DeCosta family papers
Collection Overview
The DeCosta family papers are arranged in two series according to chronological family history.
1. DeCosta Family Papers, 1870-2010, documents the educational pursuits and the personal and professional lives of numerous members of the DeCosta family through photographs, diplomas, correspondence, newspaper clippings, funeral service programs and obituaries, published writings, and ephemera. Family members represented in the collection include: Martha Adams DeCosta, Benjamin Rhodes DeCosta, Anna Harrinburg DeCosta, Elizabeth DeCosta Sartor, Augustus G. Sartor, Wilbur M. Sartor, Barbara DeCosta Walden, Georgianna H. Price, Anna DeCosta Hunter, Daisy DeCosta Caffey, Robert S. DeCosta Higgins, Eugenia DeCosta Higgins, St. Julian L. DeCosta, Raymond T. DeCosta, Harold Chase DeCosta, Miriam DeCosta-Willis, Monique Ariel Sugarmon, the Hubert family (grandparents of Miriam DeCosta-Willis), Geraldine Stevenson DeCosta, and Benjamin R. DeCosta.
2. Oversize DeCosta Family Papers, 1904-1905, and Undated contains the oversize material within the collection and includes a portrait photograph of Martha Adams DeCosta and Daisy Madeline and Elizabeth Marion DeCosta's diplomas from the Avery Normal Institute.
Dates
- Creation: 1850-2010
Creator
- DeCosta family (Family)
- Price, Georgianna H., 1934-2006 (Person)
- Hunter, Anna E., 1915-2012 (Person)
- Caffey, Daisy A., 1892-1977 (Person)
- DeCosta Higgins, Robert S., 1932-1964 (Person)
- DeCosta Higgins, Eugenia N., 1898-1993 (Person)
- DeCosta, St. Julian L., 1900-1964 (Person)
- DeCosta, Raymond T., 1904-1941 (Person)
- DeCosta, Harold C., 1907-1968 (Person)
- DeCosta-Willis, Miriam (Person)
- Sugarmon, Monique A. (Person)
Language of Materials
Material is in English and Spanish
Access Restrictions
No Restrictions.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the Avery Research Center's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Avery Research Center claims only physical ownership of most archival materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Biographical and Historical Note
The DeCosta family of Charleston traces its lineage to Benjamin DeCosta and Henrietta Bell Chisolm (1818-1885). The couple had one child together, Benjamin Rhodes DeCosta (1834-1870) which is with whom this collection begins. Biographical notes for subsequent family members can be found at the file level for each family member.
Full Extent
0.83 linear feet (2 full Hollinger boxes and 3 oversize folders; 64 photographs, 53 negatives; 1 CD-R disc, and 1 floppy disk)
Abstract
The DeCosta Family papers, 1870-2010, document the lives of four generations of the DeCosta family, beginning with Benjamin Rhodes and Martha Elizabeth Adams DeCosta. The bulk of the collection consists of photographs of various family members and family units within the family lineage. Other materials document family members's educational pursuits and professional and personal lives through diplomas, commencement programs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, obituaries, funeral programs, and published writings.
Collection Arrangement
Series
- DeCosta Family Papers, 1870-2010
- Oversize DeCosta Family Papers, 1904-1905, and Undated
Acquisitions Information
Materials were donated by several members of the DeCosta family through several different accessions
Processing Information
Processed by Aaron Spelbring, August, 2012
Encoded by Aaron Spelbring, August, 2012
Finding aid revised by Nate Hubler, December, 2024
Subject
- Avery Normal Institute -- Alumna and Alumnae (Organization)
- DeCosta, Benjamin R., 1834-1870 (Person)
- DeCosta, Martha E., 1834-1915 (Person)
- DeCosta, Benjamin R., 1867-1911 (Person)
- DeCosta, Anna H., 1868-1928 (Person)
- Sartor, Elizabeth M., 1887-1952 (Person)
- Sartor, Augustus G., 1867-1942 (Person)
- Waldon, Barbara A., 1937-2004 (Person)
- DeCosta, Geraldine S., 1919-2010 (Person)
- DeCosta, Benjamin R., III (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the DeCosta family papers, 1850-2010 AMN 1101
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by: Aaron Spelbring; machine-readable finding aid created by: Aaron Spelbring; finding aid revised by: Nate Hubler
- Date
- © 2012
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English
- Sponsor
- Funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supported the revision of this finding aid.
Repository Details
Part of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture Repository
125 Bull Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424 United States
843-953-7608
averyresearchcenter@cofc.edu