Manuscript Collection

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Identifier

Accession 1733

Inclusive Dates

1940, 1960-2000, 2020

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 Lindsay Pettus–J. Marion Sims Research Papers document historical research conducted by historian and conservationist Lindsay Pettus (1940–2020) on Dr. James Marion Sims (1813–1883), a native of Lancaster County, South Carolina, who is historically recognized for his role in the development of modern gynecology. The collection reflects Pettus’s sustained interest in documenting Sims’s life, medical career, legacy, and public commemoration, particularly within South Carolina.

The collection consists of research files, correspondence, printed materials, photographs, postcards, and reference notes compiled during Pettus’s research activities. Research materials include internet articles, photocopies of published writings, a photocopy of Sims’s autobiography, bibliographies, book lists with prices, and handwritten or typed reference cards. Newspaper articles and newsletters span several decades and document public discussions of Sims’s medical contributions, controversies surrounding his work, exhibitions, monuments, and commemorative efforts.

Correspondence within the collection includes letters attributed to Sims as well as later communications related to historical research, public recognition initiatives, and induction ceremonies. Materials from historical societies document efforts to honor Sims through induction into the Lancaster County and South Carolina Halls of Fame. Dedication programs and resolutions reflect institutional and governmental recognition, including the establishment of James Marion Sims Day in Lancaster County and the naming and renaming of local medical facilities associated with his legacy.

Visual materials include original and copied photographs of Sims, members of his family, portraits, and images of medical and commemorative sites. Postcards depict buildings, monuments, and institutions bearing Sims’s name, with some images linked to the work of photographer Curt Teich. The collection also includes background research on Teich’s photographic work. Artifacts within the collection consist of two silver commemorative coins produced by the Medallia Art Company that memorialize Sims’s life and contributions to gynecology.

Together, the materials provide insight into Lindsay Pettus’s historical research process and offer documentation of the evolving public memory, interpretation, and commemoration of Dr. James Marion Sims at the local, state, and national levels.

Provenance

Lindsay Pettus- J. Marion Sims Research Papers were given as a gift to the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections by the estate of Lindsay Pettus via Paul Gettys.

Copyright

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

Lindsay Pettus–J. Marion Sims Research Papers - Accession 1733

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