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Margaretta P. Childs African-American Church Records Project

 

Avery Manuscript Number 1013

 

Biographical Note: Margaretta Pringle Childs (1912-2000) worked as archivist at theCollege of Charleston, head archivist for the City of Charleston and a field archivist for the South Carolina Historical Society. In addition to her archival work, Childs was a member of the Charleston Interracial Committee and a Civil Rights activist.
 
  Scope and Content: 0.5 linear ft., (ca. 1940-1985; bulk 1984-1985)
 

Description: The materials in this collection form the working files of Margretta P. Childs's unsuccessful project to collect and house the records of Charleston's black churches at the South Carolina Historical Society. The collection contains mostly photocopied correspondence from Childs to various ministers re church records and brief histories of some of the churches. Also included are photocopies of many WPA church surveys (1936) for the Charleston area, which include address, building description, listings of any known records and erection dates for each church, as well as programs of yearly meetings and church services. Of note is a photocopied letter (1908) from Arthur L. MacBeth and a musical program (1940) from the Centenary (Church) Players.

Inventory

I.
Administrative files
Box/Folder #
1
Materials re Childs's project to collect and microfilm Charleston, SC black church records for the South Carolina Historical Society.
1-1
 
II.
Church files
1
Photocopies of WPA church surveys (1936) for some Charleston area black churches. Information includes address, building description, listings of any known records and erection dates for each church. Photocopied lists of Charleston SC area black churches.
1-2
 
     
2
Calvary Episcopal church materials. Photocopies of correspondence re church and Civil Rights records, as well as newspaper clippings re Calvary. Photocopy of an 1849 letter of consecration for the church.
1-3
 
     
3
Centenary United Methodist Episcopal materials. Programs for centennial, 115th,123rd and 126th anniversaries. Photocopy of letter (1908) from Arthur L. MacBeth re his resignation as a trustee. Program (1940) of the Centenary Players, "Aunt Minnie from Minnesota."
1-4
 
     
4
Central & Morris Street Baptist church materials. Photocopies of minutes (1865) & photograph of Morris Street church. Photocopies of newspaper clippings of both Morris and Central Baptist churches.
1-5
 
     
5
Mt. Zion AME materials. Photocopied clipping from "Charleston Illustrated" concerning Mt. Zion. Photocopy of a brief history (1917) of Mt. Zion by Rev. N. B. Sterret.
1-6
 
     
6
Old Bethel United Methodist materials. Newspaper clipping (1983) re Rev. Frank Portee.
1-7
     
     
7
Plymouth Congregational church materials. Dedication program (1958), newsletter (1942), membership pamphlet, annual meeting programs (1951, 1953, 1954, 1957), and Church service program (1953). Letter (1957) to church members re lack of contributions.Reports (1950) of various committees.
1-8
     
     
8
St. John's (John's Island) & Grace Chapel (Rockville) materials. Photocopy of a letter (1856) from Rev. C.H. Hall resigning from St.John's and a clipping re Grace Chapel, Rockville.
1-9
 
     
9
St. John's & St. Mark's Episcopal church materials. Photocopy of article on the Reformed Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Program (1986) of St. Mark's church service. Photocopied article (1930) re St Mark's and the "color line among colored people." Photocopied title page, "Work Among the Colored People," 1884 and photocopied letter (1976) re the history of St. John Episcopal Church.
1-10
     
     
10
Zion-Olivet materials. Installation invitation and program (1985). Photocopy of program (1919) for NAACP, Lincoln-Douglass Memorial meeting and a copy of a ca. 1900 photograph of Rev. Frierson and family. Photocopy of short history of the church.
1-11
     
     
11
East-Side Churches. Information concerning various churches on Charleston's East Side. Also various materials re city planning and the East Side.
1-12
     
     
12
Presbyterian church materials re Edisto Island, John's Island, Hebron, Promised Land, St. James,Wallingford and Moving Star Hall. Photocopies of photographs (1966-1973) of Edisto Island Presbyterian, Promised Land, Hebron, John's Island Presbyterian and Moving Star Hall. Docket (1984) for spring meeting of the Presbyter of the Atlantic. Photocopy of a brief historical sketch of the Presbyterian church among southern blacks.
1-13
   
III.
Miscellaneous
1
Materials (1984) re Childs's correspondence with the Presbyterian Library in Montreat, NC concerning Charleston black church records.
1-14
     
     
2
Miscellaneous correspondences concerning the set up of black church records at the South Carolina Historical Society. Photocopy of a 1941 letter by Sam G. Stoney re alleged police brutality against a black woman at St. James Goose Creek church.
1-15

 

 

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