IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN - A special tribute to our 2020 graduates - USC Upstate
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
A magazine for alumni and friends of the
University of South Carolina Upstate
SPRING 2020
IN A CLASS OF
THEIR OWN
A special tribute to our
2020 graduates
Drone Wars Homespun History Looking Ahead
How an army in the What a mill can teach A glimpse of the
sky could fight fires us about a community campus of the future
This summer, we're offering more than
300 classes taught entirely online by
our world-class faculty.
Stay UP and running this
summer at USC Upstate!
@uscupstate @USCUpstate usc_upstate www.uscupstate.edu/summer
UP Magazine
SPRING 2020
10 / New Leadership Volume 2, Issue 1
Nick Gaffney named Director of
Center for African American Studies A magazine for alumni and friends of the
University of South Carolina Upstate
MANAGING EDITOR
Jessica Blais
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Elizabeth Anderson
Trevor Anderson
DESIGN
Bridget Kirkland
Hannah West
Veronica Quick
PHOTOGRAPHY
Les Duggins
26 / History Lessons 50 / Team Effort WEB DESIGN
Archivist preserves Upstate ’s past Ingles, USC Upstate partnership built Eric Swearengin
Brandon Vanover
on shared goals
MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER
Javier Rivera
A Letter From the Chancellor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ATHLETICS
Spartan Standouts
INSTITUTIONAL NEWS
Inducted Into Hall of Fame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 CONTACT US
UMC@uscupstate.edu
New Master Plan Reveals Promising Future . . . . . . 4 Sports Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Housing Options Grow Near Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Athletics Honors Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
MAILING ADDRESS
Schecter Joins USC Upstate as Provost . . . . . . . . . . 6 ATTN: UP Magazine
ADVANCEMENT University Marketing and Communications
New Programs Reflect Employer Needs . . . . . . . . . . 6
Jolley Takes Leadership 800 University Way
Picture Perfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Role with USC Upstate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Spartanburg, South Carolina 29303
Alumni News
FEATURES UP Magazine is published by the USC Upstate Office
Young Alumni Honored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
A Stitch in Time: of University Advancement. Diverse views appear in
Homecoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
History Lessons From a Mill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 these pages and do not necessarily reflect the views of
Scholarship Luncheon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Threading the Needle: the editors or the official policies of the University.
Alumni Luncheons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Local Textile Firms Adapt and Thrive . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Founders Day Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Drone Wars: How an
Army in the Sky Could Fight Fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SPECIAL SECTION
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS Upstate Honors the Class of 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Colleges Come Together
CLIF'S NOTES
on New Dual Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
USC Takes Note of Provost Says Farewell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Commercial Music Professor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 |1
ADMINISTRATION Letter from
J. Derham Cole, Jr., J.D.
Interim Chancellor THE CHANCELLOR
Clif Flynn, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
David Schecter, Ph.D.
Incoming Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for At the risk of overusing a term, While I am confident we will soon
Academic Affairs
“unprecedented” seems to best return to a time when we can gather
Daniel Feig, J.D.
Director of Athletics and
describe the challenges we’ve faced together safely, we must honor the
Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics this semester as a campus Class of 2020 in new ways, paying
Kimberly Jolley community and as a nation. The tribute to the resilience they have
Interim Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and COVID-19 pandemic is, indeed, demonstrated this spring. In this issue
Executive Director of University Foundations unprecedented. It has changed the of UP Magazine, we have included a
Robert Katz, Ph.D. way we operate. It has changed the special section dedicated to all those
Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of way we communicate. It has changed who would have celebrated
Students
the way we do just about everything, Commencement with their families on
Donette Stewart
Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services
from shopping for groceries to the quad in May. We feature some
earning a college degree. students whose memories of their
Sheryl Turner-Watts
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration But from this mysterious, perplexing time on campus will inspire those
Alphonso Atkins, Jr., J.D.
time, I have seen change that will, who follow.
Chief Diversity Officer and EO/Title IX Coordinator undoubtedly, make our university and Our stories of student achievement
Jessica Blais the world a better place. I have seen have not changed. We are proud to be
Associate Vice Chancellor for faculty and students make a shift to graduating teachers who have learned
Strategic Communications and Marketing remote teaching and learning, out of necessity to be nimble in the
Adam Long enhancing our preparedness for an ways they share knowledge with their
Chief Information Officer
uncertain future. We have gained students, many of whom are learning
Stacey Mills invaluable experience in how to online for the first time. Our new
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Regional Engagement and
Executive Director of USC Upstate Greenville Campus
ensure the safety of our campus nurses enter the profession at a time
community under the most trying of when they have never been needed or
Kim Purdy, Ph.D.
Dean of University College and circumstances, working closely with admired more. And due in part to this
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs federal and state health organizations. pandemic, young psychologists and
Khrystal Smith, Ph.D. And we have come together as entrepreneurs may have come to
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Engagement and professionals, colleagues and know firsthand how much their work
Retention Initiatives
mentors in ways perhaps only a crisis matters. We are so proud of the Class
Pam Steinke, Ph.D. can spark—all in the best interest of of 2020. They have already overcome
Vice Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for
Academic Affairs this university and the students and adversity of historical magnitude, and
communities we serve. their experience will prepare them to
2 | UP Magazine
SPARTANBURG COUNTY
COMMISSION FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION
Vic Bailey III
Dr. David Church, '92
Bill Cobb, '74
meet myriad challenges in the future. partner in the community, joins USC Patrick Cutler
Our faculty continue to shine Upstate to lead our foundation and Dr. David Eubanks
despite these challenging times. In fundraising initiatives. And, Dr. David Anne Flynn
this issue, you will read about several Schecter takes the reins as provost, Dr. Ron Garner, '94
of our professors who are awaiting a as Dr. Clif Flynn begins to enjoy Scott Heath
decision on a prestigious grant from retirement, a well-deserved respite Ben Hines
the National Endowment for the after serving USC Upstate for more Jason Maertens
Humanities (NEH). This is a timely, than 32 years. Cathy McCabe
exciting project that puts It is an honor and a privilege to Ryan McCarty
Spartanburg’s rich history as a mill serve as Interim Chancellor. Together, Harold McClain
town into the spotlight, one that we will continue on our upward Eddie Payne
illuminates the talent of this team and trajectory to achieve new levels of Chip Smith, '78
John Travers
the role we can all play in teaching the educational excellence.
Tommy Young
past to improve the future. You will
also read why Dr. Nolan Stolz was
EX-OFFICIO
named a Breakthrough Star for 2020
Toney Lister
by our flagship university, the
USC System Board of Trustees
University of South Carolina, and you
will be charmed by a story of J. Derham Cole, Jr., J.D. EMERITI
friendship that spans more than 40 Interim Chancellor Charles Babb
years and ends with Dr. Lynette Jane Bottsford, '69
Gibson helping to develop an online Jim Smith '72
program for nurses in Bermuda. You
will learn about a new partnership
between the university and Ingles
Markets, one that has already
benefitted students who have found
these times particularly difficult.
Finally, we introduce you to some USC Upstate bid farewell to Chancellor Brendan
new Spartans and say goodbye to Kelly in February. His portrait, pictured above right,
others. Kimberly Jolley, a longtime now hangs in the Administration building lobby.
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 |3
INSTITUTIONAL NEWS
New Master Plan Reveals Promising Future
As part of its annual Founders Day Chancellor J. Derham Cole, Jr. hundreds of USC Upstate graduates.
ceremony, USC Upstate unveiled a “The plan will require continued Other features are dedicated alumni
new Master Plan that illustrates the collaboration among university, and athletic performance centers, and
potential for growth on campus. The community and government leaders, a convocation center that could serve
plan is intended to be implemented and I am committed to being USC as an asset to the entire county, while
over an extensive period of time – Upstate’s advocate in that dialogue.” also providing the university with an
between five and 20 years – and The future calls for a number of new essential meeting and event venue. As
includes short-, mid- and long-term buildings, including a much-needed with the other large-scale projects, a
projects. The proposed plan will annex for the library and an expansion convocation center would be done in
enhance the natural topography of the of the Olin B. Sansbury, Jr. Campus Life partnership with state, county and
330-acre campus, leveraging Center, both of which would provide corporate leaders.
landscaping and water features, while critical gathering spaces for students. The plan was developed over a series
placing buildings in locations that will The proposed plan also includes a of months by the national firm
maximize the campus experience for new nursing building for the Mary SmithGroup, with input from faculty,
students, faculty, staff and visitors. Black School of Nursing, one of the staff, students and key community
“The Master Plan marks the largest programs in the state, to be stakeholders. “This was a collaborative
beginning of an exciting new chapter completed in partnership with the process,” says Cole. “Together, we have
for USC Upstate,” says Interim health care providers who employ developed a vision for the future.”
4 | UP Magazine
Housing Options Grow
Near Campus
A new apartment complex, and an Valley Falls Apartments, a luxury
expansion at an existing one, will soon apartment community located just
increase off-campus housing options behind USC Upstate at 510 Sparta Lane,
for USC Upstate students and energize is undergoing an expansion that will add
the university’s ambitious Master Plan, 350 private bedspaces to its inventory of
which seeks to deliver state-of-the-art fully furnished units.
facilities that accommodate enrollment The community already boasts a
growth and new programs in the years number of amenities, including access
to come. to a small lake, a saltwater swimming
Auden Upstate, a $28 million upscale pool with a sundeck, 24-hour fitness
housing community at 602 Laconia center, a sand volleyball court, fully
Circle, just off North Campus equipped computer lab and clubhouse
Boulevard, is nearing completion. with free Wi-Fi. The additional units are
Leasing is now open for the anticipated to become available in 2021.
94,000-square-foot development, “We are absolutely thrilled that these
owned by New York-based DMG new housing options for students will be
Investments. Residents will begin coming online soon,” said Donette
moving in this August. Stewart, vice chancellor for Enrollment
The community features 486 private Services at USC Upstate. “Investments
bedspaces, with a bathroom and walk- like this improve the college experience
in closet for each. Other amenities for USC Upstate students and help us to
include a resort-style pool, basketball continue to build momentum behind the
and volleyball courts, a 24-hour fitness dynamic growth set forth in our new
club, hammock garden, study rooms Master Plan.”
and a pet grooming station.
Expanding the Campus Life Center would include creating
additional greenspace around the building.
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 |5
Schecter
Joins USC
Upstate as
Provost DAVID PHOTO
Following a national search, David
Schecter joined USC Upstate this
spring as its new provost and senior
vice chancellor for Academic Affairs.
Most recently, Schecter served as vice
provost at California State University
— Bakersfield (CSUB). Prior to that, he
was with Fresno State, also part of the
California State University System.
“Dr. Schecter brings to USC Upstate
a deep understanding of our strategic
objectives and distinct mission to
serve the region,” said Provost Clif
Flynn, who will retire this summer after
32 years of service at USC Upstate.
“His work in California over the last 19
years prepares him well to meet the
goals of academic excellence we have
established here.”
At CSUB, Schecter worked closely truly a campus on the move, with provides powerful tools and techniques
with partners across campus, terrific faculty and staff showing a that allow leaders to convert massive
providing oversight for a number of tremendous commitment to student amounts of data into insights that can
corollary units within Academic Affairs, success. I could not be more excited lead to more informed decisions,” says
including the Office of Research and about this opportunity to serve.” Uma Gupta, director of the program.
Grants and the Kegley Institute of “Our program, which was developed
Ethics. He coordinated and led all with key corporate partners, comes at
tenure-track hiring efforts on campus. New Programs Reflect a time when the demand for analytics
During his years at Fresno State, he professionals far outweighs the supply.
served as the department chair for
Employer Needs And that translates into opportunity for
political science and was the recipient As part of its continuing efforts to our students.”
of the Provost’s Award for Faculty meet the changing landscape of higher Similarly, USC Upstate recently
Service, among other accolades. education and serve an evolving partnered with seven regional school
A Florida native, Schecter holds a population of students, USC Upstate districts to create an online M.Ed. in
bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary has developed new programs in direct applied learning and instruction that
studies and history from Florida State response to industry need. enables working teachers to pursue a
University, a master’s degree in In the fall, USC Upstate launched a master’s degree. To date, more than
political science from Florida State master’s degree in business analytics 325 Upstate teachers are enrolled in
University, and a Ph.D. in political at the George Dean Johnson, Jr. the program, with support from district
science from the University of Florida. College of Business and Economics — leaders.
He also holds an MBA from Fresno the first graduate program of its kind in “We’re fortunate to have
State. He has previously taught at the South Carolina. Many of its students superintendents and school boards
University of Nevada — Las Vegas. In are already employed by companies committed to investing in their
the mid-1990s, he served for four years who understand how data analysis can teachers,” says Laura Reynolds, dean
as a city councilman in his hometown improve financial performance, of USC Upstate’s School of Education,
of Ormond Beach, Florida. strategic management and operational Human Performance, and Health. “The
“I am humbled and honored to be efficiency. challenge for us was to design a
working with the incredible team at “Business analytics is an rigorous program that assists districts
USC Upstate,” Schecter said. “This is interdisciplinary field of study that in recruiting and retaining high-quality
6 | UP Magazine
Associate Professor Uma Gupta talks about the business
analytics program during an alumni luncheon at Milliken & Co.
Melissa Davis, left, an instructor in the math and computer science department, helped develop the region, that there are as many as
curriculum and prepare the networking lab for the new cybersecurity program. With her is Jeannie 49,000 jobs in the sector,” says
Chapman, dean of the College of Science and Technology. Chapman, whose program was
approved by the Commission on Higher
Education earlier this year.
educators for Upstate classrooms, but impact in their own communities, Despite that, she says, “The
also allows busy teachers to elevate implementing programs and landscape for cybersecurity bachelor’s
their professional skills and begin to conducting outreach that promotes, programs in the state is surprisingly
apply their learning immediately. By maintains, and improves individual and sparse. While the speed at which
offering the program in an online and community health.” technology is developing is partly to
hybrid format, we have increased the Jeannie Chapman, dean of the blame for a skills gap, it’s also due to
number of graduate students we can College of Science and Technology, did an inadequate education pipeline.”
serve.” not have to go far to establish need for Graduates of USC Upstate’s program
Also new is a program in community a new degree in cybersecurity. A recent will be able to use cybersecurity tools
health, which Reynolds helped develop Breach Level Index report found that and principles to protect the virtual and
with input from regional health care during the first half of 2018 alone, more real resources of an organization;
systems, nonprofits, schools and than 3 billion data records were develop critical security strategies;
foundations. compromised in data breaches work with local and federal law
“Our community partners are asking enforcement agencies in handling
us to provide opportunities for students cybersecurity incidents; and utilize
to earn a community-focused, high- “These are innovative cybersecurity tools used by both
quality degree that prepares them to criminal and ethical hackers, among
meet workforce needs,” she says. “The programs that serve our other skills.
resulting program is the only bachelor’s “Because so much commerce is
degree in community health in the students in unique ways.” conducted electronically and because
region.” so much data storage is remote, gone
Reynolds says that the U.S. Bureau - David Schecter are the days when small, local
of Labor projects a 16% increase in companies were safe from attacks,”
demand for health care related says Chapman. “Cybersecurity
positions over the next 10 years, and worldwide, which translates to just over employees will soon be as
community health provides excellent 200 records per second. commonplace as human resource
opportunities for students to serve their Given that figure, demand for managers, with even ‘mom and pop’
community in nonclinical areas of care, cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. has businesses requiring the services of
such as public health, health care nearly doubled since 2013, according these experts.”
administration, and patient navigation. to a report by Burning Glass “These are innovative programs that
“Our program will provide flexible Technologies. Chapman discovered serve our students in unique ways,”
education and training for students South Carolina, and the southeastern says David Schecter, USC Upstate’s
interested in the field of health while region, were no exceptions to that new provost. “Partnerships with
increasing the number of community demand. corporate and community leaders help
health professionals for organizations in “CyberSeek reports more than 3,000 ensure that we are delivering the
the region and state,” says Reynolds. cybersecurity sector job openings in relevant curricula our graduates need
“Just as importantly, it provides South Carolina alone, and when to succeed in today’s increasingly
students the opportunity to make an expanding out to the southeastern competitive job market.”
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 |7
The USC Upstate campus was quiet this
spring when the university switched to
online learning as part of a statewide
response to COVID-19.
8 | UP Magazineuscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 |9
Nick Gaffney:
It’s Always a Good Time
to Talk About Inclusion
Nicholas Gaffney joined USC Upstate this spring as director of the
Center for African American Studies. While USC Upstate has long
offered a minor in African American Studies, a dedicated leader will
enhance the Center’s ability to offer its unique combination of scholarly
work, cultural and social programming, internships and civic learning.
What drew you to USC Upstate? As students consider careers, are
There were two things that drew me to there fields that particularly value a
USC Upstate. First and foremost, this minor in African American studies?
position provides a unique opportunity One of the projects I hope to work on
to teach, engage in research and this fall is to identify the fields, specific
manage a program. But it is also a careers, for which it would be
chance to grow the Center’s presence especially valuable to have a
in terms of campus and community background in African American
engagement. I’m glad to be able to studies. I’m thinking about careers for
spend my time being focused on this which the ability to study a certain
type of work. demographic group makes sense. I’ll
seek out professionals working in
Why is this work particularly public policy, corporate foundations
significant at this time in history? and nonprofits, as well as in more culture, in general, that speaks to an
I think now more than ever, this is our traditional fields like education and ethos of inclusion that seems to be
chance to tell our stories. We have the public relations, to learn how prewired into Gen Ys and Gen Zs.
communication technologies that allow demographic insight may add value to
us to do this. We’re becoming an their work. Our curriculum gives What are you enjoying
increasingly diverse country and we students the tools to study a particular most about Spartanburg?
have an opportunity to contribute to demographic group, and how to apply Well, that’s the other really cool reason
efforts that aim to embrace and value a the same tools to learn another. for wanting to be here! I have a strong
sense of diversity and community. family connection here. My dad was
It’s always been a good time to talk Are younger generations raised in Cowpens. As a kid who grew
about diversity and inclusion, but as more inclusive? up in Atlanta, we would come up this
we move through the digital age, it’s a As an historian, we wouldn’t begin to way for every major holiday – Easter,
perfect opportunity to envision and ask questions about these generations Thanksgiving, Christmas. I have a lot of
share what a diverse, inclusive, until much later, but you do start to see fun memories playing with cousins in
equitable society looks like. a different trend. It’s the idea of shared Cowpens. I look forward to settling into
10 | UP MagazineWarren Carson, below, who taught African American
literature and culture for more than 30 years at USC
Upstate, praised Nick Gaffney’s selection as
director. "Nick Gaffney is well credentialed, with an
excellent background in the broad field of African
American Studies, and an experienced administrator,"
Carson said. "His relative youth and evergy make him
the ideal person to lead the Center in fulfilling its
important role in the intellectual life of our campus."
the Upstate area with my wife Camille publications, Nick’s research focuses on
and our three children, Madeleine, the intersections of African American
Benjamin and Maeve. cultural production and socio-political
activism. His current book project, “Jazz
Goes to Work: The Jazz Community and
Gaffney comes to USC Upstate from the Black Freedom Struggle From the
Northern Virginia Community College, New Negro Movement to the Black Arts
where he served as associate dean of Revolution, 1900-1980” explains why
Social Sciences and Humanities, and and how black activists called upon jazz
assistant professor of history. He holds and the jazz community to support their
a Ph.D. in history from the University of movements. Early in his academic
Illinois and a master’s in African career he served as a Pre-Doctoral
American and African studies from The Fellow at the Smithsonian Institution’s
Ohio State University. National Museum of American History.
The author of numerous articles and
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 | 11A Stitch in Time
How Spartanburg’s Beaumont Mill could help teachers tell their community’s history.
BY ELIZABETH ANDERSON
“There’s no better way of interesting a student in history
than tying it to their own life and experiences.”
- Paul Grady
12 | UP MagazineB
usinessman Chris Crowley was a Textile town
teenager when he worked in a The current NEH application, which
mill in Spartanburg, but he was submitted in February, is actually
vividly remembers the stifling heat of the second iteration of one proposed
the opening room. last year. While the group credits
“There was no dust control, so it was Grady for spearheading the effort to
a very hot, dusty environment that I apply for a “Landmarks in American
worked in,” Crowley recalls in an oral History and Culture” grant, he notes it
history he provided for USC Upstate. was Myers who suggested they focus
“The ceiling in this room was probably on Beaumont Mill.
eight feet at the most, with a tin roof. “It has a complete mill village around
So no air conditioning or any kind of it which has been preserved as a
ventilation, really, except for just historic neighborhood; a large portion
windows with attic fans on them.” of the building itself is still standing;
Crowley’s job was to take cotton and the neighborhood association was
waste in his hands and toss it into an really enthusiastic about helping us,
opening machine. “It was incredibly which is a plus,” Myers explains.
hot, so you’d sweat and the dust would While the group embraced the idea,
stick to you, and you’d sort of look like they knew the competition was likely to
a chia pet when you got through with a be stiff. Past grant winners included
shift,” he says. projects focused on high-profile places
The stories told by Crowley and others or events, such as Monticello, the
with ties to Beaumont Mill form the basis American Revolution and Hoover Dam.
of a teaching project proposed by a “Andy actually had a joke: ‘I think
group of USC Upstate professors and you have to have a World Heritage site
staff that would help middle and high to win one of these things,’ and all we
school educators explore the history of had was a textile mill!” Grady says. “So
their own communities. that was a real concern, how do we
Four faculty members – Paul Grady make a textile mill cool.”
and Andy Myers in history, Warren The answer, he says, was marshaling
Bareiss in communications and all the resources they had – old mill
Rebecca Mueller in education – and newspapers, the oral histories, photos,
archivist Ann Merryman have artifacts, the mill building itself – as the
collaborated on a National Endowment basis for teaching community-based
for the Humanities grant application history.
that would bring secondary school “The grant is as much about the
teachers from across the country to skills we’re trying to give to these
campus over the summer to learn how educators so they can then take those
to teach community history. Using back into their own communities and
Beaumont Mill as a guide, Upstate do their own community histories —
faculty would provide teachers with and help their students do the same,”
research skills and techniques they Grady says.
could use with their students. While the initial grant didn’t succeed,
“There’s no better way of interesting the constructive feedback and interest
a student in history than tying it to their the group received encouraged them
own life and their own experiences,” to try again this year, this time with a
explains Grady. much stronger focus and plan.
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 | 13Homespun history
Under the proposal, a week-long
workshop would be held twice during
the summer, each with a different
group of 36 teachers from across the
country. The teachers would visit
several local textile landmarks, learn
how to use archival collections and
how to conduct oral histories, and
create teaching blueprints using the
inquiry-based model they would learn.
For Mueller, who specializes in social
studies education, this approach is
particularly exciting, because it will
help teachers understand how local
history can be a useful way to explore
larger topics.
“Sometimes, because every teacher “The group has already laid the groundwork
feels the pressure to cover lots of
information, it’s easy to think, ‘We can’t for preserving an important part of the
focus on that story because we have
all this other stuff we need to talk Upstate’s history.” - Andy Myers
about,’” she says. “What I’m really
hopeful this grant does is illustrate how
you can dig into your community’s
history, not instead of the other content
that’s out there, but as a really
interesting way to get into these bigger
themes and issues.”
Mueller says she herself has learned
a lot through the application process,
since she knew little about the area’s
textile history before getting involved.
Hearing the oral histories that have
been done so far have raised several
topics to explore, she says, particularly
about the decline of the textile
industry.
“One thing that’s interesting about
this story is this idea of
transformation,” she explains. “What
does a community do when their
identity is really shaken, and how do
you hold onto that, because that’s
what made this place.”
New threads to follow
While Grady feels good about the
grant application, both he and Myers
14 | UP Magazineagree there are some challenges to
getting a full picture of the mill’s
history. Many of those who worked in
the mill during its heyday in the 1940s
and ‘50s are no longer alive or in the
area, they note. Those who were
working at the mill when it closed in
1997 moved away to find new jobs.
And while Beaumont Village has an
active neighborhood association, many
homes that once belonged to former
mill workers are now either in the
hands of their children or of investors
who bought up the property and
rented it out.
Myers says one way to address
these challenges is to focus on the
latter years of the mill, from the ‘60s up
until its closing. There are several
sources in town who have helped put
those decades into perspective,
including Crowley, a former textile
executive who grew up in the business;
Walter Montgomery, whose father
bought Beaumont Mill in 1941; and
Spartanburg businessman Jimmy
Gibbs, who bought defunct mills such
as Beaumont and their old machinery.
These sources, Myers says, are
shedding light on a part of the textiles
story that has not been explored as
deeply as the boom years have. “Why
did the industry decline? Why did all
these mills go out of business? I think
that’s really significant, not only for this
region, but for the country,” Myers says.
Bareiss, who helped with the oral
histories, sees many of the same
recurring themes as Myers in the
firsthand accounts, and says helping
teachers learn how to identify those is
important for getting a full
understanding of a place.
“The patterns I heard were about
pride of working there, about the ability
to participate in a community and live
in a community where everybody knew
everybody else, and there was some
comfort in that,” he says.
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 | 15“Learning doesn’t just take place in a classroom —
the whole purpose of learning is to then do things.”
- Rebecca Mueller
History in the Making
A central component of the workshops says. “If we think about Beaumont Several activities are planned during
that would be offered as part of the Mill and the village, you can imagine the workshops. They include:
National Endowment for the Humanities families and children who are living • A walking tour of Beaumont Village
grant is helping teachers develop there now thinking about what it was and Mill, including a visit to the mill
an inquiry-based model for teaching and what they want that community building, some residents’ homes and
community history. to be,” she says. “So it can be about neighborhood churches;
The idea, explains Rebecca Mueller, taking action on how to make the • A bus tour of selected sites in
assistant professor of social studies community even better today.” Spartanburg related to textile history,
education, is to take the questions One question Mueller says teachers such as the Whitney community,
students have about where they live, need to be prepared to answer is “why Lawson’s Fork Creek and Converse
help them find the information to are we doing this?” The seminars are a Mill;
answer those questions, and then turn way to help teachers think about how • Archival research using the Library
that information into action. they can make history relevant to their of Congress online collection of child
“So learning doesn’t just take place students and show them the value labor photographs by Lewis Hine from
in a classroom — the whole purpose of in the information and skills they’re the early 1900s;
learning is to then do things,” she says. learning. • A presentation on Thomas Bomar,
Those things don’t have to be big, “Adolescents are curious,” she an African-American brick mason and
Mueller says – it might be something says. “We think only 5-year-olds ask business owner whose company built
simple, such as middle and high questions, but teenagers are asking a Beaumont and other local mills;
school students creating informational lot of questions as well. They’re trying • A look at the role of women at
materials about their community for to understand their world and figure out Beaumont Mill during World War II.
younger students. Or students might their place in it.
work with their local libraries and “Place-based history is a way to
museums on collecting oral histories connect with that energy that’s there
and items for preservation. and help students see themselves as
Action doesn’t have to be limited citizens now, rather than citizens in the
to preserving the past, either, Mueller future.”
16 | UP Magazine“The ability to participate in a community
and live in a community where everybody
knew everybody else — there was
some comfort in that.” - Warren Bareiss
“I came in with the presumption that superintendent when Beaumont Interwoven goals
mills were always oppressive places,” converted exclusively to wartime The group expects to hear back from
he adds. “Now I’m seeing them in a production in 1941, lent Merryman his the NEH sometime in August, but in
much more nuanced way.” issues from 1942-45 so she could scan the meantime, a grant Mueller received
them. Another resident donated some from the University of South Carolina
From the ground up copies she had. Merryman believes will be used this summer to offer a pilot
Even without a lot of mill worker USC Upstate now has the largest version of the NEH workshops with six
testimonials to draw from, the group extant collection of the Beaumont E teachers from local schools. The
has had some success in collecting anywhere in the state. limited three-day format will help the
primary source materials, in particular Like Mueller, Merryman says she Upstate group get feedback on the
the Beaumont E newsletter. Started in didn’t know much about textile history activities and teaching model they’ve
1942 to keep workers fighting in World when she first became involved with the proposed to the NEH.
War II connected with their community, grant, so reading the Beaumont E has Both Myers and Grady say
the Beaumont E offers a glimpse of mill been a fascinating learning experience. regardless of what happens with the
life during the war years and beyond, “There was such a pride of grant, the group has already laid the
Merryman says. production, and that comes through in groundwork for preserving an
“This collection that we’re starting to all these newspapers – how proud they important part of the Upstate’s history.
build didn’t exist before we actually got were of the quantity of the material they “The archival preservation is a legacy
into this grant,” she says. were making and shipping overseas, that will last forever,” Grady says.
When the group first met with the how proud they were that their safety And if the grant does get approved,
Beaumont Village Association to gauge record was so good,” she says. he hopes the teachers who take part in
their interest in the grant project, they Indeed, the Beaumont E took its the program – be they from a fishing
were stunned when community name from the Army-Navy production village in New England or a mining
members showed up bearing a trove of award the mill received four times town in West Virginia or farmlands in
historical material, Merryman says. At during the war years, a recognition of the Central Valley of California – will
the time, she wasn’t in a position to its role as the largest producer of the return home with the tools to tell their
take any of it for preservation, but she duck canvas used to make military own community’s story.
did accept a collection of the tents and equipment.
Beaumont E from a resident. The newspaper also reprinted letters
Some quick research revealed there it received from those who were
were few copies of the Beaumont E in serving, many expressing appreciation
any South Carolina library. There were for getting news from back home and Do you have an item related to
a handful at the Spartanburg public applauding the mill’s war efforts. the history of Beaumont Mill,
library, Merryman says, and a couple “While learning to fly here, I have seen
Beaumont Mill Village, or the
other copies at the South Caroliniana many uses of the cloth that you are
Library in Columbia, and all were from textile industry in South Carolina
turning out,” reads one. “When and if I
the war years. graduate and go into combat, your that you would like preserved in
The 30 or so copies she had cloth will be one of the main things that the USC Upstate Archives? If
received overlapped a little with that will help to keep me alive.” so, we would like to connect with
time period, but most were from the The last issue of the E that you! Please contact university
1950s and ‘60s, she says, and looked Merryman has is from 1969, but she archivist Ann Merryman at
more like newsletters, rather than the doesn’t know if there are others that amerryman@uscupstate.edu or
newspaper format of the ‘40s. exist from subsequent years. It’s
call 864-503-5275.
The collection grew further when Jay another question she hopes to answer
Adams, whose father was mill as the project continues.
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 | 17Threading the
Needle
Spartanburg textile companies find ways to
adapt and thrive in a global economy.
BY TREVOR ANDERSON
T
extile manufacturing was opportunity for us to continue to grow in
Spartanburg County’s lifeblood textiles — the industry that made us.”
for more than a century. In a landscape that was once
When the industry collapsed in the dominated by cotton-based textiles, an
late 1980s and early ‘90s, mills went impressive diversity of highly-
dark, thousands were left jobless and engineered products has emerged.
mill villages crumbled as residents High-end pool covers, performance
moved away in search of work. The fibers, mission-critical cleaning wipes
local economy was left on life support. and supplies, flame-retardant yarns,
“It evaporated so quickly,” says camouflage apparel, automotive
Spartanburg County Councilman David interior fabrics and premium carbon
Britt. “We lost 25,000 jobs. An entire fiber for auto and aerospace
way of life that generations had applications are just a few of the items
depended on.” that local companies are producing for
Then in 1994, German automaker the global market.
BMW opened its first production plant “It’s kind of like hockey,” says
outside of Europe on a 1,100-acre site Jansen Tidmore, executive vice
near Greer, giving the community the president of the Spartanburg
boost it so badly needed. Economic Futures Group. “You don’t
Since BMW’s arrival, the county has go where the puck is. You go where it’s
become an economic force to be going to be. We have a number of
reckoned with, attracting billions of companies that could be the poster
dollars of investment from international children for the textile industry’s
and domestic manufacturers and resurgence. They were the ones that
powering startups not only in the really understood what was happening,
automotive sector, but across a range shifted gears and then built huge
of industries. product lines.”
Amid that success, the textile Milliken & Co., Inman Mills and Tietex
industry has quietly been making a are some of the names from
comeback. Spartanburg’s textile past that have
“BMW changed us,” Britt says. “Our not only survived, but thrived by
textile industry didn’t go away, but it focusing on innovation and
did have to reinvent itself. Our diversification and finding ways to
companies turned to innovation and creatively solve problems for
adapted. Many of them found a niche. customers.
There is a tremendous amount of
18 | UP Magazine“Our textile industry didn’t go away, but it did
have to reinvent itself.” - David Britt
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 | 19Jack McBride, co-founder and CEO of Contec Inc. A loom from the former Beaumont Mill is part of the historic display in the renovated building.
As of 2018, Milliken was the largest manufacturing environments.
privately held company in South “Oddly enough, our first big home
Carolina, according to Grant Thornton “Because we’ve been successful, run was a pre-saturated wipe used in
LLP. The company is the Upstate’s automotive paint shops,” says
third-largest manufacturing employer we have companies who McBride, Contec’s CEO. “We met a
behind BMW and Michelin North guy at a Cubs game who serviced
America, according to Upstate come to us with their latest Toledo Assembly, where Chrysler was
Alliance SC. making the Jeep. We sent him a
Today, the former textile giant bills and greatest inventions.” sample of our original pre-saturated
itself as “a global diversified wipes. They needed it bigger, quarter-
manufacturer with more than a century - Jack McBride folded, and all that.”
and a half of textile expertise.” The “So I called the contract
company is known the world over for manufacturer,” he adds. “They couldn’t
its specialty fibers, chemicals, floor two decades, have given rise to or do it. Nobody could do it. We had to
coverings and commitment to quality. attracted several unique bring in fabric, get it quarter-folded by
In response to the global COVID-19 manufacturers, such as Contec Inc., another friend. We brought in rolls of
(coronavirus) pandemic, Milliken Meyco Products Inc., Japan-based film and heat-sealed it on three sides.
announced it would increase domestic Toray, TrueTimber and others. We cut a hole for a peel-and-reseal
production of its breakthrough Contec was founded in the late label, and put the label on top.”
BioSmart fabric, which is used to 1980s by two former Milliken McBride says it took two months for
provide anti-microbial protection in employees, Jack McBride and Jim the company to make a few cases for
medical products like scrubs, lab Smith. their waiting customer. It wasn’t long
coats and privacy curtains. The company originally started as a before Contec received a second order
“The numbers show that textiles is distributor of contamination control from that customer for 100 cases per
still a declining industry overall, but for technology, but in the mid-1990s, it got week.
Spartanburg, it’s very strong and into manufacturing. Today, Contec is a “That’s when we went from being
growing,” Tidmore says. global leader in the production of not a manufacturer to being a
The perseverance of some of the contamination control products, manufacturer,” McBride says. “We got
county’s textile mainstays, coupled including wipes, mops and other up to capacity to supply that plant.
with economic growth during the past solutions, for critical cleaning and One day, the vice president of Chrysler
20 | UP Magazinewas walking around the plant and he For example, Japanese carbon fiber
saw some employees using Contec maker Toray made one of the largest
wipes. They told him it reduces VOCs investments in South Carolina’s history “What I continually hear from
and was improving their first-time when it committed more than $1 billion
yields by 2 to 3 percent, a cost to build a production plant off Highway leaders is that they need people
savings of about $3 million per year. 290 near Duncan.
And he said, ‘Well, why aren’t we The S.C. Ports Authority’s Inland with problem-solving skills,”
doing this in every plant?’” Port in Spartanburg County near Greer
“So the customer called me and has provided multiple industries, Ellis says. “The ability to think
said, ‘We can’t run out! Whatever it including textiles, with a means to
takes, we can’t run out,’” McBride efficiently export more of their products and apply what you’re learning
adds. “And that’s still one of our core to waiting customers across the globe.
values: whatever it takes.” But challenges remain. One of them in the classroom — that’s what
McBride explains that Contec has is and will continue to be competition
remained flexible by staying for qualified employees. we do.”
diversified. The company’s workforce That’s one area where USC Upstate
is also comprised of many employees has an important role to play.
with a background in textiles. “The textile industry has reshaped
“We bring that expertise to the itself,” McBride says. “The industries
table and look at how we can apply that have a very large labor component
it,” he says. “Because we’ve been will probably stay overseas. The
successful, we have companies who manufacturing that will come back to Top Textile Employers in
come to us with their latest and the U.S. is likely to have a more Spartanburg County
greatest inventions. We’re able to take automated focus. We need people with
a look at how those products apply to advanced degrees—operators who can Milliken & Co......................3,957
our customer base. Having a textile communicate. In general, the Inman Mills.........................1,000
background really helps. We speak requirement for expertise and all levels Tietex.....................................600
our customers’ language. And we’re will be greater and those jobs will be Contec Inc.............................600
very good about sharing our results.” paid a higher wage.” Toray.......................................500
“As we move from the cleanroom Currently, USC Upstate offers a Leigh Fibers...........................200
market into selling more products to Bachelor of Science degree in Sage Automotive Interiors.....200
hospitals, we’re seeing continued engineering technology management Source: Spartanburg County Economic
growth and success,” McBride adds. (ETM) and a Bachelor of Applied Futures Group (as of 2019)
“Now we have customers who look to Science in advanced manufacturing
us when they have a need. We look at management (AMM). These two degree
our converting capabilities and we programs are aimed at providing local
come up with a product that meets manufacturers with the talent they
the need.” need and enabling area residents to
There are plenty of reasons why pursue greater opportunities in The administrative offices for Spartanburg
local leaders are bullish about manufacturing. Regional Healthcare System occupy the former
Spartanburg’s future in textiles. Beaumont Mill. The Southern Conference is also a
tenant in the building.
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 | 21Several mills, including Drayton,
pictured here, and Mayfair, at right,
have been renovated for use as artist
studios, retail, or luxury lofts, attracting
tenants who are drawn to their original
hardwood flooring, vaulted ceilings and
expansive windows.
22 | UP MagazineMayfair Art Studios photos courtesy of Chapman Cultural Center
“The textile industry today is not that and adjunct professors teaching in
different from any other high-tech both programs who bring a wealth of
industry,” says Tim Ellis, a senior industrial experience into their
instructor of ETM and AMM at USC academic training.
Upstate. “The plants are clean and “What I continually hear from
highly automated. The type of leaders is that they need people with
employee has changed from the ‘hand’ problem-solving skills,” Ellis adds.
to the highly skilled technician who can “The ability to think and apply what
keep the sophisticated equipment you’re learning in the classroom —
running.” that’s what we do.”
Ellis worked in textiles for two
decades before transitioning to
education in 2009.
“I’ve been able to infuse what I
learned in my 20-year textile career in
my classroom teaching,” he says.
“We currently have eight full-time
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 | 23History
Is the
Greatest
Teacher
BY TREVOR ANDERSON
F
rom her corner office on the top
floor of the campus library, Ann
Merryman quietly cultivates a
vision that began when she arrived at
USC Upstate in 2014.
As the university’s coordinator of
Archives and Special Collections,
Merryman oversees the
documentation, organization and
preservation of records that have
“enduring value” to USC Upstate and
the surrounding 10-county region. And,
if that doesn’t sound daunting enough,
she has worked diligently to make
those records accessible and usable
by future generations.
The structure Merryman has put into
place is vital to the university’s efforts
to develop its own unique identity and
sense of place, as well as to foster
relationships and support education
throughout the Upstate.
“We’re nearing our 53rd anniversary
as a university,” Merryman says. academic catalogs to faculty manuals educators how to tap into a variety of
“There really wasn’t an archivist here and handbooks. There are all of the resources, including archives, to teach
before I arrived. When I walked into this Faculty Senate meeting minutes dating the history of their communities.
position, we had four rooms of stuff. back to the late 1960s; a near complete The archive also features a journal
No one really knew the full scope of run of the student newspaper The from 1878 donated by the Spartanburg
what we actually had. Six years later, Carolinian; thousands of old photos, County Medical Society that lists all
the work continues.” slides and negatives; and the physicians in the community at that
Currently, Archives and Special miscellaneous items. time, and a music book of shape notes
Collections occupies six rooms on the “All of these collections are things the that dates back to the 1840s.
library’s second floor. While the university generates,” Merryman says. There are more than 260 volumes in
collections have continued to grow, Archives of the Upstate focuses on the Thomas Moore Craig Collection of
Merryman has succeeded in taking the anything that documents the history of Southern History and Literature. It also
“stuff” and neatly organizing it into two the region. includes a silver tea set owned by the
separate categories: University For example, Merryman and archives late Andrew Charles Moore (1866-1928)
Archives and Archives of the Upstate. assistant Michael Sanders are providing and his wife, Vivian Mary Moore. Andrew
University Archives is a repository support to a group of faculty members Moore was acting president of the
for records that document the history who have applied for a National University of South Carolina from 1908-
of USC Upstate — its programs, Endowment for the Humanities grant. 1909, and according to family history, the
services and people. The grant would fund workshops that tea set was used to serve Dr. Charles W.
Items range from old yearbooks and would teach middle and high school Elliot, president of Harvard University,
24 | UP MagazineUSC Upstate archivist Ann Merryman and archives
assistant Michael Sanders review a collection of old
newsletters from Beaumont Mill that were donated
to the library.
anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
“My hope is that we continue to build
trust with the community,” Merryman
says. “We want them to come to us
and entrust us with their history.”
“Archivists must be very
collaborative,” she adds. “That’s our
mindset. In my efforts to grow this
archive, I’ve received support from
many colleagues across the state. We
want to make sure that we complement
other collections that are out there.
We’re trying to be supportive of the
community’s history in general.”
Merryman is a native of Charleston,
Illinois. She earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in business and economics from
Benedictine University and a Master of
Library and Information Studies from
the University of South Carolina.
In addition to her archive duties,
Merryman is a public services librarian.
when he spoke at USC in 1909. and tell a great story, have high She teaches information literacy
“We just finished a high-level research value, or are so fragile and at- sessions to students, supports and
inventory of everything we have,” risk that digitization is the only feasible collaborates with history and political
Merryman says. “I feel like we’re really way for researchers to use the science faculty, and provides research
starting to get a handle on it and we collections,” she says. and reference support to students,
are continuing to grow.” That work has enabled Merryman to faculty and the community.
Access to the materials and also build new digital collections, such “The work that Ann is doing is
collections is currently by appointment as the LGBTQ Upstate Oral History fundamental to the history of this
only. Anyone wishing to visit should Collection and the Center for Women’s university,” says Frieda Davison, dean
email or call in advance to schedule a and Gender Studies 20th Anniversary of the library. “As our inaugural
time. None of the materials can be Poster Collection. archivist, she is establishing the
checked out from the library. Several other projects are in the policies, processes and standards for
But Merryman and Sanders are works, including oral histories of decades to come. Largely because of
continuing to identify specific Holocaust survivors in the Upstate, a her, we are receiving exciting donations
collections that could be digitized so collection of Holocaust documents and preserving documents from not
the public could access them online. from a private collector, and an oral only the university’s past, but from the
“There are certain types of history of Ingo Sachtler, a former Upstate area.”
collections that lend themselves very prisoner in East Germany who visited
well to digitization, whether it’s USC Upstate this past fall as part of For more information, please visit:
because they are visually interesting activities commemorating the 30th uscupstate.libguides.com/archives.
uscupstate.edu/magazine Spring 2020 | 25You can also read
