Cassette 1 Side 1
Media
Part of James Benson Interview
Identifier
1:1
Title
Cassette 1 Side 1
Type
Interview
Source
James Benson Interview, December 8, 1989
Rights
Description
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:19--Mr. Benson gives his biographical information. He was born on June 23, 1905 at his home in Central, South Carolina. Patrick Benson and Annie Reese Benson were his parents. Isaac and Emily Benson were his father's parents and Jim and Tila Cannon Reese were is his mother's parents. The family owned their own home on three acres. They sharecropped at first to raise the money to build the house.
6:59--The whole Benson family lived in the same area so they spent time with each other often.
7:30--Mr. Benson's grandparents were sharecroppers in their early life; they did not mind because the farm owners were fair towards them. Slavery was not often discussed in his household.
12:18--Meacham asks Mr. Benson to recall weddings. Mr. Benson explains that weddings were either small ceremonies or carried out at the courthouse. He himself was married in 1936 at the courthouse. Mrs. Benson's parents were Frank and Ann Madison.
16:51--Mr. Benson explains that the only family members to leave South Carolina were his uncle and aunt who moved to Cleveland, Ohio.
18:48--Mr. Benson recalls the jobs available to blacks in the early days. Blacks farmed or did manual work and the wives stayed around the house.
20:05--Shopping--the family would go the Hunter's Store locally to purchase staples. They grew potatoes, corn, peas, pumpkins, and carrots at home.
25:04--The family bought their own furniture and the women made quilts. Mr. Benson's wife had quilts and all of the bedding ready to be used before they married.
28:27--Mr. Benson recalls that he joined the church when he was 20 years old and has been a member ever since.
32:29--Audio ends.
Side 1
00:19--Mr. Benson gives his biographical information. He was born on June 23, 1905 at his home in Central, South Carolina. Patrick Benson and Annie Reese Benson were his parents. Isaac and Emily Benson were his father's parents and Jim and Tila Cannon Reese were is his mother's parents. The family owned their own home on three acres. They sharecropped at first to raise the money to build the house.
6:59--The whole Benson family lived in the same area so they spent time with each other often.
7:30--Mr. Benson's grandparents were sharecroppers in their early life; they did not mind because the farm owners were fair towards them. Slavery was not often discussed in his household.
12:18--Meacham asks Mr. Benson to recall weddings. Mr. Benson explains that weddings were either small ceremonies or carried out at the courthouse. He himself was married in 1936 at the courthouse. Mrs. Benson's parents were Frank and Ann Madison.
16:51--Mr. Benson explains that the only family members to leave South Carolina were his uncle and aunt who moved to Cleveland, Ohio.
18:48--Mr. Benson recalls the jobs available to blacks in the early days. Blacks farmed or did manual work and the wives stayed around the house.
20:05--Shopping--the family would go the Hunter's Store locally to purchase staples. They grew potatoes, corn, peas, pumpkins, and carrots at home.
25:04--The family bought their own furniture and the women made quilts. Mr. Benson's wife had quilts and all of the bedding ready to be used before they married.
28:27--Mr. Benson recalls that he joined the church when he was 20 years old and has been a member ever since.
32:29--Audio ends.