Manuscript Collection

Archibald Whyte

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Identifier

Accession 1460

Inclusive Dates

1830's-1860's

Restrictions

Open under the rules and regulations of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections

Collection Size

.25 linear feet, 500 pieces

Language

English;

Scope and Content Note

The Reverend Archibald Whyte Papers document the personal, religious, civic, and political activities of Reverend Archibald Whyte (1800–1865), a Presbyterian minister and community leader in York District, South Carolina, during the mid-nineteenth century. The collection (comprised of photocopies or original documents) spans primarily the 1850s through the Civil War era and reflects Whyte’s involvement in local religious life, agricultural organizations, land transactions, and Confederate-era civic affairs.

The collection includes correspondence written by or attributed to Reverend Whyte addressing family matters, neighborhood news, land disputes, political candidacies, and interactions with the Catawba Indians. Several letters appear to be drafts or intended for publication in local newspapers. Also present are resolutions and notes addressing political philosophy, government authority, and slavery, offering insight into contemporary social and political thought.

A substantial portion of the collection relates to the Indian Land Agricultural Society, including meeting minutes, membership lists, committee reports, farm examinations, and related administrative documents. Reverend Whyte frequently served as secretary for the society, and these materials provide detailed documentation of agricultural organization and rural life in eastern York County.

Additional materials include newspaper articles—some possibly authored by Whyte—concerning Confederate support efforts, historical events, and community affairs; a historical sketch of Steel Creek Presbyterian Church in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, where Whyte served as minister from 1833 to 1840; and poems written by Leander Ker reflecting Civil War experiences. Legal and financial documents, such as deeds of sale and contracts for land associated with Rock Hill and the Rock Hill Academy, further illustrate Whyte’s role in local development.

Together, the materials in this collection offer valuable insight into religious leadership, agricultural organization, political engagement, and community life in York District, South Carolina, during the antebellum and Civil War periods.

Provenance

The Reverend Archibald Whyte Papers are photocopies that were donated to the Winthrop University Archives and Special Collections by Paul Gettys. The originals are housed at the Fairfield County Museum in Winnsboro, South Carolina.

Copyright

For information concerning copyright please contact the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University.

Reverend Archibald Whyte Papers - Accession 1460

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