Mickey Funeral Home papers

The Mickey Funeral Home was established in Charleston, South Carolina in 1894 by Edward Mickey (1850-1899). At his death, Edwin G. Harleston (1854-1931), brother of Edward Mickey's wife, Hannah Harleston Mickey (1848-1928), took over the firm until the two Mickey sons, Richard Harleston Mickey (1889-1934) and Edward Crum Mickey (1883-1965), became of age. In 1901, Edward Crum Mickey learned the trade and worked with Edwin G. Harleston at the funeral home. The company split in 1913; the Mickey Funeral Home re-established itself as an individual entity, run by the two brothers and their mother Hannah, while Edwin G. Harleston founded the Harleston Funeral Home. In the early 1930s, E.C. Mickey decided to build an expensive funeral parlor at 50 Cannon Street. The business failed and the firm shut down in 1933.

The Mickey Funeral Home Papers consist of three series: Business and Financial Materials (1906-1934) pertaining to the firm and its operation, with correspondence, financial ledgers, and account books making up its the bulk; funeral materials (1914-1933) containing biographical data on the deceased, entered in three insurance books; and miscellaneous materials (1915-1929), consisting of visual materials, church-related materials, publications, and personal correspondence. With printed announcements of the Federation of Charleston regarding organizing the People's Federation Bank for African Americans. Also included are financial records (1915-1918) regarding the guardianship of a minor Isaiah Williams, son of deceased Henry Williams, with Edward Mickey serving as Bondsman.