Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club Papers

Historical Note: The Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club was formed in 1916 under the direction of Jeannette Cox, wife of Avery Institute principal Benjamin Cox. The club consisted of nineteen women members meeting to discuss literary works by such authors as W.E.B DuBois, Carter G. Woodson and others. The club women also helped fulfill the mission to "lift as we climb" by taking an active role in Charleston's African American community by donating funds to such organizations as the YWCA, NAACP, Avery Normal Institute, the Jenkins Orphanage, and the Fairwold Home for Neglected Colored Girls, in Cayce, SC. The organization also sponsored lectures, art shows, musical offerings and staged plays. The club is still active.

Description: The records of the Phillis Wheatley Club are arranged in two series. The first series contains a history (1934) of the club by its founder Jeannette Cox, as well as four volumes of the club's minutes (1916-1945; 1960 - 1984). The incomplete minutes record books and authors discussed, reflect dues paid and donations given. Significant people entertained include Edwin A. Harleston, W.E.B. DuBois, Edmund T. Jenkins, singer Marian Anderson, Poet Langston Hughes, William Lawrence, Lorenzo Dow Turner, Ludmilla Bechtold (of the Bahais) and others. There are frequent, if passing, references to both the SC and Charleston Federations of Colored Women's Clubs. Members included Susan Dart Butler, Elise F. Harleston, Anna Kelly, Ruby Cornwell and others, with the surnames McFall, Mickey, Noisette, Burroughs, Clement, De Costa, Brown, Green, and others. The second series is mostly photocopied materials consisting of club correspondence, clippings, programs, calendars, member data, etc. with photocopies of a letter from W.E.B. DuBois and one from Mary McLeod Bethune.

Inventory

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Handwritten and photocopied history of the Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club, 1916-1934 by Jeannette Cox. The history is arranged chronologically by administrations and explains the origins of the Club, and her plan to draw women from varying social backgrounds into the organization. Guests mentioned include Edwin A. Harleston; W.E. B. DuBois, Edmund T. Jenkins, Ludmilla Bechtold of the Bahai Faith; with reference to Marian Anderson concerts and reading by Langston Hughes. With notes on books read, charities supported.

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Typewritten copy of the above history.

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Bound volume (1916-1925) contains the minutes of monthly and call meetings of the Literary and Social Club. Minutes include information re books read and discussed; guest lecturers, including Edwin Harleston, Edmund Jenkins William Lawrence, etc.; list of officers, names and join dates of new members, dues collected and donations to Avery Institute, the Fairwold Industrial School, Jenkins Orphanage, etc.

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Bound volume (1925-1934) contains detailed notes of meetings with data on readings, lecturers, members, officers, dues and donations to various organizations. Includes references to Edwin A. Harleston, engaging Marian Anderson for concerts (1927, 1929) entertaining W. E. B. DuBois at Harleston's studio (1931), staging a reading (1931) by Langston Hughes, working with Avery Institute, etc.

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Bound volume (1935-1945) of minutes re readings, lecturers, members, officers, dues and donations to various charitable agencies. With mentions of petitions in support of Costigan-Wagner anti-lynching bill (p. 8); praising Charleston sheriff Poulnot for preventing mob violence (p. 38); lecture by Lorenzo Dow Turner (p. 77); arranging an Edwin A. Harleston exhibit (1940); and attempting to honor Julius Rosenwald(p. 227), with many references to Avery, etc.

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Bound volume (1960-1984) of minutes on readings, lecturers, members, dues, and donations to organizations and charities. With mentions of lecture by Eugene Hunt and one by Edwina Harleston on Edwin A. Harleston. (p. 195)

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Photocopies of correspondence (1925-2001, nd) of W.E.B. DuBois, some members, charities, such as the Fairwold Home for Neglected Colored Girls, the Jenkins Orphanage, Mary McLeod Bethune, and others re activities of club; with a list of letters, many not present in the collection.

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Photocopies of programs and similar materials documenting activities and history of club. With one original program (1927) of Marian Anderson concert

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Photocopies of annual calendars (1977-79; 1979-1980; 1983-84); photocopy of 1968 Words to Live By; and original of 2004 - 2006 Member manual.

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Membership data includes photocopies of lists of members from minute books and a photocopy of a scrapbook documenting some members 1935 - ca. 1991

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Photocopies of a few clippings (1980s - 2000) re club and its activities

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Photocopies of miscellaneous materials include a copy of a book report (ca. 1919) re "Slavery in its Mild Form."

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