Speakers-Laura Keasler, W.J. Megginson

Audio Quality-Good

Location-Anderson, SC

Cassette 1

Side 1

00:40-11:05--Mrs. Keasler recalls her parents birthdays, places of birth, and occupations. Her grandfather was a slave and later farmed his own land. She discusses cotton cultivation, her siblings, their work and where they settled, recollects what she can about her grandparents, and comments on her own church affiliations.

11:07-19:50--Keasler briefly talks about the Holly Springs Cemetery on Route 187 before gong into some detail regarding her mother's use of home remedies for illness, including during the flu epidemic of 1917-1918.

19:53-31:37--Mrs. Keasler recalls that her family raised most of its own food, from fruits and vegetables to cattle and livestock. Her mother was a very good cook, and did all the sewing for the family. On occasion, the family would do their shopping in the Pendleton and Anderson, SC areas.

31:39--Audio ends.

Cassette 1

Side 2

00:23-10:50--Keasler first discusses a family heirloom (china cabinet) that was passed down from her mother before recalling her mother's skill at quilting and embroidery, neighbors and family members who were involved in World War I, and aspects of local church services and Sunday school.

11:00-19:25--Mrs. Keasler discusses relatives who attended junior college, camp meetings, homecoming, and singing conventions.

19:30-31:40--Mrs. Keasler briefly discuses her local senior citizens group before talking about her early education such as learning about notable blacks in history, listening to stories of slavery passed down from the older members of her family, local white/black relationships, knowledge of the Al Green lynching in Walhalla, and the fact that the Ku Klux Klan was not active in northern Anderson County (according to Mrs. Keasler, the Klan was much more active in southern Anderson County).

31:45--Audio ends.

Cassette 2

Side 1

00:10-9:35--Keasler discusses some of the very large white-owned farms in Anderson County and the agricultural collapse of sorts that occurred in the 1920's. She discusses her husbands mixed race family and sheds light on social aspects that arose out of such situations. She goes on to recall local events such as hot suppers, church activities, the county fair, and going to the movies.

9:39-19:57--Mrs. Keasler recalls her marriage to her husband Henry in 1928 when she was 16 years of age in addition to giving background information on his family. She discusses the treatment of mulattos by whites, aspects of her courtship and marriage, better employment opportunities in the north, and her and her husbands work experience.

20:00-30:35--Mrs. Keasler and her family moved to New York in 1940. She lived in Brooklyn and worked in New York City during this time. Wages were much better in the north than in the south during those years. She discusses domestic work in both the north and south, churches she attended while living up north, black entertainment, working on 125th Street, and the differences in educational opportunities in the north and south.

30:39--Audio ends.

Cassette 2

Side 2

1:24-10:00--Mrs. Keasler begins reading from the family bible, which includes her parent's birth and death dates along with the location of their burials at Holly Springs Cemetery. She then finds documentation in the bible that includes genealogical information regarding her father's family.

10:12--Audio ends.