Order of the Eastern Star Syllabus

This collection contains the administrative records, financial records, material relating to the rituals and ceremonies performed by the Order of the Eastern Star, and records in relation to their affliated lodge, Prince Hall Lodge No. 46.

The collection is divided into four series:

1. Administrative Records includes organizational bylaws, 1936-1946 meeting minutes, committee reports, membership petitions, women's' doctor's notes, O.E.S. proceedings for the following years, 1935, 1956, 1974, and 1977, and letters regarding death claims paid and funeral programs for deceased sisters. Topics covered within meeting minutes include discussion of dues collected, attendance records, motions made, and reports back from the women who attended the conventions. There is a subseries that contains administrative correspondence, which consists of letters between the chapter and the Grand Chapter regarding membership and dues, and letters from the district about meeting times and locations. The subseries also contains, financial correspondence in regards to changing membership dues and death claim payouts, records denoting their charity donations, and their business with Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply. Other records in the subseries comprises of invitations and cards; and blank stationary, envelopes, and meeting reminders.

2. Financial Records includes financial reports, 1949-1978 bank statements from the South Carolina National Bank, cancelled checks, check ledgers, receipts, business letters, and individual members' financial books. The financial books are of the following members: Mrs. Virginia Lemon, Miss. Celia Robinson, Mrs. Dottie Williams, Mrs. Rosalee Williams, Sis. Rebecca Garvin, and Sis. Mamie Fields.

3. O.E.S. Rituals and Ceremonies include the lyrics to the Eastern Star Songs, such as We Meet We Part;   The Light;  and On Being a Star. Other records in the series include printed syllabus of Amaranth and the revised version of the Eastern Star syllabus, burial instruction information, and five sashes to represent each point on the star.

4. Prince Hall, Lodge No. 46 Records includes their 1924-1934 meeting minutes, which records meeting attendance, motions made, and election results; 1935 and 1936 annual reports; programs from the 1970 and 1979 Grand Lodge Communications; raffle ticket books; and 1954-1957 Temple Association reports, which documents their expenditures and revenues.