Esther Kaplan Pivnick collection

The collection is divided into ten series:

NOTE: The majority of this collection contains photocopied documents. Dates indicated are derived from the date of document. Original documents are noted as such.

Series 1. Manuscripts of "Immigrants, Carpetbagger, South Carolinians: A Particular History of the Andell Family on Johns Island, S.C. (1865-1932)" Contains numerous typed versions of drafts (some complete, many scattered) of the first three to four chapters of the intended book (never published). Also includes editor's copies with notations.

Series 2: Research Materials: Johns Island Family Histories Holds extensive materials: handwritten and typed notes; photocopies of legal documents; newspaper clippings, maps, brief photographs, with genealogical charts and information pertaining to the Andell, Seabrook, Gregg, Mitchell, Schaffer, Whaley, Roper and Bryan families. These families either established, inhabited, or were associated with Johns, Edisto, Wadmalaw, Kiawah, and Seabrook Islands. Of note are five (5) original letters written by William Andell (dated 4 February 1886, 6 May 1886, 17 December 1897, and undated). Also included are brief documents regarding Andell descendant, Elizabeth "Betty" Stringfellow. A subgroup of Seabrook Island holds typescripts regarding the acquisition of the Andell, Kiawato, and Seabrook properties to attorney, Victor Morawetz. Also included are maps, plats, surveys, photocopied legal documents pertaining to the transference of the Andell property to Seabrook Island; and documents pertaining to Camp Saint Christopher and the Seabrook Island Natural History group in which Pivnick and Stringfellow were affiliated with.

Series 3: Research Materials: Johns Island Plantation Owners Contains various typed listings of "Plantations on Johns Island, 1860," "Plantations returned to owners after the (Civil) War," and "Other residents of Johns Island." All listings were eventually published in the book, A Place Called St. John's.. Also included are Pivnick's extensive research of Sea Island plantation owners and families, some with genealogical information, records of ownership and transference of land.

Series 4: Research Materials: Education in South Carolina and Johns Island Contains documents pertaining to The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, commonly referred to as The Freedmen's Bureau; it's history on Johns Island and South Carolina, with photocopied letters; Bureau policies and bills; newspaper articles; book excerpts and journal essays, with Pivnick's handwritten and typed notes. A sub-series of Freedmen's Bureau schoolteachers, includes materials pertaining to Mary A. Sharp, a teacher from the Methodist Missionary Society of Philadelphia, who taught African-Americans at Walnut Hill School House on Johns Island (circa 1865). Some folders include photocopied diaries and transcripts from published books. Education on Johns Island includes materials relating to the work of Septima Clark and Esau Jenkins and The Citizenship School; and elementary and high schools established on the Island. Education in South Carolina contains reports, photocopied journal essays and book excerpts.

Series 5: Research Materials: African-American Families on Johns Island, South Carolina Holds family histories, some with genealogical charts, of those who worked and/or lived on the Andell Farm. Highlighted are members of the Freeman, Gilliard, Heyward, Qualls, Jr., Simmons, and Washington Families. Also included are interview transcripts with Robert Taylor and Maria Flood McNeil, discussing the Masonic Lodge, Johns Island Society, Saint Paul Hall, Johns Island Band (circa 1910-1930), Jenkins Point, with brief account of a "African Ring Dance on the Andell Farm," and midwifery. Sub-series includes documents pertaining to African-American churches (Greater St. Johns Methodist Episcopal, Hebron and Zion Presbyterian), funeral traditions and cemeteries; farmers and Lowcountry communities, with various newspaper clippings.

Series 6: Research Materials: Johns Island and Lowcountry Locations Holds various documents and geographical information pertaining to Johns, Edisto, Wadmalaw/Rockville and Kiawah Islands; Charleston, James Island, Folly Beach, Mt. Pleasant, Sullivans Island (formerly Moutrieville); and Beaufort County. Also included are photocopied and hand drawn maps by Pivnick of "Charles-Town," circa 1711; Civil War battle regions and of the Atlantic World.

Series 7: Various Research Materials Contains documents created and used in the writing of the manuscript, "Immigrants, Carpetbaggers, South Carolinians." Includes timelines, subject files, photocopied book excerpts, essays, and historic newspapers (circa 1718-1956), cultural institution newsletters and brochures and Pivnick's notes on books and her research.

Series 8: Correspondence Holds business and personal letters mostly sent to Pivnick, with some addressed to Stringfellow. Many letters pertain to their research.

Series 9: Audio-Visual Materials Contains mostly audio cassette tapes, many with oral histories conducted by Stringfellow and Pivnick. Of note is a audio recording of Guy Carawan at the Avery Research Center (dated December 1987), featuring a brief talk by Bernice Robinson discussing Esau Jenkins and the Johns Island Citizenship School; Carawan singing several songs including variations of "We Shall Over Come;" folktales by Janie Hunter's daughter; and welcome by Dr. Myrtle Glascoe, Avery's first director. Several tapes contain Stringfellow's "Life on John's Island" presentations to the Elderhostel program regarding Johns Island history.

Series 10: Oversize Materials: Maps Contains aerial map of Johns Island; soil system map of Charleston County, South Carolina, Stono and North Edisto Rivers; large hand drawn maps of Johns Island plantations and the Charleston peninsula; and Town of Seabrook Island flood and evacuation route map.