Friendly Moralist Society records
Collection Overview
Series 1. The records of the Friendly Moralist Society contain one volume of minutes highlighting the Society meetings from 1841 to 1856. The volume is divided into two sections: Absentees Book (1842-1849) and Proceedings Book (1841-1856).
The absentees section details member attendance from May 9, 1842 to February 12, 1849. Many of the entries are annotated with explanations for member absences. Notations are also made of those members fined for non-attendance, along with quotes on amounts levied.
The proceedings section consists of minutes taken at the organizational meetings from August 9, 1841 to November 1856. The meetings consist of opening prayer, collection of dues and arrears, followed by new business. Among the important events documented are the Annual Day meetings in June, with copies of two annual meeting speeches (for 1848 and 1853) copied in, elections of new members and officers, as well as resolutions approved to dedicate memorial pages to several deceased members (C.Henry Wood, Henry F. Moon, and Edward Cotton).
The minutes also highlight the financial affairs of the Society, namely its investment of member funds into local businesses and the eventual financial pains stemming from the departure of several members including the board of trustees (Feb.-Mar. 1849). The records also provide insight into conflict between free black and brown
(mulatto) individuals in this period.
There are several incidents of exclusion of prospective members due to their being black rather than brown.
(May 1844, Oct 1848). One member definition of brown is also provided (Oct 1848). The annual meeting speech for 1848 addresses the issues of being colored versus being black or white; and the speech for 1853 gives a history of the Society.
Series 2 holds the photocopied transcript of the "Free Black Benevolence in Antebellum Charleston: The Proceedings of the Friendly Moralist Society" (FMS). The manuscript was edited by Susan M. Bowler and Edmund Lee Drago. Contains typescripts, photocopied of original proceedings, annotated copies with supporting documents of Drago's unfinished project of transcribing the proceedings of the Friendly Moralist Society (FMS).
Dates
- Creation: 1841-1856, and undated
Creator
- Friendly Moralist Society (Charleston, S.C.) (Organization)
Language of Materials
Material in English
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright Notice
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Historical Note
The Friendly Moralist Society was a benevolent society, established in Charleston South Carolina, 1838 for free men of color (mulatto or mixed race). The group served the community by providing burial aid, purchasing plots and assisting during funerals, for those in need. The organization also worked to provide charitable assistance to needy widows and orphans of deceased members. Each member was entitled to certain rights of membership, namely financial assistance in times of illness or financial strain. Among the society's most prominent members were men from the Holloway, Sasportas, and Wilkinson families.
Extent
0.5 linear feet (1 archival box)
Abstract
The Friendly Moralist Society was a benevolent society, established in Charleston South Carolina, 1838 for free men of color (mulatto or mixed race). The group served the community by providing burial aid, purchasing plots and assisting during funerals, for those in need. The organization also worked to provide charitable assistance to needy widows and orphans of deceased members. Each member was entitled to certain rights of membership, namely financial assistance in times of illness or financial strain. Among the society's most prominent members were men from the Holloway, Sasportas, and Wilkinson families. The records of the Friendly Moralist Society contain one volume of minutes highlighting the Society meetings from 1841 to 1856. The volume is divided into two sections: Absentees Book (1842-1849) and Proceedings Book (1841-1856). The absentees section details member attendance from May 9, 1842 to February 12, 1849. Many of the entries are annotated with explanations for member absences. Notations are also made of those members fined for non-attendance, along with quotes on amounts levied. The proceedings section consists of minutes taken at the organizational meetings from August 9, 1841 to November 1856. The meetings consist of opening prayer, collection of dues and arrears, followed by new business. Among the important events documented are the group's Annual Day meetings in June, with copies of two annual meeting speeches (for 1848 and 1853) copied in, elections of new members and officers, as well as resolutions approved to dedicate memorial pages to several deceased members (C.Henry Wood, Henry F. Moon, and Edward Cotton). The records also includes the photocopied transcript of the "Free Black Benevolence in Antebellum Charleston: The Proceedings of the Friendly Moralist Society" (FMS). The manuscript was edited by Susan M. Bowler and Edmund Lee Drago. Contains typescripts, photocopied of original proceedings, annotated copies with supporting documents of Drago's unfinished project of transcribing the proceedings of the Friendly Moralist Society (FMS).
Collection Arrangement
1. The Friendly Moralist Society Minutes
2. "Free Black Benevolence in Antebellum Charleston: The Proceedings of the Friendly Moralist Society" (FMS)
Processing Information
Processed by Ervin Barnes, 2006
Encoded by Melissa Bronheim, July 2010
Edited by Melissa Bronheim
Funding from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation supported the processing of this collection.
Funding from the Council on Library and Information Resources supported the collection processing and encoding of this finding aid.
Processing Information
Finding aid/Inventory revision edits by Georgette Mayo, January 2022.
Subject
- Holloway family (Family)
- Sasportas family (Family)
- Wilkinson family (Family)
Genre / Form
- Administrative records
- Manuscripts (documents)
- Minutes (administrative records)
- Photocopies
- Transcripts
Topical
- African American businesspeople -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- African American fraternal organizations -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- African Americans -- Race relations
- African Americans -- South Carolina -- Charleston -- History
- African Americans -- South Carolina -- Charleston -- History -- 19th Century
- African Americans -- South Carolina -- Charleston -- Societies, etc.
- Fraternal organizations -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- Free African Americans -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- Free African Americans -- South Carolina -- Charleston -- Societies, etc.
- Racially mixed people -- United States -- History -- 19th Century
- Title
- Inventory of the Friendly Moralist Society, 1841 - 1856
- Author
- Processed by: Ervin Barnes; machine-readable finding aid created by: Melissa Bronheim, finding aid revision edit by Georgette Mayo, January, 2022
- Date
- © 2010
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English
- Sponsor
- Funding from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and 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