Lucille Simmons Whipper papers

Each series contains multiple subseries in which detailed descriptions are provided in each introduction.

Series 1. Biographical Documents (1944-2015, and undated)holds resumes, vitas and biographical sketches; oral interview transcripts and essays about Whipper; tributes and honors which includes honorary degrees, the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame, and the BellSouth-South Carolina African American History Calendar honoree (also refer to Series 10: Awards. Various recognitions are throughout the collection); writings and speech transcripts (many handwritten) deliver to her professional, educational, and religious activities; personal materials holding financial statements, date books and appointment calendars; and documents pertaining to her academic years and alumni affiliations at Avery Institute and Talladega College, with correspondence pertaining to their alumni association.

Series 2. Political Career (circa 1980-2000, and undated) The largest series of this collection extensively details Whipper's year in the South Carolina legislative as House of Representative for Charleston's District 109, from 1985-1995. The main subseries are: Campaigns and Elections; State of South Carolina: Executive Branch; State of South Carolina: Judicial Branch; and State of South Carolina: Legislative Branch. There are numerous subseries within each which holds correspondence, legislative bills and journals, session reports, and various documents from the committees Whipper served on including: Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee; Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee; Rules Committee; Joint Committee on Energy; Joint Committee on Energy; Joint Committee on State Employees and the Human Affairs Commission, along with the various boards, commissions, South Carolina State departments, academic institutions, legislative conferences, caucuses, and political organizations, Charleston and South Carolina departments and organizations. Of note is the subseries, pertaining to the various revisions of the Martial Rape Bill, which was initiated in part by Senator Herbert Fielding in 1986, and followed by Whipper in 1987. In support of Senator Herbert Fielding's bill (S.47), Whipper co-wrote this legislation which "provides that a person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct if the victim is his legal spouse and the actor's conduct constitutes criminal sexual conduct in the first or second degree. The bill would have made it against the law in South Carolina for a man to rape his wife, even if they are living together. Prior to the bill, a couple had to be legally separated in order for a spouse to be charged with rape." Due to the length of passage, the bills span several legislative sessions. Also included are various bills written by Whipper during Session 107. South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus: Redistricting and Reapportionment (1989-1996), which holds correspondence, meeting minutes, photocopies of various court cases Whipper was involved with, and the reports regarding Congressional Reapportionment Plans.

Series 3. Academic Career (1955-2014) This series (with subseries) includes correspondence, reports, event programs, and booklets from the positions held by Whipper prior to her political career. Includes the subseries: Bonds-Wilson High School; Burke High School; College of Charleston, and Charleston County School District; Elementary and Secondary School. Of note is the scrapbook and correspondence pertaining to Whipper's educational initiative "Operation Catch-Up" (Summer 1967).

Series 4: Religious Affiliations and Organizations (1950-2016, and undated) The second largest series (with multiple subseries) in this collection features Whipper's involvement with the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., and it's various conventions, auxiliaries and committees. This includes the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and in particular, the Women's Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention (WBEMC) in which Whipper served as the first Vice-President (1999-2004), and State President (2004-2009). The series holds correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, financial documents, study guides, Annual Session minutes and programs, journals and newsletters. In 2001, Whipper initiated a project to document the WBEMC's history. This subseries contains grant proposals, correspondence, oral history transcripts, manuscript drafts, photographs, press releases, and newspaper articles. The culmination of this history project resulted in the publication, "Born to Serve: A History of the Woman's Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina" (2006). The series also holds materials from various Baptist churches (including Morris Street and Saint Matthew's), and various denominational churches; documents pertaining to Morris College (Sumter) and Benedict College (Columbia), which are Baptist Educational and Missionary sponsored educational institutions in South Carolina. This series also contains photographic albums, audio cassettes, and VHS recording tapes.

Series 5: Civic, Community and Social Involvement (circa 1913-2015, and undated) Holds correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, newsletters, event flyers, and brochures pertaining to Whipper's various Board of Trustee, commission, and committee positions, along with her extensive civic and social involvement. Holds the subseries: Charleston County School District (CCSD); Mayor's Advisory Committee on Human Relations: City of Charleston Departments and Committees; Charleston County Bicentennial Committee; South Carolina International Women's Year; Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture; Young Women's Christian Association of Greater Charleston (YWCA); Board of Trustee Appointments; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Charleston Chapter of Links, Incorporated; Charleston and South Carolina Organizations; and National Association Affiliations.

Series 6: Personal Correspondence: (1965-2014, and undated) Holds letters, note cards, invitations, and greeting cards, to and from Whipper from businesses, organizations, colleagues, and friends. Organized by year.

Series 7: Stroud, Simmons, Edley, and Whipper Families (1926-2015, and undated) Contains documents in subseries from Lucille Whipper's families. Includes correspondence, resolutions, tributes, and newspaper articles pertaining to her spouse, the Reverend Dr. Benjamin James Whipper, relating to his passing in 1998, and the subsequent memorial funds and scholarship established in his honor. Also contains brief information on William James Whipper (1834-1907), an attorney, abolitionist, and South Carolina State Senator (1873), who is Lucille Whipper's relative by marriage.

Series 8: Photographic Images and Audio Visual Recordings (circa 1900-2010, and undated) Contains photographs of Whipper, during her youth, House of Representative years, and church events, in addition to family and friends. The majority of images are unidentified. Also hold VHS video tape recordings of South Carolina (SCETV) Capitol View, in which Whipper is featured, along with cassette tape recordings of "Portfolio of State Issues," and "View from the Statehouse."

Series 9: Funeral Obsequies and Event Program (1950-2015, and undated) Holds funeral programs of Whipper's friends and church members (organized in alphabetical order). Also contains guest books, and event programs from which Whipper, or her family participated or attended. Included are programs from Broadway plays, convocation commencements, family reunions, art exhibits, and community events; organized by year.

Series 10: Artifacts: Awards (1987-2015) Contains honors of achievement and recognition received by Whipper during her House of Representatives tenure, along with her civic and social work. Includes the subseries: Legislative and Political Organizations; Baptist Organizations; Women's Organizations; Black History Month; and Various Awards. The awards are dismantled from their original plaques.

Series 11: Various Documents and Ephemera (1970-2014, and undated) Contains various documents and ephemera collected by Whipper. Includes educational materials which Whipper used in her talks and speeches, particularly for Black History Month. Also includes a people subject file with South Carolina Legislators holding biographical sketches, correspondence, campaign brochures, event programs, and newspaper and magazine articles on individuals important to Whipper. Contains subseries on Ruby Pendergrass Cornwell, a Charlestonian educator and civil rights activist, holding event programs and newspaper articles regarding her 100th birthday, with Whipper's speech transcript; and The Election and Presidency of Barack Hussein Obama holding campaign ephemera, newspaper articles, and magazines related to his election and first years in office.

Series 12: Oversize Materials (1966-1996) Contains a mixture of large campaign posters from Whipper's legislative campaign, with various car bumper stickers and ephemera.