Interview begins with discussion of the Rogol family history in South Carolina. Sam Rogol's father, David Rogol, immigrated to America from Vilna, Poland, in the early 1900s. After several years in New York, Rogol settled in Williston, SC. He married Gussie Roseman of Augusta, Georgia, and opened a mercantile business (possibly with funds provided by his father-in-law) in 1911. Sam Rogol, David and Gussie's oldest child, recalls growing up in the small South Carolina town. He describes Jewish families that lived in surrounding areas (Bamberg, Barnwell, and Latta) and laments the disappearance of these Jewish populations over time. Rogol did not recall negative attitudes toward Jews in Williston and describes congenial relationships among all townspeople, including African Americans. Rogol mentions his Jewish education and remembers private Hebrew lessons and traveling to Augusta, Georgia, to prepare for his bar mitzvah. The family observed Jewish holidays, but Rogol's parents did not keep kosher until the children left for college. Rogol discusses his father's dry goods store and details the "drummers" (salesmen) that frequented the store with suitcases full of samples. Discussion turns to Rogol's college experience. David Rogol did not want his son to become a merchant. He knew that if Sam attended the University of South Carolina, he would return to Williston on weekends to work in the family store. Therefore, it was decided that Sam would attend Duke University. Rogol describes his experiences (1931-1936) at Duke and remembers the large Jewish population he encountered on campus. He surmises that southern Jews from small towns were more apt (than northern Jews) to send their daughters to college as university settings afforded girls a better chance to meet (and marry) Jewish boys. Rogol became a lawyer and settled in Darlington, SC, in 1938. Remainder of interview pertains to the Jewish community in Darlington, SC, and the area's first synagogue in Florence, SC. He describes the growth of Darlington's Jewish community and his involvement in civic organizations. Rogol briefly discusses desegregation of Darlington schools and recalls Darlington's Jewish lawyers of the 1930s-1950s.
