking cotton as a youth and aspects of local farming.
11:42--Mrs. Haynes discusses family members who were known for special talents. Hardships suffered by the family over the years are recalled; these were especially associated around the time of World War I when food had to be rationed, and also during the outbreak of the flu epidemic in 1917-1918.
21:50--Mrs. Haynes relates her family's involvement with the local Ebenezer Baptist Church. She explains that at one time the church had a series of "jack-leg" preachers (untrained circuit riders). She describes the churches role in the community, camp meetings, singing conventions, and sings a few lines of her favorite hymn.
31:45--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:21--Aspects of local church life continue to be discussed. The notion of blacks and whites worshipping together was not completely unheard of in the old days. Groups within the church included the Men's Club, and the Women's Missionary Society. These groups helped the needy and sick. There was also a married and singles ladies club, as well as a youth club.
5:20--Education--Mrs. Haynes started school around the age of five. She initially went to Seneca Institute where she was educated one on one with no other classmates. She recalls that the teachers at the Seneca Institute were student teachers. When she later attended elementary school, she had a difficult time adjusting because she had been used to being around young people who were in their teenaged years. She recalls how many people were in a typical class, the school building, and the curriculum. There was an eight-month school year for city children. Individuals who lived in the country attended much shorter sessions on account of farm work. She re-entered Seneca Institute at grade eight. Mrs. Haynes attended Morris College in Sumter, SC. During the four years she was there, she attended the equivalent of two additional years of evening classes in order that she obtain her teaching certificate. The college atmosphere was male dominated; she was often the only woman in class. She began getting teaching experience at the age of fourteen.
31:15--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 2
00:32--Aspects of education are discussed exclusively during this part of the interview. Mrs. Haynes recounts her first experiences with teaching at the age of fourteen when she taught summer courses in Central, SC. She makes comment on the general levels of education received by both her parents and grandparents. At Morris College, she felt some degree of gender discrimination prior to her first teaching experience. Mrs. Haynes then goes on to summarize her educational career and her work with Special Education. She recalls what books, magazines, and newspapers were available to the family when she was a child. She was the first person in her family to attend college and states that her first exposure to issues such as "black history" didn't occur until college.
31:00--Audio ends
Cassette 3
Side 1
00:28--Organizations that her relatives belonged to included sewing clubs where, once a month, women met in local homes to share patterns and designs and hold quilting parties. Church groups included missionary societies; her father and mother were a deacon and deaconess, respectively.
2:15--Politics--Mrs. Haynes parents were the first to vote in their family.
4:30--Slavery--Mrs. Harrell wants to know what is meant by the term "breeders" that is occasionally used to describe mixed race relationships during the slave era. Mrs. Haynes explains that the best-looking, healthiest slave women were often picked out by slave masters in order to have mulatto children. Her own ancestry included such mixed-race relationships. Some slave masters were nice to slaves, some were not--it just depended on the individual.
7:25--In her experience, white/black relations were positive. Whites were always nice to her family and she was never warned about whites nor told how to act around them.
9:40--Lynching--the only incident that she heard of was the one involving Mr. Green from Walhalla, SC.
10:09--Law enforcement was strict on blacks when she was a youth. She explains that they were not careful in those days to conduct full, proper investigations.
10:46--The marriage relationship between her parents was an equal one.
12:15--Mulattos--she explains that mulattos as well as whites discriminated against darker hued individuals. There was considerable friction between the black and mulatto community in her estimation. Many mulattos "passed for white." Mrs. Haynes states that whites couldn't always tell people's ancestry, and accepted these individuals into higher society.
17:16--She states that her grandfather was "Indian," but had very dark skin, curly hair, and spoke with a different accent. He didn't like African Americans, and married a mulatto woman who had blue eyes. The physical appearance leads the two to speculate that he may have been of East Indian descent, and not a Native American.
20:03--Her parents never took trips to Anderson, SC or Greenville, SC. There was simply no need to travel that far in those days. Mrs. Haynes herself only began visiting the two cities when she was older and had a car.
22:02--Notable local celebrations of a sort occurred whenever the circus came to town. She can remember that they would usually make camp on Oak Street in Seneca, SC.
23:24--Holidays--her family didn't celebrate July 4th or anniversaries, but did celebrate birthdays and Christmas. She can recall that the Gignilliat family always gave her family very nice gifts. Birthdays were recognized.
29:03--Her brother Napoleon was killed during World War II in Italy. He is buried in Florence, Italy.
32:22--Audio ends.
Cassette 3
Side 2
00:35--Mrs. Haynes recall that her brother was in the Third Army with General Patton.
3:25--Her father cherished gardening and landscaping.
4:24--Mrs. Haynes greatly admired the Gignilliat family for their kindness and generosity. They were proud of her accomplishments. Her mother was also an individual to be admired.
9:20--She didn't give any thought to the fact that she was black. She again credits the Gignilliat's influence and the fact that she played with white children as a youth.
12:30--Mrs. Haynes is proud of her own accomplishments and has been well pleased with life. She recalls a few of her many honors included being included in Southern Biography, received the key to the city of Easley, SC, honored by Clemson Extension, and was awarded with numerous American Legion recognitions.
21:55--Audio ends.
Montana Haynes was born on June 6, 1907 in Oconee County near Seneca, SC. She was the daughter of Will Jr. and Jennie Everheart Perry. After completing her college education, she taught Special Education in Pickens County, SC.
Audio-Good
Location-Seneca, SC
Cassette 1
Side 1
1:20--Mrs. Haynes gives a lengthy family history, and reflects on memories of life in Oconee County from her childhood. She gives the unique story behind her name "Montana." She has mixed ancestry on both sides of her family. Her grandfather was an "Indian" that married a woman who "...was very white." Mrs. Haynes does not make clear whether this woman was a Caucasian or mulatto. In a later interview, speculation is that her grandfather may have been of East Indian descent, not a Native American. She goes on to explain that mulattos were known as "lily whites." There was some friction between the black and mulatto communities, because mulattos "acted white," and sought to stay higher in the social order than what blacks were allowed. Her parents worked for the influential Gignilliat family of Seneca with whom they enjoyed a great relationship. Mrs. Haynes states that issues regarding slavery were never really discussed by family members. Origins of her family names during slavery were passed down, however. She briefly discusses issues regarding the various jobs that were commonly available to black individuals.
31:22--Audio ends.
Cassette 1
Side 2
00:30--Haynes continues talking about jobs before the conversation turns toward shopping practices, including which items were produced at home versus which were purchased at local stores. The family raised its own food and only had to buy staples such as sugar and coffee. She recalls picking cotton as a youth and aspects of local farming.
11:42--Mrs. Haynes discusses family members who were known for special talents. Hardships suffered by the family over the years are recalled; these were especially associated around the time of World War I when food had to be rationed, and also during the outbreak of the flu epidemic in 1917-1918.
21:50--Mrs. Haynes relates her family's involvement with the local Ebenezer Baptist Church. She explains that at one time the church had a series of "jack-leg" preachers (untrained circuit riders). She describes the churches role in the community, camp meetings, singing conventions, and sings a few lines of her favorite hymn.
31:45--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:21--Aspects of local church life continue to be discussed. The notion of blacks and whites worshipping together was not completely unheard of in the old days. Groups within the church included the Men's Club, and the Women's Missionary Society. These groups helped the needy and sick. There was also a married and singles ladies club, as well as a youth club.
5:20--Education--Mrs. Haynes started school around the age of five. She initially went to Seneca Institute where she was educated one on one with no other classmates. She recalls that the teachers at the Seneca Institute were student teachers. When she later attended elementary school, she had a difficult time adjusting because she had been used to being around young people who were in their teenaged years. She recalls how many people were in a typical class, the school building, and the curriculum. There was an eight-month school year for city children. Individuals who lived in the country attended much shorter sessions on account of farm work. She re-entered Seneca Institute at grade eight. Mrs. Haynes attended Morris College in Sumter, SC. During the four years she was there, she attended the equivalent of two additional years of evening classes in order that she obtain her teaching certificate. The college atmosphere was male dominated; she was often the only woman in class. She began getting teaching experience at the age of fourteen.
31:15--Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 2
00:32--Aspects of education are discussed exclusively during this part of the interview. Mrs. Haynes recounts her first experiences with teaching at the age of fourteen when she taught summer courses in Central, SC. She makes comment on the general levels of education received by both her parents and grandparents. At Morris College, she felt some degree of gender discrimination prior to her first teaching experience. Mrs. Haynes then goes on to summarize her educational career and her work with Special Education. She recalls what books, magazines, and newspapers were available to the family when she was a child. She was the first person in her family to attend college and states that her first exposure to issues such as "black history" didn't occur until college.
31:00--Audio ends
Cassette 3
Side 1
00:28--Organizations that her relatives belonged to included sewing clubs where, once a month, women met in local homes to share patterns and designs and hold quilting parties. Church groups included missionary societies; her father and mother were a deacon and deaconess, respectively.
2:15--Politics--Mrs. Haynes parents were the first to vote in their family.
4:30--Slavery--Mrs. Harrell wants to know what is meant by the term "breeders" that is occasionally used to describe mixed race relationships during the slave era. Mrs. Haynes explains that the best-looking, healthiest slave women were often picked out by slave masters in order to have mulatto children. Her own ancestry included such mixed-race relationships. Some slave masters were nice to slaves, some were not--it just depended on the individual.
7:25--In her experience, white/black relations were positive. Whites were always nice to her family and she was never warned about whites nor told how to act around them.
9:40--Lynching--the only incident that she heard of was the one involving Mr. Green from Walhalla, SC.
10:09--Law enforcement was strict on blacks when she was a youth. She explains that they were not careful in those days to conduct full, proper investigations.
10:46--The marriage relationship between her parents was an equal one.
12:15--Mulattos--she explains that mulattos as well as whites discriminated against darker hued individuals. There was considerable friction between the black and mulatto community in her estimation. Many mulattos "passed for white." Mrs. Haynes states that whites couldn't always tell people's ancestry, and accepted these individuals into higher society.
17:16--She states that her grandfather was "Indian," but had very dark skin, curly hair, and spoke with a different accent. He didn't like African Americans, and married a mulatto woman who had blue eyes. The physical appearance leads the two to speculate that he may have been of East Indian descent, and not a Native American.
20:03--Her parents never took trips to Anderson, SC or Greenville, SC. There was simply no need to travel that far in those days. Mrs. Haynes herself only began visiting the two cities when she was older and had a car.
22:02--Notable local celebrations of a sort occurred whenever the circus came to town. She can remember that they would usually make camp on Oak Street in Seneca, SC.
23:24--Holidays--her family didn't celebrate July 4th or anniversaries, but did celebrate birthdays and Christmas. She can recall that the Gignilliat family always gave her family very nice gifts. Birthdays were recognized.
29:03--Her brother Napoleon was killed during World War II in Italy. He is buried in Florence, Italy.
32:22--Audio ends.
Cassette 3
Side 2
00:35--Mrs. Haynes recall that her brother was in the Third Army with General Patton.
3:25--Her father cherished gardening and landscaping.
4:24--Mrs. Haynes greatly admired the Gignilliat family for their kindness and generosity. They were proud of her accomplishments. Her mother was also an individual to be admired.
9:20--She didn't give any thought to the fact that she was black. She again credits the Gignilliat's influence and the fact that she played with white children as a youth.
12:30--Mrs. Haynes is proud of her own accomplishments and has been well pleased with life. She recalls a few of her many honors included being included in Southern Biography, received the key to the city of Easley, SC, honored by Clemson Extension, and was awarded with numerous American Legion recognitions.
21:55--Audio ends.
Montana Haynes was born on June 6, 1907 in Oconee County near Seneca, SC. She was the daughter of Will Jr. and Jennie Everheart Perry. After completing her college education, she taught Special Education in Pickens County, SC.
Publisher
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository