Oral history interview with Clara Withers Berryhill, 2013

Partial Transcript: HT: Today is May 11, 2013, and my name is Hermann Trojanowski.

Segment Synopsis: Interview introduction.

Partial Transcript: HT: If you would, tell me something about your background, when and where you were born, a little bit about your family, and that sort of thing.

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes her early life and family. She mentions her parents giving her education a lot of attention. Berryhill also describes her time in high school, including her favorite subjects.

Partial Transcript: HT: Okay. Well, why did you choose to attend Woman's College? What-

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes her motivations in attending Womens College, especially inspiration from her high school physics teacher (Julian Powell).

Partial Transcript: HT: Were you able to get a scholarship?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes a few scholarships that she recieved from Woman's College and the United Negro College Fund.

Partial Transcript: HT: So what do you recall about your first days on campus as a student? I guess that was the fall of 1958.

CB: Yes, it was, fall of 1958.

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes her trip up to Woman's College, and her first several days on campus. This includes a description of getting lost on the way to the University, moving into the dorms, and meeting roommates.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, did you get a chance to meet JoAnne Smart Drane those first few days by any chance?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes the other African-American students she met on campus, as well as the Jewish girls that she met. Berryhill also describes the setup of the rooms and bathrooms.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, tell me more about Bettye because, you know, unfortunately she died a number of years ago, very young.

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes her memories of Bettye Tillman, and life lessons she took from both Bettye and UNCG.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, you said you lived at Shaw the first year; did you live in Shaw the second and third year?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill continues to describe living in the dorms. Berryhill describes living in Ragsdale-Mendenhall, and the students she spent time with.

Partial Transcript: CB: But one of the bad memories we have because we were on tat side: One night the Ku Klux Klan came in, one day.

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes an incident where the Ku Klux Klan came to the Woman's College campus to intimidate the early black students.

Partial Transcript: CB: Now in that dorm we visited other girls and so forth, so it wasn't- As I was saying, there was this one girl from Ahoskie...

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill continues to describe living in the dorms, including the rules and regulations of the University.

Partial Transcript: CB: What did they call where you go down to the stores, The Corner.

HT: The Corner, right.

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes instances of discrimination she would face from businesses in Greensboro, including at The Corner.

Partial Transcript: CB: And of course I was there during the Sit-Ins in Greensboro.

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes her memories and involvement with the Greensboro Sit-Ins, including other students who sat in, and the response from the administration.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, do you recall anything else about participating in the Sit-ins or any other political protests while you were on campus?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes discrimination and racism she faced in some of the classes at Woman's College, especially by her health professor.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, what did you think of the dining hall, and the dining hall food? Was that adequate and nutritious?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill briefly describes the dining hall experience.

Partial Transcript: CB: Yes, I did live in Spencer one year. Or did I just hang out there?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes several of her friends and classmates at Woman's College. She describes several students who flunked out.

Partial Transcript: CB: My granddaughter wanted to go to High Point College-

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes visiting UNCG with her granddaughter. Berryhill discusses trying to get her granddaughter to attend UNCG.

Partial Transcript: HT: But this sort of leads us into- You know, you were talking about A&T and social life. What kind of social life were you able to have at Woman's College in those days?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes some social activities that she participated in while at Woman's College, including a trip down to Chapel Hill to meet men and playing bridge.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, what do you recall about campus traditions? You've already mentioned the class jacket.

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes what she remembers about campus traditions, as well as her thoughts on Woman's College becoming co-educational.

Partial Transcript: HT: Did you ever feel- I think we've already probably mentioned this a little bit- being discriminated against because you were black at Woman's College?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill continues to describe discrimination from fellow students and faculty while at Woman's College.

Partial Transcript: HT: Did you ever have a history teacher by the name of Richard Bardolph?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes her memories of Dr. Richard Bardolph at Woman's College, then the head of the History Department.

Partial Transcript: HT: Now Randall Jarrell was a poet on campus. Did you-

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill briefly describes her memories of Woman's College English professor and Poet Randall Jarrell.

Partial Transcript: HT: Did you ever have a chance to meet Barbara Parrish, who was alumni secretary?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill briefly describes meeting the alumni secretary Barbara Parrish at alumni meetings in the area.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, do you recall who your favorite teacher was during those four years you were at Woman's College?

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes her favorite professors at Woman's College, including her physics teacher and her speech teacher.

Partial Transcript: HT:Alright, well what did you do after you graduated from Woman's College? Tell me a little bit about what you've been doing since then.

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes her career path after graduating from Woman's College. Berryhill describes working as a teacher in Washington DC, As a Systems Engineer for IBM, a computer programmer for Goddard Space Flight Center, and as the bursar for Howard University. She also describes becoming the director of a bridge organization.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, it sounds like you've been involved in the university a little bit since you left, which is wonderful.

Segment Synopsis: Berryhill describes how Woman's College affected her life, and how she has interacted with the university since graduation.

Partial Transcript: HT: Wokay. Well, I don't have any more formal questions.

Segment Synopsis: Interview conclusion.