General correspondence, 1912-1956

The collection consists of the surviving records of two congregations, Brith Sholom (founded 1852) and Beth Israel (founded 1911), and the records of the congregation Brith Sholom Beth Israel (BSBI) formed by their merger in 1955. Each set of congregational records contains governing documents such as constitutions, incorporation papers and board minutes. There are membership, financial and staffing records as well, with varying amounts of general and topical correspondence, cemetery records, and published and programming materials, such as newsletters, mailers, etc. Sisterhood records span all congregations under various names as the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society, the Daughters of Israel, and the BSBI sisterhood. There are also black and white and color photographs of various structures, events, (including graduations and commencements) special occasions, and congregants. National Council on Synagogue Youth materials constitute one series and the collection also contains the records of the Charleston Hebrew Institute, later known as Addlestone Hebrew Academy. There are clippings that document the congregations and other related Jewish historical and cultural topics germane mostly to Charleston, South Carolina, along with materials on other societies, including the local Chevra Kadisha burial society. A few artifacts (stationary, memorial tablet, Star of David, etc.) and textiles (tee shirt, felt patch, Jewish War Veteran lodge hat) round out the collection.