Interviews about Robert E. Scoggin
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- Peggy Scoggin Holland oral history interview 1, 2004 November 5
- Peggy Holland was a 47-year-old woman at the time of interview, which took place in her home in Concord, North Carolina. She was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on August 3, 1957. She completed high school and was employed as an accountant in a mortgage bank., Peggy Scoggin Holland recalls memories of her father, Robert E. Scoggin, particularly in regard to his role as a Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in South Carolina. Mrs. Holland describes her childhood perspective of Klan rallies as social events involving whole families, and emphasizes her father's strengths as a leader, spokesperson, and organizer. She expresses her belief that the KKK has been misrepresented by the media, and stresses the libertarian aspects of her father's goals., Robert E. Scoggin papers, 1922-2003. J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Charlotte., Digitization made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.
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- Peggy Scoggin Holland oral history interview 2, 2005 July 26
- In this second interview, mortgage bank accountant Peggy Scoggin Holland defends her father Robert Scoggin, a former Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Mrs. Holland begins by describing her father's work history, time in the Navy, and views on education. She then discusses Mr. Scoggin's appearances in the 1960s before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in the 1960s, which was conducting an investigation of the KKK for misappropriating funds. Mrs. Holland describes how she believes that he was treated unfairly by the committee and by the U.S. government, and that he was targeted because of his political beliefs and not financial wrongdoing. She also recounts how both her parents were disabled and the effect that had on their family and regular activities. Mrs. Holland then returns to the subject of the Un-American Activities Committee, which ultimately sent Mr. Scoggin to federal prison for nine months for contempt of court. She describes Mr. Scoggin's time in Federal Correctional Institution, La Tuna, in Anthony, Texas, where he had to do manual labor in a work camp; then in a prison in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mrs. Holland talks about the KKK's lack of support for her family while her father was imprisoned, and about how other members of the organization tried to unseat him from his position after he was released. The interview concludes with Mrs. Holland describing the personalities of her brothers and father. Contrary to popular opinion, she characterizes her father as an intelligent, thoughtful, and non-violent person who believed that his work in the KKK would help fight the threat of communism in the U.S.
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- Jonathan Scoggin oral history interview, 2004 November 20
- Jonathan Scoggin was an 57-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place in his home in High Shoals, North Carolina. He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on March 24, 1947. He completed high school and was employed as a plumber, electrician, and transportation manager., Jonathan Scoggin, son of South Carolina Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon Robert E. Scoggin, describes his life and his father's involvement with the KKK. Mr. Scoggin remembers his father as a strict disciplinarian with entrenched opinions who saw the Klan as a way to direct his political agenda. He describes his father's opposition to violence within the Klan and the internal tensions between different factions of the organization., Robert E. Scoggin papers, 1922-2003. J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Charlotte., Digitization made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.
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- William S. Summer oral history interview, 2006 August 9
- William S. Summer describes his early life growing up in Newberry County, South Carolina and his experiences as a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Mr. Summer discusses how he became a member of the KKK, including attending his first Klan rally and meeting Robert E. Scoggin. He describes the internal functions of the organization, including the hierarchy of positions, how rallies served as recruitment events, and tensions between different factions within the KKK. Mr. Summer explains how, if given the chance to do things differently, he would be secretive about his membership due to the stigma associated with being a member of the KKK. In Mr. Sumner's opinion, his public participation negatively impacted his ability to serve in many other community organizations such as the local PTA.