Charleston S.C. Chapter of Links, Inc.

 

Avery Manuscript Number 1016

 

Organizational Sketch:

 

The Charleston South Carolina chapter is part of the Links, Incorporated, a historically African American national women’s service organization committed to educational, cultural, and civic activities.  The organization was founded in Philadelphia, PA in 1946; the Charleston chapter was organized in 1951.

 

Links supports four program facets; the arts, services to youth, and national and international trends and services.  Early chapter service projects included the purchase of a Life Membership in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and annual financial contributions to the United Negro College Fund, Jenkins Orphanage, YWCA of Greater Charleston, American Cancer Society, Trident United Way, and the St. John’s Rural Mission.  The Charleston chapter has been involved in sponsoring Hurricane Hugo relief efforts, the Black Arts Festival at the Gibbes Art Gallery, creative writing workshops, the MOJA Arts Festival, the Wilfred Delphin and Edwin Romain Musica de Camera Series at Piccolo Spoleto, and various concerts and Broadway plays.

 

Scope and Content:  10 ft. (Ca. 1951-57, 1962-1995, 2003-2005)

 

There are three major series: one on the local Charleston Chapter; another on the regional Southern Area; and the third relating to National Headquarters, in Washington, DC; with the bulk of the collection focusing on the Charleston Chapter.  Each series contains organizational papers; minutes; financial reports; memorandums;  and correspondence along with brochures, programs, and newspaper clippings. Charleston Chapter papers include correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs on members, Ruby Cornwell (1982-1994); Marsha Hassell (1988-1992); Maxine Smith Martin (1986-2000); Marie Metz (1990-91); Emily DeCosta Seabrook (1970-1985) and Lucille Whipper (1984-1988).   Facet Committee activities papers include reports, correspondence, programs, newspaper clippings and photographs re relief efforts (1989 – 1990) on Hurricane Hugo (1989-1990); service and youth projects; cultural events; and concerts and plays.  Regional and national conferences papers (1955-1995) include minutes, financial reports, memorandums, newspaper clippings and photographs.  Also included are numerous color and black and white photographs (1951 – 1994) of members and activities, filed within each series.

 

 

Suggested subject entries

 

Links, Inc. – Charleston, SC Chapter

Jenkins Orphanage

YWCA of Greater Charleston

St. Johns Rural Mission, Charleston, SC

Black Arts Festival, Charleston, SC

MOJA Arts Festival, Charleston, SC

Disasters – Hurricane Hugo – recovery efforts

African Americans – arts festivals

African Americans – women’s organizations

SC – Charleston – women’s organizations

SC – Charleston – African Americans

Delfin, Wilfred,

Romain, Edwin, d. 1995

Cornwell, Ruby, 1902 - 2003

Hassell, Marsha

Martin, Maxine Smith, b. 1944

Metz, Marie

Seabrook, Emily DeCosta

Whipper, Lucille

 

 

 

Charleston SC Chapter of Links, Inc.

 

 

Avery Manuscript Number 1016

 

 

Inventory

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box #/

I

LINKS:  Charleston S.C. Chapter

Folder#

 

 

 

 A

Organizational Records

 

 

 

 

1

Handwritten and typed organizational sketches and brochures (1971-1998, nd) re

1-1

 

Charleston Chapter

 

 

 

 

2

Officers and membership rosters (1978-2003)

1-2

 

 

 

3

Constitution/Bylaws (1971-1994) with drafts, recommendations, and revisions

1-3

 

 

 

4

Typed letters (1965) re membership dues

1-4

 

 

 

5

Typed and photocopied correspondence (1977-79) re politicians requesting financial

1-5

 

support

 

 

 

 

6

Typed, handwritten, and photocopied correspondence (1980-89) re speakers for

1-6

 

meetings; fundraising efforts; and letters to National Headquarters. Correspondents

 

 

include Arthur Clement, Jr. (1980); Governor Richard W. Riley re Links nomination for

 

1986 Governor's Volunteer Award; responses from Congressman John M. Spratt, Jr.

 

 

and Senator Ernest F. Hollings (1988-89) re Links opposition against apartheid in

 

 

South Africa

 

 

 

 

7

Typed, handwritten, and photocopied correspondence (1990-99) re general

1-7

 

administrative and membership matters; letters to other chapters; requests and

 

 

notifications to Southern Area and National Headquarters; and thank you letters to

 

 

local businesses for financial support.  Correspondents include Congressman Arthur

 

 

Ravenel, Jr.(1990) re opposition to bill H.R. 4000 and Senator Ernest F. Hollings

 

 

(1991) re support of the Civil Rights Act

 

 

 

 

8

Typed memorandums (1962, 1982-1998) re general administrative and membership

1-8

 

matters

 

 

 

 

9

Typed memorandums (1993-94) re meeting notices for general members and the

1-9

 

executive board

 

 

 

 

10

Typed and handwritten correspondence and forms (1980-1995) re invitations to

1-10

 

membership, responses, candidacy for application forms and new members induction

 

 

 

 

11

Typed and handwritten correspondence (1980-1997) re suspension, leave of

1-11

 

absences and resignations

 

 

 

 

12

Typed and handwritten correspondence (1984-1995) re retirements and requests for

1-12

 

alumna status

 

 

 

 

13

Typescripts (1981-1994, nd) of member ceremonies

1-13

 

 

 

14

Typescripts and memorandums (1993-94) re deceased members and memorial

1-14

 

resolutions

 

 

 

 

15

Typed and handwritten forms (1984-1994) of surveys, responses, and evaluations

1-15

 

 

 

16

Typed and photocopied memorandums and forms (1979-1991) re summaries of

1-16

 

membership and annual statistical reports for twenty-five and forty year members;

 

 

dates of induction (1979) for twenty-five plus members

 

 

 

 

17

Typed and photocopied memorandums and forms (1992-94) re reports of membership

1-17

 

relocation to National Headquarters

 

 

 

 

 B

Organizational Records: Member Profiles

 

 

 

 

1

Correspondence and photocopied newspaper clippings (1982-1994) re Ruby

1-18

 

Cornwell

 

 

 

 

2

Photocopied press release and newspaper clipping (1985-89) re Irma Gilchrist

1-19

 

 

 

3

Newsletter and photocopied newspaper clipping (1988-1992) re Marsha Hassell

1-20

 

 

 

4

Photocopied newspaper clippings and biographical sketch (1986-2000) re Maxine

1-21

 

Smith Martin

 

 

 

 

5

Photocopied newspaper clippings and program (1990-91) re Marie H. Metz

1-22

 

 

 

6

Photocopied newspaper clipping and nomination form (1970, 1985) re Emily DeCosta

1-23

 

Seabrook

 

 

 

 

7

Minutes, photograph and business card (1989) re Cynthia McCottry Smith

1-24

 

 

 

8

Press releases and color photograph (1989) re Cheryl Whipper

1-25

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

Correspondence, essay, and photocopied newspaper clippings (1988-1997) re Lucille

1-26

 

Whipper

 

 

 

 

 C

Organizational Records: Minutes and Agendas

 

 

 

 

1

Handwritten volume (1961-1970) of monthly meeting minutes.  Includes dues paid 

2-1

 

and brief description of expenses

 

 

 

 

2

Scattered handwritten and typed monthly minutes (1964-1969)

2-2

 

 

 

3

Photocopies of minutes (1964-69) referenced above

2-3

 

 

 

4

Handwritten and typed monthly agendas and minutes (1971, 75, 77-79)

2-4

 

 

 

5

Handwritten and typed monthly agendas and minutes (1980-89).  Includes schedule of

2-5

 

meetings, officers, standing and program facet committees

 

 

 

 

6

Handwritten and typed monthly agendas and minutes (1990-91) with committee and 

2-6

 

treasurer's reports

 

 

 

 

7

Handwritten and typed monthly agendas and minutes (1992-93) with committee and 

2-7