Speakers-Lewis D. Moorhead, W.J. Megginson

Audio Quality-Good

Location-Anderson, SC

**Note** Mr. Moorhead is Caucasian. In this interview he shares his recollections of photography in the local black community, gives expert opinion related to likely dates and types of cameras used regarding certain pictures that Megginson has brought with him, discusses prominent local studios, and shares some aspects of the photography and professional studios that helped to produce the TAPS yearbooks at Clemson College.

Side 1

00:47--Meggison begins the interview by mentioning the fact that his uncle J.W. Smith lived adjacent to Mr. Moorhead's property. Mr. Moorhead also knew his mother Ina S. Megginson.

1:52--He has been a professional photographer since December of 1931.

2:25--Moorhead knew of no black photographers in the area until the early 1980's. The particular black gentleman he is speaking of is Phil Leverette of Anderson, SC. He later relocated to Charleston, SC. There were no black photographers in the immediate area for perhaps 80-90 years.

3:40--Studios in the area included Collins (1st in area c. 1908), Green, and Wallace in Anderson; Snipes (c. 1920) in Pelzer; Orr and Downing in Greenville; and Bruce Bell (c. 1940's) in Seneca. Until the 1940's, there were no studios located in Clemson, Westminster, or Easley. Families in these areas relied upon itinerant photographers.

6:30--Technology of photography--photographers used box-type cameras in the early 1900's. Moorhead describes their common dimensions and operation.

7:45--Itinerant photographers took the first photographs of his family around 1912. One individual that can be recalled is Mr. Davenport of Atlanta, GA. He married a woman from Anderson. It usually took one month to six weeks for the developed pictures to be received at the home.

9:55--Moorhead's family got its first camera in 1925. It was a box-type, though it was smaller than the professional version. In his case, film could be bought at local drug stores in either Anderson or Pendleton. Evans Drug Store is where they went specifically. Film could be developed at Green's Studio in Anderson. It usually took 10-14 days.

12:32--When he was young, people preferred formal pictures and settings regardless of whether they were in the studio or not.

13:41--Megginson produces several photographs that depict individuals in the black community in order that Mr. Moorhead can offer his expert opinion.

18:25--Moorhead started his training at Green's Studio in Anderson, SC in 1931.

21:40--Blacks very rarely came to Green's studio for portraits.

22:23--He photographed black weddings, the first being around 1935. It may have been held at St. Paul's Baptist, but he cannot clearly recall.

23:15--A custom in those days was to take photographs of the deceased at funerals. He did this for both white and black families.

25:20--Photography at Clemson College--White Studios of either Philadelphia or Atlanta took the photos for the TAPS yearbooks. Students were responsible for making the casual shots with box cameras.

26:23--Barnett Studios of Clemson--Mr. Barnett started off in the area employed as a weaver at La France. He began a small business in his home taking photographs for the local community before the establishment grew in popularity and he opened up a studio in Clemson during World War II.

28:55--To Mr. Moorhead's knowledge, Tri-County Tech was the first school to locally offer photography courses.

30:00--In Mr. Moorhead's opinion, J.R. Green and Harry Wallace were two of the best photographers in the area.

30:14--Megginson thanks Mr. Moorhead for the interview.

30:28--Audio ends.

Side 2

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