John L. Dart family papers

The collection is divided into three series:

1. Dart Family Members contains documents pertaining to William Dart and his wife Susan Fenwick Dart; their son, John Lewis Dart; his children and spouses, son, William Andrews Dart, daughter Susan Dart Butler and her husband Nathaniel Lowe Butler; daughter Anna Pierre Dart and her husband, Beverly Bronseaux, and their children, Beverly and Evangeline. Of note are various copies and transcriptions regarding the transference of John Caldwell's slave William, to Susan Fenwick, a free woman of color; with note (1844) of Caldwell allowing William to look for a new master; and Susan Dart Butler's note that William was her grandfather; transcripts of taxes paid by free people of color and a Bill of Sale for the Steamer Mab to Dart.

John L. Dart's brief papers illustrate his life as an pastor, school administrator, newspaper publisher and businessman. Included is his authored and self-published booklet: The Famous Trial of the Eight Men Indicted for the Lynching of Frazier B. Baker and His Baby, Late U.S. Postmaster at Lake City, S.C. in the U.S. Circuit Court, at Charleston, SC, April 10-22, 1899, a reprinting of newspaper coverage and appending a printed memorial to President William McKinley from Reverend Dart, Dr. William D. Crum, Dr. Alonzo C. McClennan and others. The collection also holds a photocopy of one issue of The Southern Reporter, 9 April 1904. Photocopies from a microfilm reel from the Miscellaneous African-American Publications from the Roscoe C. Simmons Collection at Harvard University. This copy provides articles and advertisements of Charleston African-American owned businesses at the turn of the 20th century.

The children of John and Julia Dart are represented by the Dart and Butler Family which includes the "Marriage Certificate Booklet" (1912) of Susan Dart and Nathaniel Lowe Butler, with signature of Edwin A. Harleston as witness; and signatures of attending guest in Boston, Massachusetts; and statements of expenses and rental receipts regarding Nathaniel L. Butler's and his brother-in-law, William A. Dart's realty company. Also included is a copy with photocopy of a petition, "To South Carolina legislators to permit African-American teachers to instruct in African-American schools in the Charleston County School District." Autographed by petitioner Dr. William Johnson with other signers including Thomas E. Miller and Edwin A. Harleston; with another printed version from the South Carolina House of Representatives Journal, also autographed by Johnson (22 January 1919).

The Dart and Bronseaux Families includes Anna Pierre Dart and Beverly Bronseaux's wedding certificate (photocopy-1922); her teaching certificate (1935) and Masters of Arts, from Atlanta University (photocopy-1936); along with school documents and brief correspondence regarding their children Beverly (Jr.) and Evangeline.

2. Various Families' Papers contains marriage certificates of William Pierce to Virginia Dandridge (1848) and Alma Kreuger and Marx Hanft, (1917-1918) with his government issued insurance policy. They were possibly friends or extended families related to the Dart Family.

3. Various Documents holds scattered photocopies of newspaper clippings of the News and Courier and an anonymous typed manuscript, "What Makes A Truly Valuable Woman," regarding the roles of women (undated).