American Life Histories
Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project
1936-1940

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Maggie Mae Lyttle
(Florida)

Maggie Mae Lyttle (Mrs. Fulton) born Priceville, South Carolina. Father went to work at 16 at a saw-mill. He was a sawyer and later became foreman. Worked for the same man all his life. He was a deacon and Sunday School Superintendent. (Missionary Baptist.)

Two children in family, a sister. We had plenty of good, common food but no whole lot of enjoyment. They could not give me that. There were some Negro families around who had everything and she used to feel embarrassed. She thinks God provides size of family (likes large families) and feels that no matter how large the family, God will provide. Nobody should try to cut off the family. Take what God sends. Her uncle had large family and she enjoyed being with cousins.

My mother took in washing and ironing. All of them worked in the fields at times. She loved to chop and pick cotton on her uncle's farm. He paid her and her sister for work and he had 21 children of his own, all by one mother. Maggie liked to be with them.

She came from a good family. Mother's parents were Margaret and Richard Humphrey (ex-slaves) He was foreman on a large plantation, but never owned their own home. Had no need for one. They had 10 children, 6 girls, 4 boys. Her father's parents were James and Caroline Lyttle, farmers too. They had a big family, 6 girls, 7 boys. Her grandparents on both sides were slaves. Mother's folks from Virginia. Father's from North Carolina.

Her family life was happy and she was satisfied. Feels that she has a family to be proud of.

II.

Mother taught her and sister at home until they got in second reader because they had to go so far to school that her mother was afraid to send them. Maggie learned her alphabets very early because she was promised a big doll by her father so she learned them so early she could hardly talk. Went through twelfth grade in Columbia, S. C. (Benedict College) Mother sent them off to school because she was afraid for them to get around. Finished her dressmaking courses but not her college because they didn't live on campus and had to miss school a lot because no arrangement was made sometimes to get them to school, so she got discouraged and quit after twelfth grade. Was converted at 6 years old. Not baptized until 14 years old because parents thought she was too young. She has never danced, nor ever played cards. Never been on the dance floor. Parents did not like it and she was converted early and did not have no mind to.

She believes in education for everybody and wishes even now (though she is blind) that there was some way to get her collage degree. She thinks it helps a person to make a living and then it is a good thing to raise children by. She does not think the school system of today is so good. She thinks the schools further back were more particular about their schools and who their school teachers were to see if they knew their business and were of good moral standing but look like now the parents do not seem to care.

I would like to be a teacher for the blind, always had the missionary spirit and wanted to do something to uplift humanity.

Idea of a good life is to be a light-holder for a few men.

She would buy a little home with a little comfort in it for her and her children. Hasn't thought much of a car. Never owned a car but had a truck for hauling wood for a little while, but couldn't keep up the payments on it. She has 4 children living, 3 dead, oldest 15.

Cannot make money now like she used to. Can hardly live. Gets $15 a month aid to the blind pension and that is not enough to fill her need, being blind with four children and a widow. Been a widow around 12 years.

Her income covers about one-third of needs only. If she pays one bill, she just has to leave another off. First needs of family is a home to stay in so they can hold up their heads. Feels keenly the need of a home for the sake of her 15 year old daughter. Next need is plenty to eat. Next, some books for the children. She believes she could get 'long right well on $30 a month.

People who make money honest are not in the wring for having it. Its a fine thing to work and she has always done so. Owning property and money are like talents - some folks can manage better than others. People ought to be able to dispose of their property as they desire.

She has voted. Last time she voted for Harding. She could not remember whether he was a Democrat or Republican. She would vote for the man who meant the people the most good. She does not think much about the new ideas about relief and property and capitalism because she feels that the really deserving don't get much help. Some others who don't deserve get much more.

I have been in the hospital once, that was during the time I went blind, I paid out about $300; other than that, I have not spent very much, only a little now and then on the children.

I know about the value of a balanced diet, but it is impossible to think of trying to balance it; it is all that I can do to get the commonest kid of food, meal after meal.

I live in one room that I furnished myself and it is kept about as clean as you can expect with four or five people living in it.

Bolton, Ruth D
6-27-39

Text from: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection