Leonard Cunningham, Interview by Joi Mayo and Kerry Taylor, 2 February 2010
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- Title:
- Leonard Cunningham, Interview by Joi Mayo and Kerry Taylor, 2 February 2010
- Date:
- 2010
- Interviewer:
- Mayo, Joi;Taylor, Kerry
- Interviewee:
- Cunningham, Leonard (1923-2010)
- Description:
- Father Leonard Cunningham (1923-2010) was born in Charleston, SC to Harley and Marion Cunningham. In this interview, conducted several months before his death, Cunningham discusses his rich family history. His ancestors included a former Confederate officer and federal judge, a midwife, a Baptist minister, a supporter of Marcus Garvey, and many skilled craftsmen. His father was a skilled plasterer and ornamental worker who worked on the Francis Marion Hotel, as well as many historic Charleston homes. He also built the family home at 15 Larnes St. and sent his children to the Immaculate Conception School. In 1950, Cunningham was ordained a Catholic priest, joining the Holy Ghost Fathers. That year he became the first African American priest to celebrate mass at the Cathedral of St. Johns in Charleston. In 1960, he joined the community at Mepkin Abbey, but was given leave a few years later to work in North Charleston during the civil rights movement. This interview was conducted in conjunction with College of Charleston graduate student Joi Mayo’s 2011 thesis, “A Beacon Light: Immaculate Conception School's Encouragement of Charleston's Black Middle and Upper Classes.”
- Collection Title:
- The Charleston Oral History Program
- Contributing Institution:
- The Citadel Archives & Museum
- Media Type:
- Oral Histories
- Note:
- This interview is part of the COHP's “Charleston and the Long Civil Rights Movement” series. These interviews explore how community activism continues to shape modern life in the South. The digital recordings and transcripts are part of The Citadel Oral History Program Collection at The Citadel Archives & Museum.
- Series:
- Charleston and the Long Civil Rights Movement
- Personal or Corporate Subject:
- Cunningham, Leonard, 1923-2010, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Charleston, S.C.)--History, Holy Ghost Fathers, Immaculate Conception High School (Charleston, S.C.)
- Topical Subject:
- African Americans--Civil rights--South Carolina--Charleston, African American Catholics, African American Catholics--United States--History, Monastic and religious life--South Carolina
- Geographic Subject:
- Mepkin Abbey (Berkeley County, S.C.)
- Shelving Locator:
- 2010.030.005
- Date Digital:
- 2014-05-27
- Digitization Specifications:
- Mp3 derivative audio created with Audacity software. Archival masters are .wav files.
- Internet Media Type:
- audio/mpeg
- Copyright Status Statement:
- Digital resource copyright 2014, The Citadel Archives
- Admin ID:
- 221022
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