South Carolina Interviews

The South Carolina conference “The South Carolina Woman: Heritage to Horizons” preceded the national conference by several months and took place in Columbia, South Carolina, June 10 & 11, 1977. (State conferences occurred around the country in the summer prior to the National Women’s Conference in Houston in November of that same year.)

South Carolina was one of only three known state conferences that recorded interviews with participants (the other two being New York and Vermont).  This state-level conference collection contains approximately 150 interviews, gathering diverse voices from around the state to provide workshops, identify women’s concerns, and elect delegates to the National Women’s Conference.

Ethel Allen	Originally from Philadelphia, PA Physician Former International Women’s Year Commissioner
Merry Bateman	Columbia, SC 23 years old and support of women’s rights issues
George Blackburn	Retired teacher Furman University Class of 1922 Pro-ERA
Catherine Brisbon	Bishopville, SC Worked with kindergartners Positive assessment of IWY
Malissa Burnette	Columbia, SC Lawyer President of Columbia chapter of NOW Second congressional district coordinator for ERA
Dwight Cargile	West Columbia, SC Interested in women’s career options and working against discrimination
Sarah Cargile	James Island, SC Mother of Nine Attended conference with son and eldest daughter
Septima P. Clark	African-American woman Civil Rights activist Teacher
Jim Clyburn	Sumter, SC Head of SC Human Affairs Commission (in 1977) African-American U.S. Representative for SC’s 6th Congr. District (1993- )
Kathlyn (Kathy) E. Coleman	Interested in women’s rights and creativity Drawn to the women’s movement after her divorce
Betty Corns	Mauldin, SC Reporter Interested in grassroots organizing
Joanne Cox	Columbia, SC Worked at Midlands Technical College Conference critique
Christlee Daniels	Licensed vocational nurse Freelance journalist Military spouse African-American
Bernita DeGraffenreid	Workplace discrimination and pay inequality Assess the women’s liberation movement
Caroline Drakeford	Columbia, South Carolina Traditional expectations of women’s work Hesitant to support the ERA, but believes in workplace fairness
Edith Edwards	Greenville, South Carolina A teacher and a widow Devout Christian Impact of humanism and Communism
Vickie Eslinger	Columbia, South Carolina Lawyer and women’s rights activist Workshop leader: women’s legal rights in the employment sector Attended University of South Carolina
Leah Evans	Bishopville, SC Encouraged to attend by the Department of Social Services
Naomi Feingold	California Student at University of California, Santa Cruz Interested in nursing and midwifery Called for reforms in women’s healthcare
Dorothy McDuffy Fitzpatrick	Columbia, SC African-American woman Leader of workshop on women, counseling, and mental health
Don Fowler	Columbia, SC (from Spartanburg) Chairman, South Carolina Democratic Party (in 1977) Political Science professor, University of South Carolina Chairman, Democratic National Committee (1995-1997)
Dorothy Franklin	McCormick, SC Activist in the Civil Rights Movement and the Women’s Movement NAACP member, African-American woman age 53
Carolyn Frederick	Greenville, SC Pro-ERA legislative efforts Member of American Association of University Women
Laura B. Frederick	Organgeburg, SC Retired third-grade teacher Positive view of the conference
Elaine Fremont	Greenville, SC Reporter for Faith for the Family magazine Supporter of equal rights, but not the ERA
Sara Friedman	Columbia, SC Mental health and counseling professional Not affiliated with any women’s organizations
Tanzella Gaither	Rock Hill, SC 29-year-old graduate student Interested in economic change
Jania Galvin	Columbia, SC (from New York City) Active in the women’s movement, state campaigns, and the Carter presidential campaign
Velma Garrett	Saluda, SC Political activist and mother
Alberta Glover	Ridgeland, SC Senior citizen Discusses workplace discrimination
Gail Ardelia Glover	High school student Mother interviewed too International women’s issues and violence against women
Ruth Glover	Charleston, SC Member of League of Women Voters and the National Association of Women in Construction Interested in senior citizen workshop
Sarah Gobel	Charleston, SC Opposes internationalism and a “one world government”
Eleanor Golar-Williams	Columbia, SC African-American Professor of Social work, University of South Carolina Howard University Alumna
Mary Jane Golden	Kingstree, SC Nun Member of the Provisional League of Women Voters and the Women Religious in South Carolina
Virginia S. Goosey	EEOC officer at the Savannah River Plant Supporter of the women’s movement
Wil Lou Gray	Columbia, SC Age 94 Influential educator and founder of the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School Columbia College alumna
Virginia Grose	Vice President of South Carolina National Bank Advertising and public relations specialist Designed program materials for the conference
Gary F. Hardee	West Columbia, SC Small-business owner Believed IWY should not have a stance on the ERA
Jessica Hatch	Resident of Beaufort, SC (from NY and CA) Journalist, former teacher Military spouse
Teresa Hicks	Columbia, SC Supported women organizing Opposed the amendment
Shirley Holcombe	Charleston, SC Age 54 Anti-ERA and shares views on gay/lesbian rights Discusses women and the draft
Joan B. Hopkins	Campobello, SC Age 47 Interested in women’ rights broadly
Dixie Horton	Columbia, SC Age 30 Interested in the legal status of women and equal employment
Zilla Hinton	Charleston, SC Anti-ERA
James E. Jackson	Columbia, SC Equal Employment Opportunity Officer at Fort Jackson
Mary Jenkins	Beaufort, SC Small business owner Economic issues as relates to women
Betty Jennings	Allendale, SC Employed by Department of Social Services
Jacqueline Johnson	Greenville, SC Employed by Links Community Actions Discusses political and military career opportunities for women
Maryneal Jones	Greenville, SC Newspaper reporter, spouse is a minister Member of the SC State Conference Coordinating Committee
Flossie June	Sumter, SC Childcare worker Attended with two young sons
Janie Kelly	McCormick, SC Head Start employee African-American woman
Angela (Cargile) Kennedy	James Island, SC Concerned about representing young mothers
Marguerite King	Rock Hill, SC Active member of AARP Interested in women’s rights and the rights of retirees
Penelope R. (Penny) King	Spartanburg, SC Juvenile justice counselor From New York City, worked in feminist organizing there
Mildred Knightner	Columbia, SC African-American Director of the credit union at Benedict College
Elizabeth Lashley	Clemson, SC Public school teacher Member, American Association of University Women
Quinton H. Lee	Charleston, SC 30, African-American Worked as an equal opportunity specialist at a shipyard
Rebecca A. (Becky) Lee	Colleton County, SC Former journalist
Helen Lybrand	Columbia, SC Interested in older women’s issues
Lillian Mackey	West Columbia, SC Former student at Dr. Wil Lou Gray’s Opportunity School Worked as a lunch supervisor Earned high school diploma in her 40s
Sharon MacMillan	Sumter, SC Experiences with sex discrimination Described conference as harmonious
Frances Marshall	Johnson, SC Department of Social Services employee
Henry Martin	Columbia, SC Age 44 State Farm Agent Member of Rosewood Baptist Church
Lelia Bell Martin	McCormick County, SC Age 61 African-American
Dolores Melfi	Somerville, SC Seasonal employee Interested in international issues
Annie Mitchell	Beaufort, SC Cosmetologist Interested in women in business and women’s legal rights
Joanne Montague	Greenville, SC Reporter Winthrop University alumna Pro-ERA
Alice Montgomery	Formerly a surgeon’s assistant Discusses workplace discrimination
Bessie Moody	Rock Hill, SC Leader of workshop on biases in education Supported women’s careers in science and engineering
Nancy Moore	Spartanburg, SC University teacher Member of the League of Women Voters and NOW Pro-ERA
Jetty R. Mouzon	Ridgeland, SC Age 58 Social Service Aid with the Department of Social Services Discusses working as a domestic servant for white families as a teenager
Constance Ashton Myers	Born in New York City, lived in South Carolina Age 51 Historian of American Trotskyists, the women’s suffrage movement, and feminism Principal investigator for the IWY Oral History Project Primarily discusses her experience with employment discrimination legal battles
Marie Nelson	Columbia, SC Member of NOW Pro-ERA
Irene Neuffer	Columbia, SC Age 57 Member, South Carolina Commission on the Status of Women
Rene Neuffer	Columbia, SC Age 22
Conyers Norwood	Greenville, SC Attended to give presentation on contemporary South Carolinian women and art Docent at Greenville County Museum of Art
Nancy Owen	Charleston, SC Member of the International Women’s Commission Employed as an inventory management supply technician Union member
Annette Pagels	Greenville, SC Reporter Anti-ERA
George Ann (Mrs. A.E.) Pennebaker	Born in Indiana Age 61 President of Women for Constitutional Government Ball State University alumna
John Perna	Cayce, SC Age 29 Chemist Anti-ERA; Believes the government hinders human rights
Ann Peteri	Columbia, SC Age 38 Political science major at University of South Carolina NOW member; Pro-ERA
Phil Pless	Greenville, SC Bob Jones University graduate Teacher Anti-ERA
Elaine Reed	Darlington, SC Political campaign worker Pro-ERA Interested in divorced women’s rights
Anne W. Rehm	Camden, SC Age 58 Discusses special needs children Former member of the Kershaw County mental health board
Chris Reynolds	Rock Hill, SC Winthrop College instructor Recorder and note taker at conference
Evelyn Richardson	St. George, SC Employed with Berkley-Dorchester Economics Development Cooperation Mother of two Interested in divorced women’s rights
Ellen Robertson	Beaufort County, SC (Washington, D.C.) Nun and director, St. Mary Human Development Center Pro-ERA
Cynthia Roddey	Catawba, SC African-American & Winthrop University graduate Organizing for families
Evilyn Salamony	Starr, SC Retired court reporter Discusses rape crisis centers, domestic violence, and child abuse
Modjeska Monteith Simkins	Columbia, SC Age 78; African-American Leader in public health reform and the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina
Nan Sharkey	Sullivan’s Island, SC Pre-school teacher NOW member Coordinator of a Charleston-area media collective
Liz Sole	Simpsonville, SC State Coordinator for NOW Interested in childcare and child abuse issues
Elaine Stafford	Rock Hill, SC 56 years old
Elisa Staley	Orangeburg, SC High school student Aspiring child psychiatrist
Rook Hoyt Sturgis	Interested in workplace inequality, older women’s rights, and money management Became active in women’s movement after experiencing wage discrimination
Mary Sutherland	North Augusta, SC Age 23 Supports nontraditional parenting and families
Suzanne Thomson	Charleston, SC Member of NOW Pro-ERA Discusses opposition to the women’s movement in Charleston
Judith Thompson	Columbia, SC League of Women Voters, member
Marie Toner	Spartanburg, SC South Carolina IWY Coordinating Committee, member Active in Church Women United
Gladys Swindler	Columbia, SC Age 70 Public affairs chair for the South Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs Supported women’s suffrage in early 1920s as a girl scout
Jane Turner	Spartanburg, SC Age 31 Textiles research technician Pro-ERA
Jason Wages	Blythewood, SC Teacher & part-time graduate student Interested in women’s history
BJ Washington	Columbia, SC Program supervisor, individual and family services, Richland County Dept of Social Services Discusses divorce and single parenting
Sylvia Watts	Columbia, SC Political science major at University of South Carolina 19-year-old African-American woman
Betty Weaver	Rock Hill, SC Writer and reporter Discusses how she became a writer
Donald Welch	Columbia, SC University of South Carolina staff member Interested in women’s studies
Mary Wethington	Homemaker and mother Secretary Believes ERA aims are socialistic
Patricia Weel	Charleston, SC Works as a counselor at a rape crisis center
Lucille Whipper	Charleston, SC Member of the SC IWY Coordinating Committee Interested in the legal rights of women
Mary W. Whitlock	Greenville, SC 87 years old Anti-ERA Discusses Christian beliefs
Joy Wiggins	Goose Creek, SC Senior at Bob Jones University Positive impression of the conference
Kathleen Wilkerson	McCormick, SC Age 49 Head Start volunteer Discusses her difficulties finding paid work to support her large family
Gladys Williams	Bamberg, SC Member of Sisterhood for Humanity Discusses continuing education and conference speakers
Lucy Williamson	Columbia, SC Teenage Program Director at the Columbia YWCA Interested in addressing sexual assault
Zane Wilson	Florence, SC Concerned about clashes between anti-ERA and pro-ERA groups
Shelia Younginer	Lexington, SC Screenwriter at Lexington Intermediate School Discusses discrimination in the workforce