Lonnie Hamilton III papers
Collection Overview
The collection includes material related to Hamilton's personal life and professional career as an educator, musician, and Charleston County Councilman. The material in the personal series includes feature articles on his life, his involvement with community organizations including Spoleto Festival, U.S.A., and political groups such as the Charleston County Democratic Party. The professional material includes programs and newspaper articles about Hamilton's career as the Band Director for Bonds-Wilson High School and his position as the Director of Adult Education. Programs, newspaper articles, and correspondence reflect his career as a Charleston County Councilman. His musical career is documented with invitations and programs from various performances by Lonnie Hamilton and the Diplomats, Lonnie Hamilton and the Ambassadors, and the Lonnie Hamilton Quintet. Materials also relate to other professional ventures, such as Lonnie's, a nightclub in Charleston, South Carolina.
Dates
- Creation: 1950-2001
Creator
- Hamilton, Lonnie, III (Person)
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright Notice
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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 Note
Lonnie Hamilton (born 1927) was a musician, educator, and community leader. Notably, Hamilton was the first African American to serve on the Charleston County Council.
Lonnie Hamilton, III was born to Anna Hall Hamilton and Lonnie Hamilton, Jr. in Charleston, South Carolina. His musical career began in the 1940s as a student at Burke High School. During this time, he began playing the saxophone and was eventually invited to play with the Jenkins' Orphanage Band. Before graduating high school, Hamilton traveled for two summers with this influential band.
Hamilton received a music scholarship to attend South Carolina State College in Orangeburg and continued to play the saxophone throughout his college career; after which he held the position of Band Instructor in Union, South Carolina, and then at Bonds-Wilson High School. He taught over 3,000 students during his 20 years as an educator. As a musician, Hamilton was a member of various bands, including Lonnie Hamilton the Diplomats, and appeared for performances on numerous occasion during the Lonnie Hamilton Show, at his nightclub Lonnie's, and elsewhere.
In 1970, Hamilton became the first elected African American to serve on the Charleston County Council. He continued to serve in this position until his loss in 1994. He was twice elected to serve as Chairman of Charleston County Council, also making him the first African American to occupy the position.
In 1978, Hamilton was inducted to the Burke Hall of Fame. Other recognition includes the naming of the interchange of Interstate 26 and Interstate 526 in his honor. In 2003, former students of Bonds-Wilson High School joined together to form the charitable Lonnie Hamilton, III Foundation, which focuses on educational achievement.
Hamilton served on various committees and organizations, including Spoleto Festival, U.S.A, the American Cancer Association and the United Negro College Fund. Hamilton was also a member of the South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC). In 1982 he became the first African American president of SCAC. He is a member of Cavalry Episcopal Church.
Hamilton has been married to Clarissa Hill Hamilton since 1956. They have one daughter, Kendra.
Chronology List
- 1927
- Lonnie Hamilton, III is born
- 1951
- Graduates from South Carolina State College
- 1953-1954
- Begins as Band Director for Bonds-Wilson High School
- 1956
- Marries Clarissa Hill
- 1960s
- Forms Lonnie and the Diplomats
- 1963
- Appears on the Lonnie Hamilton Show
- 1970
- Becomes the first African American elected to serve on the Charleston County Council
- 1974
- Re-elected to Charleston County Council
- 1976
- Elected Chairman of Charleston County Council
- 1977
- Installed as Chairman of Charleston County Council
- 1978
- Inducted into the Burke High School Hall of Fame.
- 1978
- Re-Elected to Charleston County Council
- 1982
- Re-elected to Charleston County Council
- 1982
- Elected president of the South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC), becoming the first African American president of SCAC
- 1982
- Opens Lonnie's
- 1986
- Re-elected to Charleston County Council
- 1986
- Re-elected as Chairman of Charleston County Council
- 1990
- Re-elected to Charleston County Council
- 1994
- Loses election for Charleston County Council
- 1995
- Interchange named in honor of Lonnie Hamilton, III
Extent
5.0 linear feet (10 archival boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Lonnie Hamilton, III was a musician, educator, and community leader. Notably, Hamilton was the first African American to serve on the Charleston County Council.
The collection includes material related to Hamilton's personal life and professional career as an educator, musician, and Charleston County Councilman. The material in the personal series includes feature articles on his life, his involvement with community organizations including Spoleto Festival, U.S.A., and political groups such as the Charleston County Democratic Party. The professional material includes programs and newspaper articles about Hamilton's career as the Band Director for Bonds-Wilson High School and his position as the Director of Adult Education. Programs, newspaper articles, and correspondence reflect his career as a Charleston County Councilman. His musical career is documented with invitations and programs from various performances by Lonnie Hamilton and the Diplomats, Lonnie Hamilton and the Ambassadors, and the Lonnie Hamilton Quintet. Materials also relate to other professional ventures, such as Lonnie's, a nightclub in Charleston, South Carolina.
Collection Arrangement
1. Personal, 1950-1995
2. Professional, 1954-2001
Processing Information
Processed by Melissa Bronheim, June 2010
Encoded by Melissa Bronheim, June 2010
Funding from the
Subject
- Charleston County Council -- History -- 20th century (Organization)
- Bonds-Wilson High School (Charleston, S.C.) (Organization)
- Hamilton, Lonnie, III (Person)
- Lonnie Hamilton and the Ambassadors (Musical group) (Organization)
- Lonnie Hamilton and the Diplomats (Musical group) (Organization)
- Lonnie Hamilton Quintet (Musical group) (Organization)
- Spoleto Festival U.S.A (Organization)
Geographic
Topical
- African American band directors -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- African American jazz musicians -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- African American musicians -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- African American politicians -- South Carolina -- Charleston -- 20th century
- African American women teachers -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- African Americans -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- Band directors -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- County council members -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- Jazz musicians -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- Musicians -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- Saxophonists -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- Teachers -- South Carolina -- Charleston -- 20th century
- Title
- Inventory of the Lonnie Hamilton III Papers, 1950 - 2001 AMN 1096
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Processed by: Melissa Bronheim; machine-readable finding aid created by: Melissa Bronheim
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English
- Sponsor
- Funding from the Council on Library and Information Resources supported the collection processing and encoding 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