Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and raised in Columbia, SC, Delores Kimes Barton was one of the earliest African American women to attend Clemson University. In this interview, she shares how she became a student at Clemson and what it was like to be not only one of a few Blacks, but also one of only a few women.
Like other Black students of that era, Barton did not choose Clemson. Instead, it was chosen for her. As a student at Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia, Barton and her best friend, Dorothy Ashford, were encouraged to attend by their guidance counselor.
Barton arrived at Clemson in Fall 1965. She majored in math, where she was often the only African American student or woman in her class. There were other struggles as well and after her first year, she thought of transferring to another school because she did not feel included or apart of campus life. She remained, however, and eventually participated in activities such as Angel Flight, the Clemson Players, and the Women’s Student Association.