Speakers-Lizzie Oglesby, Yolanda Harrell

Audio Quality-Good

Location-Central, SC

Cassette 1

Side 1

2:14--George Owens was her paternal step-grandfather.

2:42--Her family lived on land owned by Anderson, SC native Thurston Martin. They had a sharecropping agreement with him.

4:45-7:19--She explains that most of her family members are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Anderson, SC, while her father is buried at Mountain Springs. She explains that during funerals, the foreman would provide the money upfront for the burial services and utilize the sharecropping system for payment.

7:21-12:30--Mrs. Oglesby recalls marriages and families she is related to, explains that both her parents and grandparents were sharecroppers, and lists some of the foods that were commonly grown.

12:32-19:40--Jobs that were commonly open to black men and women are discussed before recollections of area shopping, the making of handmade clothing, and furniture related issues are given. The family's oldest possessions have been lost in a series of house fires.

22:54--Mrs. Oglesby had twelve children; six boys and six girls.

23:09--Her mother Alice was a talented seamstress who was gifted at quilting and sewing. She could read but not write.

23:26--Music seems to be a family talent; most were talented singers and one of her sisters could play the guitar.

25:27--She can recall hard times being spoken of in the household. She herself can recall "scrapping" cotton, which is the process of attempting to utilize the leftover cotton that is originally not processed for use. She also can remember the flu epidemic of 1917-1918.

29:26--Church--her family denomination was Baptist. They attended Evergreen Baptist, which was a small country church near Anderson, SC. She can remember a minister named Scott Jones from her youth; she reflects on aspects of his ministry. In those days, preaching at her church was only held once a month, with the rest of the services devoted to Sunday school.

31:43--Audio ends.

Cassette 1

Side 2

00:10--Aspects of local church life continue to be discussed. Communion, revivals, other local denominations, singing conventions, and favorite songs are recalled. Sunday school was held every week; preaching occurred just once a month.

11:36--School--Mrs. Oglesby began her education at church sponsored school at Evergreen Baptist. She recalls the schoolhouse, teachers, the typical school year, lunch breaks, etc. Her education stopped sometime during her sixth grade year on account of farming. Her sister Emma Mae was the first in the family to attend college.

23:25--After her mother died 1920, Mrs. Oglesby lived for a brief time in Greenville, SC with her uncle. During that time, she worked as a cook in a Greenville hotel that was located close to the Southern Railroad Depot

25:34--She discusses reading materials provided in school and at home. She also recalls the differences between black and white schools.

29:03--Her mother was a member of the WMWA, which was a church mission group. Mrs. Oglesby explains their activities in the community.

31:45--Audio ends.

Cassette 2

Side 1

1:00-9:20--Mrs. Oglesby briefly discusses the fact that individuals in her family were free prior to the Civil War before recalling what she was told of how blacks were treated by whites during slavery. She herself was never warned in regards to how one should act around whites. She again refers to her parent's employment with the Thurston Martin farms in Anderson, SC. According to Mrs. Oglesby, Mr. Martin was a good foreman who was fair to his workers. She was fearful of law enforcement as a child because there were frightening stories of how they treated blacks. The man in her family was the head of the household. She discusses the relationship between blacks and mulattos; there was some friction occasionally.

9:24-23:40--Mrs. Oglesby grew up in Anderson, so the family would occasionally go to the Fairgrounds in order to watch the circus parade. She then discusses her move to Greenville at age 17 with her uncle John Jenkins after her mother died. She recalls train trips to and from Greenville, and comments on how there were more job opportunities for blacks in Greenville as opposed to those who grew up in rural areas. Holidays such as July 4th and Christmas were important, while birthdays and anniversaries were not celebrated in her family.

23:45-27:10--Mrs. Oglesby discusses her mother, a midwife, who died in 1920, recalls the adjustments that her family had to make in the wake of this death, and makes comment regarding memories of the flu epidemic of 1917-1918. She then names many of her siblings, and relates stories regarding their spouses.

31:42--Audio ends.

Cassette 2

Side 2

00:07-9:05--Mrs. Oglesby discusses her brother-in-law's career in the military, her father's most prized processions, her feelings on being black and how she got along with whites, names her twelve children and highlights their careers and accomplishments, and recalls aspects regarding her education (curriculum, books, and teachers).

14:55-21:50--Mrs. Oglesby talks about the family of her stepfather as well as a series of house fires that destroyed many older possessions.

23:09---Harrell thanks Mrs. Oglesby for the interview.

25:54--Audio ends.