William Saunders Oral History Interview

Created by

Civil Rights History Project, American, founded 2009

Interview of

Saunders, William, American, born 1935

Interviewed by

Taylor, Kieran Walsh

Subject of

Jenkins, Esau, American, 1910 - 1972

Highlander Folk School, American

Charleston Hospital Workers Movement, American, 1968 - 1969

Date

June 9, 2011

Medium

digital

Dimensions

Duration: 01:23:43

Description

The oral history consists of four digital files: 2011.174.27.1a, 2011.174.27.1b, 2011.174.27.1c, and 2011.174.27.1d.

William Saunders remembers his childhood on Johns Island, South Carolina, and working with Esau Jenkins, a local civil rights leader. He recalls serving in the army during the Korean War, attending the Highlander Folk School, and working at a mattress factory. He also discusses founding the Lowcountry Newsletter, helping the workers in the Charleston Hospital Strike of 1969, and running unsuccessfully for the state senate.

LOC ID: afc2010039_crhp0027

Place collected

Charleston, Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

Johns Island, Charleston+County"&op=Search">Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America

Collection title

Civil Rights History Project

Classification

Media Arts-Film and Video

Movement

Civil Rights Movement

Type

video recordings

oral histories

digital media - born digital

Topic

Activism

American South

Civil rights

Education

Korean War, 1950-1953

Labor

Mass media

Politics

Social reform

U.S. History, 1961-1969

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in partnership with the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Object number

2011.174.27.1a-d

Restrictions & Rights

© Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and The American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Usage

Usage conditions apply

GUID

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd59da103e0-e32a-4bd1-8355-ae9062944c9d