Weaving Our History Textile Heritage Project

The Greenville County Library in partnership with the Greenville Textile Heritage Society are working on a project titled “Weaving Our History” that is designed to create a lasting record of the economic and cultural impact of the textile industry in Greenville. The project involves a history harvest, exhibits and events taking place from April – October 2014 and culminating in the annual Textile Heritage Festival on October 4 – 5, 2014. SC Humanities supported this program with a Major Grant in February 2014.

In the 1920s, the textile industry in Greenville was so vigorous that Greenville was known as the “Textile Capital of the World.” This history had not only a strong economic impact on Greenville but also influenced cultural and social patterns, religion, education, sports, and more.

The Greenville County Library is collecting photos and artifacts that reflect this intricate history through an ongoing History Harvest project. Photos and other materials related to the textile history of the area can be brought to the South Carolina Room at the Hughes Main Library, where they will be scanned and added to a new digital collection that can be viewed through the Greenville library’s website as well as through the South Carolina Digital Library and the Digital Public Library of America.

Additionally, a variety of public programs will be taking place in August – October that will culminate in the annual Textile Heritage Festival on October 4 – 5, 2014:

Saturday, August 2, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Weaving Our History: Cotton Mill Music
Music Historian Hunter Holmes takes you on a musical journey through local history by performing the cotton mill music of the Piedmont region.
Part of the “Weaving Our History” project
Sponsored by the Greenville County Library
Location: Main Branch of the Greenville County Library (Meeting Rooms A and B), 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville, SC 29601
Free and open to the public
Info: 864-242-5000, x2293

Thursday, August 28, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Weaving Our History: Book Discussion of “Linthead: Growing Up in a Carolina Cotton Mill Village”
Book discussion of Linthead: Growing Up in a Carolina Cotton Mill Village by Wilt Browning
Part of the “Weaving Our History” project
Sponsored by the Greenville County Library
Location: Simpsonville Branch Library, 626 NE Main Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681
Free and open to the public
Info: 864-242-5000, x2293

Thursday, August 28, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Weaving Our History: Book Discussion of “The Whiskey Baron”
Author Jon Sealy will discuss his book The Whiskey Baron
A book signing will follow the discussion
Part of the “Weaving Our History” project
Sponsored by the Greenville County Library
Location:  Hughes Main Branch, 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville, SC 29601
Free and open to the public
Info: 864-242-5000, x2293

Tuesday, September 9, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Weaving Our History – Book Discussion of “The Invention of Wings”
Book Discussion of The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Part of the “Weaving Our History” project
Sponsored by the Greenville County Library
Location:  Augusta Road Branch of the Greenville County Library, 100 Lydia Street, Greenville, SC 29605
Free and open to the public
Info: 864-242-5000, x2293

Thursday, September 11, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Weaving Our History: Greer Mill Memories
Greer Heritage Museum Historian Joada Hiatt and local author Ray Belcher share a historical overview of the mill villages of Greer. Bring your photographs, letters, and diaries to share.
Part of the “Weaving Our History” project
Sponsored by the Greenville County Library
Location: Greer Branch of the Greenville County Library, 505 Pennsylvania Avenue, Greer, SC 29650
Free and open to the public
Info: 864-242-5000, x2293

Thursday, September 18, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Weaving Our Histories: Historic Mill Preservation
Award-winning architect and president of Campbell Meek and Associates, Architects, Inc., Martin Meek, discusses the redesigning of mill villages in the early twentieth century and shares how mill villages can qualify to be on the National Register of Historic Places.
Part of the “Weaving Our History” project
Sponsored by the Greenville County Library
Location: Fountain Inn Branch of the Greenville County Library, 311 North Main Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644
Free and open to the public
Info: 864-242-5000, x2293

Monday, September 22, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Weaving Our History: Book Discussion of “The Most They Ever Had”
Book discussion of The Most They Ever Had by Rick Bragg
Part of the “Weaving Our History” project
Sponsored by the Greenville County Library
Location: Traveler’s Rest Branch Library, 17 Center Street, Traveler’s Rest, SC 29690
Free and open to the public
Info: 864-242-5000, x2293

Thursday, September 25, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Weaving Our History: Book Discussion of “Silver Star”
Book discussion of Silver Star by Jeannette Walls
Part of the “Weaving Our History” project
Sponsored by the Greenville County Library
Location: Simpsonville Branch Library, 626 NE Main Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681
Free and open to the public
Info: 864-242-5000, x2293

Thursday, September 25, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Weaving Our History: Forgotten Textile Communities
Genealogical and historical researcher Penny Forrester discusses the history of the mill town communities of Renfrew and Slater. View memorabilia from the mills and hear former mill workers share experiences of living in a mill village.
Part of the “Weaving Our History” project
Sponsored by the Greenville County Library
Location: Traveler’s Rest Branch Library, 17 Center Street, Traveler’s Rest, SC 29690
Registration required
Info: 864-242-5000, x2293

Sat, Oct 4, 10:00a-5:00p & Sun, Oct 5, 2:00p-5:00p
Textile Festival  
Join us for the Greenville Textile Heritage Society’s Annual Festival. Learn how Greenville was shaped by its textile mill industry. Hear about community life in mill villages and textile league baseball teams and explore exhibits of textile related photographs and documents. Enjoy music from the Greenville Textile Heritage Band, singer Kay Crow, harpist Rehab Hackett, and local chorale groups.
The mission of The Humanities CouncilSC is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. SC Humanities programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity, and are ethical in operations.

Image: Black and white photograph of men demonstrating the strength of the cloth next to a stitching machine. From the J.P. Stevens Collection, Clemson University Libraries. Digitized with the permission of Clemson University Libraries.