Fellowship Society records

The collection consists of numerous records series. Membership rules and records contain handwritten copies (1762, 1770, 1774, and 1837) of the Society's rules with signatures of members up to the 1950s; lists (1839-1847) of those on the Society's bounty, and later printed rules (1859-2005) of the Society. There is a broken series of rough minutes (1815-1956, with gaps) consisting of first drafts, with additions and corrections made; and an unbroken set of minutes (1769-1993) detailing the meetings of the Society consistently over the years with just a few months hiatus in 1865. Early volumes (1769-1800) mention the plans for a hospital, the Charleston fire of 1778, political happenings of the day, including adopting an oath of allegiance for its members to take, the Revolutionary War, the capitulation of Charles Towne to the British and a few references to engraver Thomas Coram (d. 1811). The next volumes (1800-1832) contain many references to the school administered by the Society, with mentions of teachers Joseph Vesey (d. 1835) and John C. You and the progress of students. There is a copy of an 1810 letter from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (1746-1825) re the Charleston Bible Society, mentions of War of 1812 fortifications; and the purchase of property for rental use and the establishment of a Fellowship Hall on property between Broad and Chalmers streets. Minutes (1832-1854) reference the decline of the schools, the death of President Charles Steedman (1783-1838), killed in the Charleston fire of 1838, Eliza Murden (d. 1847), as teacher of the Society's school for girls, starting her own school on more religious lines, with a reference to her being tolerant to all religions, including Judaism. The Society's gift of funds to establish a normal school in Charleston, the growing rift between North and South, the championing of its President Richard Yeadon (1802-1870) for his stand on southern rights, the effect of the Civil War on the city and the Society's members, and striking Charles Steedman from membership due to his service in the Union Navy are detailed in the minutes of 1854 to 1867. Post Civil War era minutes (1867-1903) make mention of a political riot, the South Carolina Dispensary system, a memorial to William Gilmore Simms (1806-1870), and other topics of the day. Twentieth century minutes focus on purchasing and fixing up 370 King Street, events around World War I, the Spanish influenza epidemic and Word War II. Throughout the series of minutes are detailed analyses of the situations and finances of the widows and others on the Society's bounty, purchase and use of silver, mentioning the Charleston firm, Hayden and Gregg, commissioning portraits of various presidents, mentioning artists John Beaufain Irving (1808-1881), and R. I. Curtis, [Thomas] Wightman (1811-1888) and others. Financial records (1774-2004) include cash books, rough cash books, receipt books, journals and ledgers, detail finances, costs of meetings, payments for food, spirits, rentals, and incidentals, with periodic listings of the Society's assets. Records (1895-1921) of the Auxiliary Fellowship Society include minutes and financial accounts. Miscellaneous items include a proclamation (1770) re the Society by Lieutenant Governor William Bull, the Society's charter (1770), and a 1847 Bank of Camden broadside.