Clemon Harold Richardson, Sr., papers
Collection Overview
Series 1: Civic and Political Affiliations
Contains several sub-series:
1.1: Holy Royal Arch Masons, Grand Chapter of the Prince Hall Affiliation, South Carolina-contains conference and session programs; photocopied award certificates and testimonials, correspondence, photocopied newspaper articles, and photographs pertaining to Richardson's participation as the Grand High Priest of the Robert B. Elliott Chapter #1.
1.2: Maryville/Ashleyville Neighborhoods, South Carolina-holds documents pertaining to the history of the Town of Maryville (formerly St. Andrews Parish); meeting minutes and agendas, correspondence, tax maps, community announcements, and newspaper articles pertaining to Richardson's involvement as president of the Maryville/Ashleyville Neighborhood Association. Included are documents pertaining to the annexation of the community; incorporating Maryville into the City of Charleston (1993). A sub-group includes City Council and various committee meeting minutes and agendas; correspondence (including letters from Mayor Joseph P. Riley), memorandums, reports and announcements relating to Richardson's and Maryville/Ashleyville's involvement with the City of Charleston.
1.3: Political Affiliations-contains reports, correspondence and invitations sent to Richardson as the Charleston County Democratic Party Executive Committee Person for St. Andrews Precinct #3. A sub-group contains letters, memorandums, reports, event invitations and programs from South Carolina legislators, Congressmen James Clyburn, Floyd Breeland (former), and former Senator Robert Ford.
Series 2: General Materials Holds photocopied newspaper articles by Richardson's son, journalist Clem Richardson, and various clippings from The Chronicle, (Charleston, South Carolina); The Post and Courier, and Ebony magazine.
Dates
- Creation: 1910-2002, undated
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1990-2000
Creator
Access Restrictions
No restrictions
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
Clemon Harold Richardson, Sr., was born to Mary and Andrew Richardson in 1925, Charleston, South Carolina. A self-employed painting and wallpaper contractor, Richardson was actively involved in the Charleston community as a Masonic, civic and political organizer and leader. As a Masonic leader, Richardson was initiated into the Eastern Light Lodge 259 in 1957, and elected Worshipful Master (1961-1964). He served as the High Priest of Robert B. Elliott Chapter #1 Holy Royal Arch Mason and Grand High Priest of the Prince Hall Grand Chapter of South Carolina (1982). In 1989, Richardson was elected General Grand High Priest of the General Chapter Holy Royal Arch Masons of the United States and the Bahamas. He also established the Order of High Priesthood Royal Arch Masons and the Heroines of Jericho (the sister association to the Royal Arch Masons) in South Carolina.
On a civic level, Richardson served as president of the West Ashley Civic Association, (presently known as the Maryville/Ashleyville Neighborhood Association) from 1954-2000. He was also the second Vice-Chairperson for the Charleston Branch of Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Politically, Richardson served as the Charleston County Democratic Party Executive Committee Person for St. Andrews Precinct #3.
He was married to the former Margurite J. Brown of Maryville and parented seven children. Richardson passed on 21 August, 2003.
Extent
0.834 linear feet (2 archival boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Clemon Harold Richardson, Sr., (1925-2003), was a Masonic and community leader in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the Grand High Priest of the Robert B. Elliott Chapter #1 for the Holy Royal Arch Masons of the State of South Carolina. Locally, Richardson was the president of the Maryville/Ashleyville Neighborhood Association, (formerly the West Ashley Civic Association.) from 1954-2000. Richardson also served as the Charleston County Democratic Party Executive Committee Person for the St. Andrews Precinct #3.
The collection includes material related to Richardson's involvement as a Masonic, civic and political organizer in the Charleston, South Carolina community. The majority of documents consist of meeting minutes and agendas, correspondence, reports, conference and session proceedings, certificates and testimonials, and newspaper clippings associated with the Holy Royal Arch Masons, Grand Chapter, South Carolina; the Maryville/Ashleyville Neighborhood Association (with its related history of the Town of Maryville); the City of Charleston; the South Democratic Party (Charleston County), and legislators, James Clyburn, Floyd Breeland and Robert Ford. A smaller series includes various photocopied newspaper articles, several written by Richardson's son, journalist, Clem Richardson.
Collection Arrangement
The collections contains two series :
Series 1: Civic and Political Affiliations
Series 2: General Materials
Acquisitions Information
Papers donated by Clemon H. Richardson, 13 April 2002.
Processing Information
Processed by Georgette Mayo, December 2014
Edited by Aaron Spelbring,
Encoded by Aaron Spelbring,
Subject
- Breeland, Floyd F., 1933-2020 (Person)
- Clyburn, James (Person)
- Ford, Robert, 1948- (Person)
- Richardson, Clem (Person)
- Maryville-Ashleyville Neighborhood Association (Charleston, S.C.) (Organization)
- West Ashley Civic Association (Charleston, S.C.) (Organization)
- Holy Royal Arch Masons, Grand Chapter (South Carolina) (Organization)
- Richardson, Clemon Harold, Sr., 1925-2003 (Person)
- Title
- Clemon Harold Richardson, Sr. Papers AMN 1141
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Georgette Mayo
- Date
- December 2014
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English
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