Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections

This interview was conducted by Dr. George Garrison with Dr. Cynthia Plair Roddey with a focus on the History of Emmett Scott High School. Emmett Scott was the segregated high school for African-Americans, which was named after Emmett Scott, a former aide to Booker T. Washington and President Woodrow Wilson. The school opened in 1920 and was closed in 1970 when full integration was implemented in Rock Hill, SC schools. Dr. Cynthia Plair Roddey was the first African American to attend Winthrop College and graduated with a M.A.T. in library science in August 1967. Dr. Roddey discusses her childhood and her family history dating back to slavery. She also discusses her native American lineage and that her husband was related to prominent Rock Hillian, John T. Roddey who was a longtime Winthrop Board of Trustee member. She worked at Emmett Scott High School for a few years from 1961-1963 as an English teacher and she discusses her experiences there. Dr. Roddey also discusses the Civil Rights movement in Rock Hill.

Ms. Broughton is a Winthrop alumna and former employee. Subjects include Winthrop during the Great Depression, including a discussion of the Winthrop Administration, classes, student life, culture and entertainment, appropriation cuts, faculty/staff housing, Dr. James P. Kinard’s administration, Dr. Shelton Phelps, town girls, out-of-state students, and the American Association of University Professors’ (AAUP) controversy.