Inventory of the The St. Andrew's Society of Charleston Records, 1729-2001

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Inventory of the The St. Andrew's Society of Charleston Records, 1729-2001

Descriptive Summary

Abstract:	This collection includes administrative, financial, and membership records, records of charitable assistance, and other materials of the St. Andrew's Society of Charleston. Records document the social and benevolent activities of the St. Andrew's Society between the years 1729 to 2001.
Title:	The St. Andrew's Society of Charleston records
Creator:	St. Andrew's Society of Charleston, South Carolina
Date(s):	1729-2001
Extent:	12 linear feet (10 document boxes, 1 carton, 5 flat boxes, 1 oversize folder, 2 oversize books)
Repository:	Special Collections, College of Charleston Libraries 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424 Phone: (843) 953-8016 Fax: (843) 953-6319 URL: http://archives.library.cofc.edu
Call Number:	Mss 0144
Language of Material:	Materials in English

Historical Note

The St. Andrew's Society is a social and benevolent organization founded in 1729 in Charleston, South Carolina. Named after the patron saint of Scotland, it is the oldest organization of its type and the progenitor for many other St. Andrews Societies in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Established to "do generous and charitable actions... and [to] promote some public good," the organization initially provided assistance through monetary handouts to the poor and disadvantaged of Charleston. Today the organization provides regular funding to various local charities and educational institutions each year.

While membership in the benevolent society was, for the most part, of Scottish origin, the Society did not limit its membership to Scotchmen or persons of Scottish descent. Membership was open to any person over the age of eighteen, regardless of their nationality, religion, or profession. On the eve of the American Revolution membership in the organization had grown to over one hundred. The American Revolution, and later, the Civil War, would interrupt the activities of the Society, resulting in a decrease in membership. Despite these interruptions, membership in the organization would steadily increase, and in 1897, the Society would pass a resolution limiting the number of members to two hundred, with any additional individuals applying for membership to be placed on a waiting list.

Revenues used for charity were acquired through admission fees, annual dues, and contributions. Additional income was generated from fines, including fines for non-attendance, for refusal to serve as an officer, and for failure to perform committee duty. However, regular membership fees constituted the principal source of revenue for the Society. Charity was extended to all cases that seemed worthy and came within the Society's resources. Any individuals requiring immediate relief could receive any sum under twenty dollars. From 1804 to 1812 the Society also provided elementary education for the disadvantaged children of Charleston through its Society School, located at 49 Church Street.

Prior to the construction of St. Andrew's Hall, organizational meetings were held quarterly in member's homes on the last days of February, May, August, and November. These meetings would eventually be held monthly after 1818. General meetings would be taken up with the reports of the Committee of Charity, later the Committee of Relief, and the Committee on the Treasurers Account, as well as any requests for charity, and new business. The annual anniversary meetings, held on the morning of November 30th, St. Andrew's Day, were taken up with the election of the new officers for the forthcoming year as well as the officers for the various committees that comprised the St. Andrew's Society. The day would conclude with the annual anniversary banquet. Originally a small affair consisting of dinner, music, and various toasts, in time the celebration would grow to include bagpipe processions, greetings from sister societies, poems, speeches, addresses by prominent speakers of the day, and honored guests.

Completed in 1815 and located on Broad Street, the St. Andrew's Hall became the headquarters of the St. Andrew's Society and an epicenter for Charleston's social, cultural, and political events. When South Carolina delegates gathered to formally renounce allegiance to the United States, St. Andrew's Hall was selected as the meeting place and has the distinction of being the site where the Ordinance of Succession was signed. In 1861, a fire destroyed a portion of the city, including St. Andrew's Hall. Afterwards the Society would hold their meetings at various locations throughout Charleston. In 1867, the Society began holding its monthly meetings at the South Carolina Society Hall, located on 72 Meeting Street, where the Society still holds its meetings to this day.

Collection Overview

This collection includes administrative, financial, and membership records, records of charitable assistance, and other materials of the St. Andrew's Society of Charleston. Records document the social and benevolent activities of the St. Andrew's Society between the years 1729 to 2001. Administrative records include the original handwritten Rules and Autograph book, containing the original rules of the St. Andrew's Society including the signatures of the original 34 members, annual rule books of the St. Andrew's Society, containing the rules and by-laws of the Society, lists of officers and members for the year. There are also bound meeting minutes from 1934 to 1987, and reports from the Committee on Relief, and the Committee on Accounts. Also included in the collection are financial records containing membership arrears for dues and fines, operational receipts for hall rental, gas, printing costs for rule books, and advertising fees for meetings. Ledgers, journals, and cashbooks listing the society's funds, money paid out and received, and expenses are also included. There are also membership records containing membership applications, letters of resignation as well as waiting lists and yearly accepted members to the Society. The collection also includes material concerning to the Society's charitable activities including personal applications for assistance and charitable receipts for monies received. Materials relating to the annual St. Andrew's anniversary banquet including invitations, attendee's lists, and programs are also included in the collection. A small amount of material relating to the lot purchase and construction of the St. Andrew's Hall is also included as well as publications and objects collected by the organization.

Collection Arrangement

1.	Administrative records, 1746-1987
2.	Financial records, 1743-1942
3.	Membership records, 1729-1984
4.	Charitable assistance, 1739-1899
5.	St. Andrew's Day Anniversary banquets, 1756-2001
6.	St. Andrews Hall, circa 1804-2005
7.	Publications, 1822-1938
8.	Objects, 1967, undated

Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person, family, or organization, by topical subject, by place, and by types of material.

Names

St. Andrew's Society of Charleston, South Carolina--Membership
St. Andrew's Society of Charleston, South Carolina--Records and correspondence
St. Andrew's Society of Charleston, South Carolina--Rules and practice

Subjects

Societies--South Carolina--Charleston
Charities--South Carolina--Charleston

Places

Charleston (S.C.)--Societies and clubs

Types of Material

Administrative records
Black-and-white prints
Board games (game sets)
Books
Correspondence
Cashbooks
Elevations (orthographic projections)
Financial records
Journals (accounts)
Ledgers (account books)
Minutes
Minute books
Pamphlets
Periodicals
Posters
Printing plate
Programs (documents)
Sheet music
Woodblock (printing block)

Related Resources

Related Material

Related materials in Special Collections include The History of the St. Andrew's Society of Charleston, South Carolina, 1729-1929 (1929) by J. H. Easterby and Rules of the St. Andrew's society, of the city of Charleston, South Carolina (1892). Pamphlets include Rules, list of officers and members from 1729 to 1901, with historical sketch of the society (1901), The St. Andrews Society Charleston, South Carolina (1959), Officers and members of the St. Andrew's Society, Charleston, S.C., November 30th, 1903 (1903), and Presented by The St. Andrew's Society on the Occasion of the Two Hundredth Anniversary, November Thirtieth, as a Tribute to Major General William Moultrie, Sixth President of the Society, 1787-1789 (1929) by The St. Andrew's Society of Charleston, and Address Delivered in The First Presbyterian Church before The St. Andrew's Society, of the City of Charleston, on their Centennial Anniversary, the 30th of November, 1829, at their request (1829) by Mitchell King.

Detailed Description of the Collection

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The series and sub-series sections in this finding aid are collapsible. Each red title in the Description will, when clicked, expand or collapse its respective section. To expand or collapse all sections at once, click 'Open All' or 'Close All' respectively.

1. Administrative records, 1746-1987

This series includes the original handwritten St. Andrew's Society Rules and Autograph book, containing the original rules of the St. Andrew's Society including the signatures of the original 34 members and a facsimile presented to the College of Charleston on May 13, 1939, by M. Rutledge Rivers, President of the St. Andrew's Society and the Board of Trustees of the College of Charleston. This series also includes annual rule books, containing the rules and by-laws of the Society, lists of officers and members for the year, addresses, poems, and a brief historical sketch of the society. Also included are amendments, committee reports, annual and monthly minute books, and other organizational materials of the St. Andrew's Society.

Rules and Autographs, 1730-1995

(Oversize book)

Rules and Autographs, 1730-1939

(Oversize book)

Facsimile of the original Rules and Autographs.

Rule books and by-laws, 1817-1901

Rule book, 1817 box 1 | folder 1

Rule book, 1844 box 1 | folder 2

Rule book, 1892 box 1 | folder 3

Rule book, 1892 box 1 | folder 4

Rule book, 1892 box 1 | folder 5

Rule book, 1901 box 1 | folder 6

Rule book of the President of St. Andrews, 1870 box 1 | folder 7

Rule book of the Secretary of St. Andrews, 1870 box 1 | folder 8

Contains handwritten corrections to by-laws and additional notes.

Rule book of the Secretary of St. Andrews, 1892 box 1 | folder 9

Contains both handwritten and printed marginalia amendments to by-laws.

By-Laws, 1870 box 1 | folder 10

Contains handwritten corrections to by-laws and officers and members sections.

Amendments,1772-1898 box 2 | folder 1

Resolutions, 1815-1939 box 2 | folder 2

Committees, 1760-1937, undated

Committee on Relief, 1774-1899, undated

Minute book, 1815-1864 box 2 | folder 3

Minute book, 1875-1877 box 2 | folder 4

Reports, 1892-1899 box 2 | folder 5

Recommendations, 1864-1894 box 2 | folder 6

General, 1774, 1798, undated box 2 | folder 7

Committee on Accounts reports, 1888-1937 box 2 | folder 8

Committee of Stewards, 1893 box 2 | folder 9

Donations and Subscriptions committee, 1798-1802

Subscription list, 1798 box 2 | folder 10

General, 1802, undated box 2 | folder 11

Committee Officers, 1893-1897 box 2 | folder 12

Other committees, 1805, 1811 box 2 | folder 13

Minutes, 1746-1987

Annual meeting minutes, 1746-1759

1746-1759 box 2 | folder 14

1760-1816 box 2 | folder 15

General meeting minutes, 1763-1798 box 2 | folder 16

Bound meeting minutes, 1864-1987

1864, June 30-1867, July 1 box 3 | folder 1

1869, August 31-1886, November 30 box 3 | folder 2

1887, January 31-1898, October 31 box 3 | folder 3

1898, September 3-1906, August 31 box 3 | folder 4

1906, October 1-1914, December 31 box 3 | folder 5

1934, January 31-1943, August 31 box 3 | folder 6

1943, September 30-1944, September 30 box 3 | folder 7

1953, January 31-1958, October 31 box 11 | folder 1

1958, November 29-1963, November 30 box 11 | folder 2

1963, October 23-1968, November 26 box 11 | folder 3

1968, December 3-1973, December, 31 box 11 | folder 4

1974, January 31-1979, November 1 box 11 | folder 5

1979, November 30-1984, May 31 box 11 | folder 6

1984, June 29-1987, December 1 box 11 | folder 7

Correspondence, 1772-1945

1772-1792 box 4 | folder 1

1806-1899 box 4 | folder 2

1906-1945 box 4 | folder 3

Included is a letter from Alphonso T. Clearwater containing a box made from the rafters of the St. Giles cathedral in Edinburgh and a lid made from Queen Mary's tree.

Moultrie Montague letters, 1929 box 4 | folder 4

Photostat copies of the Moultrie Montague letters.

2. Financial records, 1743-1942

This series includes yearly statements of accounts current with the treasurer for the St. Andrew's Society and the St. Andrew's Charity School, charity school funds, statements showing yearly, quarterly and monthly arrears for membership and not dining, and operating receipts for hall rental, gas, printing costs for rule books, and advertising fees for meetings. Also included are ledgers, journals, and cashbooks listing the society's funds, money paid out and received, and expenses.

Accounts Current with Treasurer, 1768-1823

St. Andrews Society, 1768-1820

1768-1823 box 12 | folder 1

1792-1820 box 4 | folder 5

St. Andrews Charity School, 1804-1815

1804-1815 box 12 | folder 2

Account books, 1800-1815 box 4 | folder 6

Two small booklets listing accounts current with the treasurer.

Statement of Treasurer, 1877-1896 box 4 | folder 7

Treasury reports, 1811, 1877 box 4 | folder 8

Cash statements, 1756-1825 box 4 | folder 9

Bank of South Carolina, 1814-1817 box 4 | folder 10

Bonds and notes, 1766-1896, undated box 4 | folder 11

Charity school funds, 1803-1815

1803-1809 box 4 | folder 12

1810-1815 box 4 | folder 13

Insurance records, 1942 box 4 | folder 14

Insurance records, 1819, 1823 box 12 | folder 3

Arrears, 1743-1874

1743-1796 box 4 | folder 15

1802-1810 box 4 | folder 16

1810-1819 box 4 | folder 17

1821-1824, 1874, 1890 box 4 | folder 18

1793-1819, undated box 12 | folder 4

1819, 1820 Oversize Paper Folder 1

(Flat storage)

Receipts, 1743-1897

Operating receipts, 1743, 1929, undated

1743-1768 box 4 | folder 19

1770-1773 box 4 | folder 20

1790-1799 box 4 | folder 21

1800-1808 box 4 | folder 22

1811-1819 box 4 | folder 23

1820-1825 box 4 | folder 24

1875- 1880 box 4 | folder 25

1880-1886 box 4 | folder 26

1886-1890 box 5 | folder 1

1890-1894 box 5 | folder 2

1894-1897, 1905, 1929 box 5 | folder 3

circa 1700s-1800s box 5 | folder 4

Receipt book, 1798-1801 box 5 | folder 5

Ledgers, journals, and cashbooks, 1814-1940

Ledger, 1814-1821 box 5 | folder 6

Financial journal, 1814-1821 box 5 | folder 7

Financial journal, 1816 box 6 | folder 1

Cashbook, 1919-1940 box 13

General financial records, 1743-1931, undated box 6 | folder 2

3. Membership records, 1729-1984

This series includes individual membership applications, rolls listing yearly membership additions, letters of resignation, and records listing deceased and resigned members of the St. Andrew's Society.

Membership applications, 1893-1939

1893-1899 box 6 | folder 3

1935-1939 box 6 | folder 4

Waiting list, 1906-1918 box 6 | folder 5

Members admitted, 1739-1795 box 6 | folder 6

Membership certificate, 1957 box 12 | folder 5

Roll of yearly additions, 1892-1918 box 6 | folder 7

Alphabetical roll, 1900-1943 box 6 | folder 8

Elections, 1768-1895, undated box 7 | folder 1

Officers and members, 1896, 1900 box 7 | folder 2

Letters of Resignation, 1895-1938, undated

1895-1899 box 7 | folder 3

1935-1938, undated box 7 | folder 4

Member records, undated box 7 | folder 5

Membership book, microfiche roll number one, 1729-1984 box 7 | folder 6

Members lists, 1751-1825, undated box 7 | folder 7

Membership general, 1746, 1808, 1932, 1935 box 7 | folder 8

Includes the last will and testament of James Stewart, an original member of the St. Andrews Society.

Clippings, 1906, 1929, 1938 undated box 7 | folder 9

4. Charitable assistance, 1739-1899

This series includes petitioner's lists presented at annual meetings, orders for charitable assistance from the president and vice-president of the St. Andrew's Society, and applications for charitable assistance. Also included are individual charitable receipts for monies received from the St. Andrew's Society.

Petitioner lists, 1768-1817 box 7 | folder 10

Orders for charitable assistance, 1739-1822

1739-1749 box 7 | folder 11

1750-1759 box 7 | folder 12

1761-1769 box 7 | folder 13

1770-1796 box 7 | folder 14

1801-1822 box 7 | folder 15

Applications for charitable assistance, 1747-1899, undated

1747-1758 box 7 | folder 16

1760-1769 box 7 | folder 17

1770-1774 box 7 | folder 18

1790-1798 box 8 | folder 1

Includes photostats.

1804-1808 box 8 | folder 2

1817-1823, 1893, 1899 box 8 | folder 3

circa 1700s-1800s box 8 | folder 4

Charitable receipts, 1747-1897, undated

1747-1750 box 8 | folder 5

1752-1757 box 8 | folder 6

1764-1773 box 8 | folder 7

1790-1799 box 8 | folder 8

1800-1810 box 8 | folder 9

1811-1820 box 8 | folder 10

1821-1825 box 8 | folder 11

1877-1879 box 8 | folder 12

1880-1889 box 8 | folder 13

1890-1897 box 8 | folder 14

circa 1700s-1800s box 8 | folder 15

5. St. Andrew's Day anniversary banquets, 1756-2001

This series includes invitations and responses from prominent politicians, handwritten attendee's lists, banquet programs, toasts, and other material related to the St. Andrew's Day Anniversary Banquets held annually on November 30th in Charleston.

Invitations and responses, 1788-1941, undated

1788-1795, undated box 8 | folder 16

Includes declination letter from Charles Pinckney.

1895-1899 box 8 | folder 17

Includes declination letters from Wade Hampton.

1900-1941, undated box 8 | folder 18

Invitation print plate, undated box 8 | folder 19

Attendee's lists, 1756-1824

1756-1795 box 8 | folder 20

1806-1810 box 8 | folder 21

1811-1824 box 8 | folder 22

Programs, 1893-2001

1893 box 8 | folder 23

1894 box 8 | folder 24

1910 box 8 | folder 25

1911 box 8 | folder 26

1912 box 9 | folder 1

1924 box 9 | folder 2

1934 box 9 | folder 3

1935 box 9 | folder 4

2001 box 9 | folder 5

Program notes, undated box 9 | folder 6

Toasts, early 1800s box 9 | folder 7

Addresses, 1950, undated box 9 | folder 8

Committee of Enquiry, 1760-1773 box 9 | folder 9

Greetings, 1896-1941, undated box 9 | folder 10

Cost, 1769, 1895, 1899 box 9 | folder 11

Sheet music, 1882, 1887, 1888

Robin Adair, 1882 box 9 | folder 12

Annie Laurie, 1887 box 9 | folder 13

Auld Lang Syne, 1888 box 9 | folder 14

Star Spangled Banner, 1888 box 9 | folder 15

Glee Club, 1943, 1951, undated box 9 | folder 16

269th St. Andrews dinner, 1998 box 9 | folder 17

Videocassette of banquet.

Other St. Andrews anniversaries, 1923-1941 box 9 | folder 18

Invitations and programs of other St. Andrews Societies.

Other events, 1859, 1901 box 9 | folder 20

Robert Burns centennial and Queen Victoria memorial.

6. St. Andrew's Hall, circa 1804-2005

This series contains an elevation drawing, an expense statement listing construction material quantities, sums paid, and work performed, and the terms of sale for the St. Andrew's Hall lot. Also included are inventories listing miscellanea located in St. Andrew's Hall and materials relating to the South Carolina Society.

Elevation drawing, undated Oversize Paper Folder 1

(Flat storage)

Expense statement, circa 1804 box 12 | folder 6

Terms of sale, circa 1810, 1866 box 9 | folder 21

Inventories, 1819, 1820 box 9 | folder 22

Prints, undated box 9 | folder 23

South Carolina Society, 1885, 2005 box 10 | folder 1

Repair statement and anniversary banquet menus.

7. Publications, 1822-1938

This series includes national and international books, newspapers, and periodicals collected by the St. Andrew's Society. Books relate to the history of St. Andrew's Society as well as to other St. Andrew's Societies in New York and Philadelphia. Pamphlets relate to the by-laws of the St. Andrew's Society of Oakland, California, as well as poetry, Scottish dress and Scottish history. Periodicals relate to the death of Queen Victoria and also to the history of the St. Andrew's Society.

Books, 1822-1929

The Coronation or Hypocrisy Exposed and Sullivan's Island Satirical Poems, 1822 box 10 | folder 2

History of the St. Andrews Society, 1929 box 10 | folder 3

Includes handwritten chapters.

The Moultrie Montague Letters, 1904 box 10 | folder 4

Robert Burns and Walter Scott Illustrated, 1899 box 15

Donated to the St. Andrews Society by William Ashmead Courtenay.

St. Andrews Society of the State of New York, 1895 box 10 | folder 5

St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia, 1896 box 10 | folder 6

Pamphlets, 1888-1917, undated

Constitution and By-Laws of the St. Andrews Society of Oakland, California, 1888 box 10 | folder 7

Douglas's Yearbook of Scottish Associations, 1913-1917 box 10 | folder 8

Poems by Weelum, undated box 10 | folder 9

Royal Scotland, undated box 10 | folder 10

The Scottish National dress, undated box 10 | folder 11

Stray Leaves Garnered, 1899 box 10 | folder 12

Periodicals, 1901-1938

The Graphic, 1901 box 12 | folder 7

Harpers Weekly, 1904 box 10 | folder 13

The Illustrated London News, 1901 box 12 | folder 8

The Illustrated London News supplements, 1901 Oversize Paper Folder 1

(Flat storage)

The Scottish American, 1917 box 12 | folder 9

United Scottish Association Halloween Annual, 1938 box 10 | folder 14

Declaration of Independence reproduction, undated box 10 | folder 12

8. Objects, 1967, undated

This series includes a backgammon board and a small woodblock used for printing. Also included is an ivory mallet, a gift of Sir James Doak.

Backgammon board, undated box 16

Ivory mallet, 1967 box 17

Pine cone, undated box 17

Woodblock, undated box 17

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Copyright Notice

The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections 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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], The St. Andrew's Society of Charleston records, College of Charleston Libraries, Charleston, SC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Temporary custody receipt from St. Andrew's Society received June 2008. Deed of Gift from St. Andrew's received [pending] 2011.

Processing Information

Processed by Joshua Minor and Neal Polhemus, December 2010-November 2011.

Encoded by Joshua Minor, December 2011.

Reviewed, edited, and uploaded by Martha McTear, January 2012.