Skip to main content

Herbert U. Fielding papers

 Collection
Identifier: AMN 1108

Collection Overview

This collection documents Herbert U. Fielding's professional activities from the 1960s to 1990s, including his involvement with the Civil Rights Movement, Fielding Home for Funerals, and his political career. Topics from materials relating to Fielding's pre-political career include the founding of the Charleston Political Action Committee, Fielding Home for Funerals, and various race relations issues in South Carolina. Materials relating to Fielding's terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives and South Carolina State Senate include constituent correspondence, correspondence among various public figures in South Carolina, committee work, speeches, campaign materials, and other materials. Materials relating to Fielding's life after his retirement from the South Carolina Senate include his work at Fielding Home for Funerals, lobbying, and his involvement with the Democratic Party. Topics of particular interest include African American representation in politics, revenue sharing in South Carolina, activities of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, Congressional remapping of South Carolina District 6 from 1973 to 1992, and Fielding's 1992 exploratory committee and campaign for Representative of South Carolina District 6. The collection also includes local newspaper clippings documenting Fielding's professional life along with articles representing his and other South Carolina legislators' positions on various local political issues. Also included are Fielding's speeches, given between 1968 and 2006. The topic of these speeches ranges from local political issues to tributes to various public figures or addresses at social functions.

Dates

  • Creation: 1941-2014
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1960-1992

Access Restrictions

This collection has restrictions to access. For more information, please read the collection inventory or contact the Avery Research Center: (843) 953-7609.

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 Note

Herbert Ulysses G. Fielding was born on July 6, 1923 in Charleston, South Carolina, the son of Julius P. L. and Sadie E. Gaillard Fielding. He received his early education in Charleston and afterward served in the United States Army during World War II. In 1948, he received a B.S. from West Virginia State College. When he returned to Charleston from service in World War II, Fielding assumed part responsibility of his family's business, the Fielding Home for Funerals. The business was co-founded in 1912 by Fielding's father and is still operated by the Fielding family, with Herbert serving as a Director.

In 1965, Herbert Fielding founded the Political Action Committee of Charleston County. This organization worked to provide voter education and to promote the employment of African Americans on voter registration boards and school trustee boards.

In 1970, Fielding became one of the first African American legislators elected in South Carolina since Reconstruction when he won a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was elected for the House again in 1972 and 1982, then served in the South Carolina State Senate for District #42 (Charleston County) in 1984 and 1988. He was chairman of the South Carolina Senate Delegation from 1989 to 1992 and chairman of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus from 1990 to 1992. In the State Senate, he was a member of six standing committees, the General Committee; Banking and Insurance; Finance; Fish, Game, and Forestry; Invitations; and Labor, Commerce, and Industry. He also served on three special committees: the Human Resources Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference, the Joint Committee on Federal Aid to South Carolina, and the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Retardation.

In 1992, Fielding ran in the Democratic Primary for the United States Congress, seeking to represent South Carolina District 6, which had been newly reapportioned as a black majority district. After losing the race to Jim Clyburn, Herbert Fielding retired from his political career.

Fielding has been active in the Calvary Episcopal Church of Charleston, South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, South Carolina Coastal Council, South Carolina Commission for Vocational Rehabilitation, Trident Chamber of Commerce, Trident Council on Alcoholism, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Corporation, as president of the Robert Gould Shaw Boys Club, as a member of the University of South Carolina Budget Board, and founder and co-chairman of the Charleston County Political Action Committee.

Fielding is married to Thelma Erenne Stent and they have three sons, Julius P. L. II, Herbert Stent, and Frederick Augustus.

SOURCES: (1) Professional Biography, Herbert U. Fielding Papers, Avery Research Center, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA. (2) Fielding Home for Funerals: http://www.fieldingfuneral.com/contact.htm

Extent

13.89 linear feet (29 boxes and 1 oversize box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Herbert U. Fielding (born 1923), an African American, was a South Carolina Congressman and Senator. Fielding has also led the family business, the Fielding Home for Funerals in Charleston, South Carolina. The collection documents Herbert U. Fielding's early life as well as his professional activities and political career from 1960 to 1992, with some material extending to 2014. Materials include professional and constituent correspondence, speeches, campaign materials, bills and resolutions, newspaper clippings, and other materials. Major topics include the founding of the Political Action Committee of Charleston County, South Carolina; federal revenue sharing; South Carolina race relations and politics, including the representation of African Americans in politics and professional organizations; and the racial reapportionment of South Carolina District 6, including Fielding's exploratory committee and primary campaign materials.

Collection Arrangement

  1. Professional Activities, 1960-1974 and 1990
  2. Professional and Constituent Correspondence, 1988-1992
  3. Subject Files, 1984-2007
  4. Speeches, 1971-2005
  5. Clippings and Other Materials, 1976-2007 and Undated
  6. AMN 1108-01, 1941-2014

Processing Information

Funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supported the processing of series 6, AMN 1108-01.

Title
Inventory of the Herbert U. Fielding Papers, 1941 - 2014 AMN 1108
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Aaron Spelbring
Date
2012
Description rules
Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • 2012: Finding aid was revised
  • 2024: AMN 1108-01 was processed and finding aid was revised by Nate Hubler

Repository Details

Part of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture Repository

Contact:
125 Bull Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424 United States
843-953-7608