Speakers-Hiawatha Pettigrew, Audrey Lawrence

Audio Quality-Good

Location-Seneca, SC

Side 1

00:40--The interview begins with a discussion of Seneca Junior College. It had closed before she had finished high school. She is unaware of why the school closed. The president's house had been torn down the previous year; her father-in-law helped to construct it. Seneca Jr. College had a curriculum that focused on teaching and ministry.

2:30--Mrs. Pettigrew started school at Bethel Grove, and then went on to Oconee County Training School.

4:32--Differences between white and black schools--Mrs. Pettigrew had to walk five miles to and from class; white children were given bus service. She would sometimes ride to school with Lizzie Kibler, who was a local teacher. The reading material wasn't as up to date as what whites were provided, and the schoolhouse was a little more run-down. She knew these things weren't right, but hoped that progress would be made over time.

8:31--Her grandfather was a slave. He didn't work in the fields; rather he was the master's personal chauffer. He took care of aspects regarding horses and riding carriages.

11:43--Her family members are buried at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church.

12:33--Her father worked with the local cotton gin (not sure whether it was for the Nimmon's or Gignilliat family), Orr Mill, and the Blue Ridge Railroad (building railroad bridges).

15:14--Mrs. Pettigrew attended Friendship College in Rock Hill as well as summer school at Benedict College.

16:31--She recalls homemade cloths and the process of making underwear out of sugar sacks. Many of the women in her family could do embroidery, knit, and crochet.

19:37--Mrs. Pettigrew had one brother and four sisters.

19:43--Her family grew most of its own food items. Fruits and vegetables were canned at home, and livestock were utilized for milk and meat. There were no refrigerators in those days, so milk bottles were kept in creek beds or in wells.

23:15--Weddings weren't fancy in the old days; individuals usually would just appear before the preacher to get married.

24:21--Funerals--the WMWA would often donate money to families of members as an early form of insurance.

25:50--Mrs. Pettigrew can remember remarking to her father that one day blacks would attend Clemson College. He affirmed that they probably would, but not within his lifetime. Harvey Gantt enrolled at Clemson one year after her father died.

27:19--Prejudice against blacks--blacks couldn't eat inside of many establishments; meals would be handed out the back window for instance. As a youth she noticed that blacks always had to be respectful around whites, saying "yes, sir" and "no, sir" for example. Blacks had to walk to school and would often be harassed by whites on passing school buses.

29:58--Mrs. Pettigrew has relatives who looked white; there may have been friction between the lighter and darker hues in her family.

31:44--Audio ends.

Side 2

00:07--Mrs. Pettigrew talks briefly about integration and issues that may have led to the movement.

1:20--She states that "...we didn't get our color from Africa." Her family has a mixture of African, Caucasian, and Native American ancestry.

3:09--Mrs. Pettigrew recalls camp meetings, singing conventions, and occasions on which whites would attend black churches such as her own; Mt. Nebo Baptist.

8:20-11:00--Mrs. Pettigrew discusses hot suppers, local church baseball teams at Bethel Grove, New Hope, New Holly Light, and Townville before briefly mentioning that she has experienced a local earthquake.

11:51--Holidays/ celebrations--Christmas was an especially cherished holiday, where children anticipated a visit from Santa Claus who would bring presents, candy, and fruits. Houses were decorated with Christmas trees. Birthdays were not celebrated as elaborately as they are today.

17:25--Mrs. Pettigrew really doesn't think she would change anything about her life; she feels that she has been well blessed.

18:28--Several of her children attended college. Among the schools they attended are Howard, Hope College in NY, University of Pittsburg, Central Wesleyan, Tuskegee, Anderson College, and the University of South Carolina.

22:14--Audio ends.