Interview with Virginia Koch

In her January 13, 2015 interview with Michelle Dubert-Bellrichard, Virginia Koch shared the memories of her Winthrop experience from 1970-1974. Koch explains why she attended Winthrop, her experiences with Rat Week, and why she struggled to find a job in her major. Included are the details of why she left South Carolina, and the numerous positions she held thereafter. Koch also shares her perspectives on major transitions at Winthrop and in the South. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.

William Boyce White, Jr. Papers - Accession 1488

The William Boyce White, Jr. Papers consists of his genealogical research as well as his research related to the history of York County and Rock Hill, SC. The papers also include records and manuscripts relating to several of his published works. Mr. White is a Rock Hill native and taught at the Winthrop Training School (WTS) from 1958-1965 and taught at Rock Hill High School following the closing of the high school portion of the WTS. He also taught in Clover before coming to Winthrop. He was the organist at First Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill from 1945 until he moved to Virginia. His interest in local history covers the Rock Hill train depot (included in the collection is a tintype of the original depot ca. 1860s), Colonel William Hill, the Catawba River, Catawba Indians, Rock Hill and York County schools, historic homes (includes several photographs, many of which were used by Elizabeth Reed in her long running series on historic homes in Rock HillEvening Herald), local churches, as well as Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Blackstocks, and York County in general. Of special interest is a copy of the Indian Land Chronicle dated January 21, 1859. Only three copies of the Chronicle are known to exist in the state of South Carolina. The genealogical research conducted by Mr. White covers many of the prominent names of York County and of South Carolina in general. Below is a list of the prominent family names covered in Mr. White’s research: Anderson; Bankhead; Barringer; Bell; Black; Button; Campbell; Carpenter; Coffey; Cowan; Crawford; Culp; Davis; Fennell; Fewell; Graham; Hanna; Hayes; Hill; Hutchison; Irwin/ Erwin; Johnson; Lee; Martin; Massey; McClain; McConnell; McCullough; McFadden; Miller; Mobley; Morrow; Neely; Neil; Patton; Pettus; Plexico/Plaxco; Rives; Robinson; Roddey; Setzer; Stephenson; Strait; Sturgis; Sutton; Templeton; Waggoner; Wallace; Wherry; White; Williams; Williamson; Workman; Wylie.

Six Mile Creek Presbyterian Church, Lancaster County, SC Records - Accession 194 - M86 (110)

The Six Mile Presbyterian Church, Lancaster County, SC Records consist of photocopies of a Six Mile Creek Presbyterian Church ledger, containing minutes of church meetings, registers of pastors, elders and deacons, minutes of the church session, registers of communicants, baptisms and deaths. Six Mile Presbyterian Church was started organized sometime around 1804. Included is a note stating the original ledger was rebound in 1971.

Browne Family Papers - Accession 646

The Browne Family Papers consist mainly of incoming correspondence (mainly from the 1840s to the 1850s) of Newton Browne and Jane Morris Browne from various relatives, together with deeds, wills, indentures, land plats, photographs, and various other papers concerning the Browne Family of Anderson County, South Carolina, but also includes information on the allied families of Breazeale, Carpenter, Dobbins, Gunnin, Hillhouse, McFall, McGregor, and Morris.

Knox-Wise Family Papers - Accession 591

The Knox-Wise Family Papers includes a land grant issued to John Knox in 1768; diaries written by Dr. John Knox [1792-1859] covering the 1840s and 1850s; James N. Knox [1806-1880] covering 1859-1880; and William D. Knox [1847-1928] covering 1869-1928; indentures, deeds, receipts, court summonses and other papers of Hugh Knox [1757-1821], sheriff and justice of the peace in Chester County, South Carolina (ca. 1780s and 1790s); correspondence of James N. Knox, correspondence, and other professional papers of Dr. John Knox; correspondence, and other papers of William D. Knox, Superintendent of Education in Chester County from 1896-1928. Papers of various other members of the Knox and Wise families including Hugh Boyd Knox [1814-1886], Robert Knox [1796-1879], Sally Knox Wallace [1803-1901], Alexander Walker Wise, and Emmie R. Knox [1885-1969]; family histories of the Knox, Wise, Dunlap, Gaston, and Wilks families; church histories, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Also included are three published volumes of the United Confederate Veterans Minutes of the 21st (1911) and 25th (1915) Annual Meeting and Reunion; and the minutes of the annual reunion of the South Carolina Division of the United Confederate Veterans (1921-1927).

Thomas Belue Collection - Accession 35 - M11 (21)

The Thomas Belue Collection consists of the diary of Thomas Belue of Union County, South Carolina. He enrolled as a private in the Confederate Army in Co. F, Captain C.W. Boyd’s , 15th SCV. The diary covers August, 1861 to September, 1863, and May 1864. Belue describes battles fought in South Carolina, Georgia,Tennessee, and Virginia, mileage covered, camp life and events that occurred during his time in the army. The collection also includes biographical information, genealogical information, a partial transcript of the diary, and copies of Belue’s military records. In addition there is a tintype in a case of Belue in his uniform, two copies of the tintype, and photographs of his gravestone at Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery in Union County, South Carolina.

York County Municipal Association Records - Accession 256 - M109 (140)

The York County Municipal Association Records consist of by-laws, correspondence, minutes, agenda notes and financial records of the organization whose principle objective is to develop the Association as an agency for the cooperation of the municipalities of York County.

Samuel Avon Smith Diary- Accession 284 - M121 (154)

The Samuel Avon Smith Diary is a journal written Samuel Avon Smith who was a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War (Company H, 5th Regiment, SC) and a doctor. The journal was written from ca. 1830-1876 or beyond (some pages have been destroyed). The first part is a reminiscence of his life from 1830 to ca. 1873 and from that point on he gives a monthly account of life in Bullock’s Creek, SC. Subjects covered in the journal are the battles of Manassas and Seven Pines, Confederate Troops at Leesburg, the reorganization of the Confederate Army, the march to Richmond, the conditions of the troops, wounds received at the battle of Seven Pines and his medical treatment at the Confederate hospital in Manchester, Virginia, his education at the Ebenezer Academy and the Medical College of SC in Charleston; his life, practice, and health conditions in Gaston County, NC, Lincoln County, NC, and in Bullock’s Creek, SC; and sentiments towards the reconstruction government and Ku Klux Klan. There is also mention of a conflict between Blacks and Whites in Chester County, SC in 1871.

York County Photographs - Accession 38 - M13 (23)

One photograph depicts, the “Klan Oak” located 2 miles south of Fort Mill, Route #36. Tradition says the Ku Klux Klan in the Eastern part of York County in late 1800s gathered here. The other photograph is the school established on Saluda Street by Willie Chisholm for purpose of training black females as maids.

Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church of Chester County Records

The Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church of Chester County Records include an historical statement (1839) on its origin and development by one of its pastors Rev. John B. Davies, and copies of entries for various sessions containing information on how the church handled misconduct of its members.