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Esau Jenkins (1910-1972) Papers (c. 1964- 2003)
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Avery Manuscript Number 1004 |
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Biographical Note: Esau Jenkins was born and raised on Johns Island, SC in 1910 and lived most of his life there. With very little formal education, he became a businessman and civil rights leader. Jenkins founded the Progressive Club in 1948, which encouraged local African Americans to register to vote, through the aid of Citizenship Schools, a topic he was educated in by his attendance at Highlander Folk Center in Tennessee. In 1959, he organized the Citizens’ Committee of Charleston County dedicated to the economic, cultural and political improvement of local African Americans. With a personal motto “Hate is Expensive, Love is Progress,” Jenkins prospered his community, helping to found the Community Organization Federal Credit Union and serving on many local boards and committees. The father of a large family, he died in 1972, and after his death many institutions, programs and a bridge were named for him.
Scope and Content: Approx 1/ 2 ft. (c. 1964 – c. 2003)
Description: The Esau Jenkins papers are in four small series. Biographical papers include printed tributes; death notices and materials, including funeral sermons; a compact disc of images and other papers documenting lectures and exhibits re Jenkins held after his death, along with programs, correspondence and related material re naming of buildings, services and a bridge after him. With genealogical information on Jenkins and his family. The series on his writings holds miscellaneous correspondence and notes and printed versions of his talks and writings. Information on his affiliations contains correspondence, brochures, notes, and other data on variety of organizations he helped found or was a member of, including the Progressive Club, Citizen’s Committee of Charleston, Community Organization Credit Union, Political Action Committee of Charleston County, Political Awareness League of Charleston County, and the Highlander Folks Center. Topics mentioned include the 1969 Charleston Hospital Worker’s strike, and the protested death of a young African American, Robert Brown, killed by a while policeman in 1970. Miscellaneous materials include photocopies of published materials documenting life on Johns Island, SC and Jenkins’ role in citizenship schools run by the Highlander Center and funded by the Emil Schwarzhaupt Foundation.
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Inventory |
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Box/Folder # |
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| I |
Biographical materials |
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1 |
Clippings, photocopies and other materials sketching the life of Jenkins, including many obituary tributes. |
1-1 |
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2 |
CD with color images documenting Jenkins' life; with black and white printout and printed materials re program on Jenkins presented at Caw Caw Center (2003) |
1-2 |
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3 |
Photocopies, programs and notes re program on Esau Jenkins at Avery Research Center, 1982 |
1-3 |
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4 |
Memorial service data, including sermons preached at Esau Jenkins' funeral |
1-4 |
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5 |
Certificates and citations awarded to Jenkins, with some programs |
1-5 |
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6 |
Resolution and correspondence (1977) and program (1978) re naming a bridge between Johns and Wadmalaw Islands for Esau Jenkins |
1-6 |
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7 |
Clippings, photocopies and programs (1970s) re Esau Jenkins Memorial Health Center and Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Corporation |
1-7 |
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8 |
Photocopies of materials (1970s) re Camp Care and Esau Jenkins Opportunity Center |
1-8 |
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9 |
Photocopy of booklet given to Esau and Janie Jenkins by their children, compiling a family history, with narrative, images, and family trees |
1-9 |
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10 |
Photocopies of articles, etc. by and about Esau Jenkins' children and grandchildren; including a tribute poem; and a pencil sketch of "Papa Esau" Jenkins by "Nikki" |
1-10 |
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| II |
Writings |
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1 |
Notes for speeches on various topics, including some autobiographical jottings; with clippings and photocopies of published writings of Esau Jenkins |
1-11 |
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2 |
Letters (1967-72) to and from Jenkins on a number of miscellaneous topics including National Geographic article mentioning him, political, civil rights and business matters; with one in Septima Clark's handwriting, and another from Guy and Candie Carawan |
1-12 |
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| III |
Affiliations |
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1 |
Photocopies of correspondence and clippings (1965-73) re Progressive Club, Johns Island; with a school composition essay (1966) by Jenkins, re founding the Club |
1-13 |
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2 |
Correspondence (1964-72) of Jenkins, representing the Citizens' Committee, a grass roots group working for equality and social change; including letters of thanks to officials re keeping peace during Charleston Hospital Workers' Strike (1969) |
1-14 |
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3 |
Clippings, Jenkins' handwritten notes, programs, brochure, grant request, and miscellaneous materials re work of Citizens' Committee of Charleston. |
1-15 |
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4 |
Photocopy of clippings, and petitions by Citizens' Committee (1970) protestingshooting death of 18 year old Wadmalaw African American Robert Brown by a white policeman |
1-16 |
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5 |
Correspondence, lists and programs (1971-77, nd) re Citizens' Committee Scholarship Fund, renamed Esau Jenkins Memorial Scholarship Fund |
1-17 |
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6 |
Brochure, speech, handwritten notes, statistics, correspondence, etc. (1966-1972) re C.O. (Community Organization) Credit Union founded by Esau Jenkins |
1-18 |
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7 |
Mimeo letter and lists (1965) of Political Action Committee of Charleston County dealing with shooting of African American youth Robert Brown by white policeman |
1-19 |
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9 |
Constitution (1971), correspondence and program (1972) of Appreciation Dinner of the Political Awareness League of Charleston County |
1-21 |
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10 |
Brochure, directory, letters and photocopies of clippings (1963-1990) re Highlander Center and involvement of Esau Jenkins there |
1-22 |
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| IV |
Miscellaneous materials |
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1 |
Photocopy of published appeal to SC Supreme Court requesting dismissal of Jenkins' 1962 conviction for selling alcohol after hours |
1-23 |
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2 |
Photocopy of book Ain't You Got a Right to the Tree of Life (1966) re life on Johns Island, with essay by, images of, and tributes to Esau Jenkins |
1-24 |
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3 |
Photocopies of part of Education for Citizenship: A Foundation's Experience by Carl Tjerandsen re Emil Schwarzhaupt Foundation's funding of Highlander Programs, specifically citizen education programs which involved Esau Jenkins; with clips from other publications re poverty and life on Johns Island |
1-25 |
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4 |
Assorted photocopies, letters, etc. found with collection, possibly unrelated |
1-26 |
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