Unit Title:
Oral histories of the Robert E. McNair gubernatorial administration (1965-1971), 1979-1983
Accumulation:
1979-1983
Created:
1979-1983
Creator:
Dept. of Archives and History. --Archives and Publications Division
Physical Description:
none
Language:
English
Biography or History:
This series is the product of an oral history project that grew out of former Governor McNair's concern that his papers would not adequately document the tragic confrontation at Orangeburg on February 8, 1968, and the desire of a group of his associates to more thoroughly document his administration. The associates contributed funds to purchase necessary equipment, and the Department of Archives and History administered the project. Most of the interviews were conducted by Dr. Cole Blease Graham of the University of South Carolina, but some were also conducted by Dr. John J. Duffy of the university and by the department's staff member Dr. Steven P. Gietschier. Dr. Gietschier administered the project, supervised transcription, and edited the transcripts. When Dr. Gietschier left the department in 1986, the transcripts of the interviews with Governor McNair and his wife had not been put in final form. In 2002-2004, Dr. Charles H. Lesser of the department's staff performed a final edit. Governor McNair read his transcripts and made a few corrections in 2004.
Custodial History:
This series consists of audio tape recordings and transcripts of oral history interviews with thirty-eight persons in or closely connected with the administration of Gov. Robert E. McNair, 1965-1971. The transcripts cover most aspects of the governance, politics, economics, and history of the period.
Custodial History:
Persons interviewed and their positions at the time McNair was governor are as follows: E. Kenneth Aycock, State Health Officer; Thomas E. Barton, Jr., President, Greenville Technical College; Solomon Blatt, Sr., Speaker, S.C. House of Representatives; Cyril B. Busbee, State Superintendent of Education; O. Wayne Corley, Legal Assistant to the Governor; Robert S. Davis, Chairman of the Board, R. L. Bryan Company; Senator Rembert C. Dennis; F. Earl Ellis, Sr., Director, State Personnel Division; Dr. R. Archie Ellis, Director, Department of Public Welfare; Thomas P. Evans, Director, Division of Research and Statistical Services; Warren Giese, Chairman, Recreation Commission; Senator L. Marion Gressette; Philip G. Grose, Jr., Speechwriter and Press Secretary; J. Robert Hickman, News Secretary and Director, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; Dwight Holder, Chairman, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Commission; James S. Konduros, Director, S.C. Appalachian Council and Executive Assistant to the Governor; Henry L. Lake, Legal Assistant to the Governor; Thomas O. Lawton, the governor's former law partner, campaign chairman, and Chairman, S.C. Tricentennial Commission; Charles E. Lee, Director, Dept. of Archives and History; William Leeke, Commissioner, Dept. of Corrections; Mrs. Desree Jenkins Lightle, 1965 Mrs. America and worker on the beautification and tourism programs; Furman E. McEachern, Director, Division of General Services; William A. McInnis, State Planning and Grants Division; Attorney General Daniel R. McLeod; First Lady Josephine Robinson McNair; Earle E. Morris, Jr., Chairman, S.C. Democratic Party; Dr. James A. Morris, Chairman, Board of Economic Advisors, and Commissioner of Higher Education; Dr. M. Maceo Nance, Jr., President, South Carolina State College; Grady L. Patterson, State Treasurer; David C. Sennema, Director, S.C. Arts Commission; Patrick C. Smith, State Auditor; J. Preston Strom, Chief, State Law Enforcement Divsion; O. Frank Thornton, Secretary of State; John Tiller, State Forester; Estelline P. Walker, Executive Secretary, State Library Board; Robert C. Wasson, Chairman, State Tax Commission; and Katherine W. Wolfe, Administrative Assistant to Governor McNair.
Acquisition Information:
Governor (1975-1979: Edwards)
Scope and Content:
unspecified
Appraisal Information:
unspecified
Accruals:
no
Arrangement:
Transcripts are arranged alphabetically by interviewee.
Conditions Governing Access:
none
Conditions Governing Use:
The final edited transcripts are generally used for research. By terms of the donor agreements only those edited and released transcripts may be duplicated for individual scholars, but the tapes could be duplicated for reference deposit at other research centers. The interviews with former governor McNair and his wife, which were previously restricted by terms of the donor agreements, were opened in July 2006.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements:
none
Other Finding Aid:
none
Location of Originals:
SCDAH
Alternative Form Available:
The interviews with the former governor are also available on-line on the website of the South Carolina Political Collections, University of South Carolina. A CD-ROM of the transcripts of the interviews with former governor McNair (in Microsoft Word) is filed with the use copies of those transcripts.
Related Material:
none
Bibliography:
none
Other Descriptive Data:
Oral histories of African-American individuals involved in the incident at Orangeburg were conducted by College of Charleston in 2001. The material produced by these interviews is held at the Avery Resarch Center of the College.
Processing Information:
None
