Speakers-Floy McDonald, Will Hiott

Audio Quality-Good

Location-Pickens, SC

Side 1

3:04--Mrs. McDonald's family had to move from their original home place in Oconee when the Lake Toxaway dam failed in 1916, washing away area homes and destroying farmland. She describes the family's flight and their subsequent places of residence. She can remember her family working on the land of Billy McWhirter (?) as well as on the Bibbins (?) properties.

7:48--Her father was a local sharecropper; she explains the general agreement in which the system worked. She can remember her family working for a gentleman named McQuarters (?) and another with the surname Luther.

10:46--Stories about her grandparents and slavery are discussed. Her maternal grandfather, James Roseman (?) was fortunate in that he had a kind and helpful master who always looked after his slaves. When freedom came, land was granted to her grandfather and there he built a log cabin. Her paternal grandfather George McKinney actually lived in the master's house. She relates stories regarding his family.

22:45--Burials--Mrs. McDonald recalls some of the places in which her family is buried. Some of the churches associated with the cemeteries are no longer active.

31:42--Audio ends.

Side 2

00:30--Mrs. McDonald again discusses her father's work as a sharecropper and the relationship they had with the foreman. The foreman allowed the family to clear some of his land upon which a house was provided, and sell the firewood. This allowed them to make extra money and really helped them get established and become more independent.

4:40--Mrs. McDonald has been involved with the operation of several local nursing homes since the 1950's. She recalls how she became involved in health care, and relates stories of her experiences.

9:30--She remembers the flu epidemic of 1917-1918. It appears that a physician named Dr. Porter visited her home and told the family not to go into town on account of the spread of the sickness. He said that the sickness had been brought back from Europe by returning soldiers who had taken part in World War I.

11:20--Mrs. McDonald had two brothers who took part in World War I. Women really had to assert themselves during this time; they took on the responsibilities normally associated with men. Her brothers never talked much about the conflict.

13:10--She names her siblings.

17:48--Mrs. McDonald explains that she had several siblings that left the immediate area in order to find better employment up north. She names those who left and gives their place of residence.

21:50--Holidays/celebrations--local churches were usually heavily involved in sponsoring holiday and celebration activities.

24:57--Prized processions in her family include her mother's quilts, and her father's hunting rifle. She describes Thanksgiving activities in which the local men would hold "turkey shoot" competitions.

29:00--Aspects of church and Sunday school, as well as relations with whites are recalled from the days of her youth.

31:45--Audio ends.