Manuscript Collection

The Winthrop University Manuscript Collection (over 1800 collections) contains unique private papers donated to the Archives by individuals and records from organizations and businesses. These collections not only document local, regional, and state history, but also transcend South Carolina’s borders to include collections that are of broader historical interest. Genealogy is a prominent theme within the collection with these collections containing valuable family history information, including genealogy charts, family histories, scrapbooks, letters, diaries, wills, grants, indentures and biographical data. Much of the material is unpublished and varies in quantity and content from collection to collection.

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Wills of Westmoreland County, Virginia: 1654-1800 - Accession 715 no. 57

Family History - Virginia - Wills of Westmoreland County and Augusta B. Fothergill
Accession 715 no. 57
Wills of Westmoreland County, Virginia 1654-1800 by Augusta B. Fothergill is a compilation of will abstracts with an index. Also included is a piece titled "A Scandal Refuted" about an "inaccurate and scurrilous article on the Washington family" in which Mrs. Fothergill refutes erroneous information found in the article titled "The Washington Pedigree: Conigenda and Addenda" by Charles H. Browning. Please see the attached scan of the index.
Wainner Family History - Accession 715 no. 117

Family History - Wainner Family
Accession 715 no. 117
The Wainner Family History consists of a book titled The Family History of Wainner, Overton, McMurr(a)y, and Interconnecting Lines which was written by Merle Wainner Jeter, George D. Wainner, and others (1972). The history provides information on not only the Wainner family but also the Overton, McMurray, and allied families. A few of the allied families are Currey, Long, Alfonso, Wray, Porter, Jeter, Robeau, Anderson, Zipp, Hallman, Gaston, Montgomery, James, Allen, Showers, Belcher, Rust, Moore, Stewart, Faires, Cowart.
Wannamaker, Salley, Mackay, and Bellinger Families - Accession 715 no. 10

Family History - Wannamaker, Salley, Mackay, Bellinger Family; Family History - Salley; Family History - Mackay; Family History - Bellinger Family; and J. Skottowe Wannamaker
Accession 715 no. 10
The Wannamaker, Salley, Mackay, and Bellinger Families, Genealogies and Memoirs compiled by J. Skottowe Wannamaker of St. Matthews, S.C. chronicles the history and genealogy of these families and their arrival in South Carolina as well as the descendants through 1937. In addition to the genealogy, the volume includes short histories, obituaries, wills, documents, letters, and an index. Smaller amounts pertaining to other surnames are also included. Please see the attached index.
Some Descendants of John Ketcham Watson - Accession 715 no. 17

Family History - Watson Family and Maybelle Watson DeMay
Accession 715 no. 17
Some Descendants of John Ketchem Watson and Related Families . . . by Maybelle Watson DeMay is a history of the John Ketchem Watson family of Tennessee and points westward. The book covers the related families of Bergland, Burns, Campbell, Clark, Curtis, DeMay, DuMay, Ellis, Harmon, Johnson, Jones, Lovelady, Miller, Stark, and Young. It also includes photographs, transcriptions of family Bible records, biographical sketches and an index. Please see the attached Table of Contents and Index.
Weir Family History - Accession 715 no. 119

Family History - Weir Family
Accession 715 no. 119
The Weir Family History was compiled by Mary Lynn Weir in 1979 (number 5 of 50) titled The Weirs: A Scotch Family From Antrim Ireland. The history provides information on the Weirs of Chester County, South Carolina and historical background on the covenanters immigration to South Carolina. The family is traced to David Weir, Sr. born in Ireland in 1727 and includes information about the migration of the Weirs to Georgia, Arkansas, and east Texas. A few of the more prominent allied families are Capeheart, Covington, Curtis, Green, Hanks, Neel, and Youngblood.
The Ten Tribes of Wier in America - Accession 715 no. 6

Family History - Wier Family and William Swansea Wier
Accession 715 no. 6
The Ten Tribes of Wier in America was compiled and printed by William Swansea Wier in Atlanta, Georgia in 1933. The book covers the family and descendants of Thomas and Mary Withrow Wier from the 1700s through 1933. They eventually settled in Greenwood, S.C. There are handwritten notes in the book presumably added by the author. Other surnames found in the volume include: Blake, Britt, Dunbar, Gregg, Peden, McDill, McDowell, Mull, and Scott. The book includes photographs and a folding generational chart. Please see the attached document.
Wiley Family Genealogy - Accession 715 no. 15

Family History - Wiley Family and Robert Grier Wiley
Accession 715 no. 15
Descendants of John Wesley Wiley and Elizabeth Ray Washburn Wiley by Robert Grier Wiley chronicles the genealogy and family history of the Wiley family of Rutherford, Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties of North Carolina and York County, South Carolina from the 1840s through 1966. In addition to genealogical information, the book includes photographs, the Wiley coat of arms, and a list of names. Please see the attached Table of Contents and List of Names.
Williford and Allied Families - Accession 715 no. 43

Family History - Williford Family and William Bailey Williford
Accession 715 no. 43
Williford and Allied Families by William Bailey Williford tells the history of the Williford family. Other surnames include Ansley, Bailey, Bivins, Brumby, Cleveland, Douglass, Elam, Jones, Matthews, Pride, Sandys, Thiot, Wilhite, and Worrill, among others. The book includes photographs, transcriptions of family documents, a bibliography, and index. Please see attached Table of Contents, Bibliography, and Index.
Witherspoon Family History - Accession 715 no. 114

Family History - Witherspoon Family
Accession 715 no. 114
The Witherspoon Family History consists of a genealogy of the Witherspoon Family compiled by Joseph G. Wardlaw of York, South Carolina published by the Chester Genealogical Society in 1910. Included in his work is the genealogy of the Witherspoon family compiled by Robert Witherspoon of Williamsburg County, South Carolina 1780.
The Worthy Family - Accession 715 no. 13

Family History - Worthy Family and William Buford Worthy
Accession 715 no. 13
The Worthy Family From Virginia to Texas and Some of Their Kin by William Buford Worthy chronicles the genealogy, family stories, and memories of the Worthy family of South Carolina and other states from the mid 1700s to the 1980s. Ann Worthy, widow of John Worthy and her sons came to Chester County, South Carolina ca. 1785.Other surnames included in the history are Brown, Ferguson, Lee, McFadden, and Tims, Please see the attached Table of Contents.
James Thomas Faris Papers- Accession 1475

James Thomas Faris and Faris Family
Accession 1475
The James Thomas Faris Papers consist mainly of personal correspondence between Mr. James Thomas Faris (1867-1937) and his family, friends, co-workers, and love interests. There is also documentation concerning Faris’ finances and legal matters. There are several documents concerning his life insurance through Aetna Life Insurance Company, documents listing sold stock, uniform tickets from William C. Rowland Company, and correspondence between Mr. Faris and W.C Hurt Tobacco Company. There are also several documents from colleges in South Carolina including a letter from Clemson Agricultural College concerning Faris’ son and one from Winthrop College concerning Faris’ daughter. James Thomas Faris and the Faris Family are longtime residences of Catawba, SC. James T. Faris was the son of John Alexander Faris (1825-1885) who purchased the historic Faris Family Home (built in ca. 1844) from William D. Dunlap in 1873 and the family has lived there since.
Mary Hollis Papers - Accession 1457

Mary Hollis Faris and Hollis Family
Accession 1457
This Mary Hollis Letters consists of personal correspondence dating from 1932 to 1935, including letters and postcards addressed to members of the Hollis family, primarily Mary Hollis Faris (1911-1986) who was a 1932 graduate of Winthrop College. The correspondence documents family relationships, travel, daily activities, and social life during the period. A significant portion of the letters reflects a courtship between Mary Hollis and her future husband John Franklin “Frank” Faris (1909-1981), offering insight into romantic relationships, social customs, and leisure activities in the early 1930s. The series also includes communications among family members that reference vacations, weather, household matters, and education.
South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation - Accession 599 - M258 (307)

Farm Bureau Federation, South Carolina
Accession 599 - M258 (307)
The South Carolina Farm Bureau Marketing Association History consists of a history titled S.C. Farm Bureau Marketing Association: The First 20 years by R. Lawrence Smith published in 1984. The Association was founded in 1961 to find a market for S.C. farmers’ crops.
South Carolina Farmer's Alliance Papers - Accession 43 - M18 (28)

Farmer's Alliance, South Carolina
Accession 43 - M18 (28)
The South Carolina Farmer's Alliance Papers consist of a reminiscence of the Farmer’s Alliance by W.A. James of Bishopville, SC, who was a county business agent for Sumter County. Also included is a two page comment by Dr. John H. Moore of the Winthrop History Department. The Farmers Alliance was an organized agrarian economic movement among farmers that developed and flourished from the 1870s through 1900.
William L. Faulkner Surveyor Deputation - Accession 676 - M299 (350)

William L. Faulkner
Accession 676 - M299 (350)
The William L. Faulkner Surveyor Deputation Collection consists of a certificate of deputation designating William Leonidas Faulkner (1825-1864) as Deputy Surveyor of the State of South Carolina by the Surveyor General William F. Arthur on October 15, 1849.
Federal Government Memorabilia - Accession 1485 - M727 (783)

Federal Government
Accession 1485 - M727 (783)
This series consists of four War Department Field Manuals titled: Basic Field Manual: Field Service Pocketbook Sketching (FM 21-35) (1939); Elementary map and Aerial Photograph Reading (FM 21-25) (August 15, 1944); Aerial Photography Military Applications (FM 30-21) (September 1944); and Advanced Map And Aerial Photograph Reading (FM 21-26) (December 1944). Also included are two Federal Bureau of Investigation publications: Classification of Fingerprints (1939) and The Federal Bureau of Investigation: United States Department of Justice (January 1, 1943. The collection contains a House of Representatives Restaurant menu for October 21, 1941 and a personal account of Tuesday, October 21, 1941 written on the back of The Sergeant at Arms, House of Representatives, US check dated 1942.
Fellowship of the Concerned Reports - Accession 40 - M15 (25)

Fellowship of the Concerned
Accession 40 - M15 (25)
The Fellowship of the Concerned Reports consist of two reports presented before the Fellowship in Atlanta, with one report by Marion Allan Wright describing the civil rights situation in South Carolina and the other by Father Maurice Shean of the Oratory in Rock Hill describing the work of the Rock Hill Council on Human Relations to better race relations in the city. The Fellowship was founded in 1949 and dissolved in 1970. It was an organization of southern women affiliated with the Southern Regional Council and concerned with promoting civil rights.
South Carolina Feminist Federal Credit Union Records - Accession 106 - M45 (60)

Feminist Federal Credit Union, South Carolina
Accession 106 - M45 (60)
The South Carolina Feminist Federal Credit Union Records consists of a charter, newspaper clippings, photographs, statements, minutes, correspondence, memoranda and brochures relating to the creation and early history of the Credit Union, the first of its kind in the Southeast and the tenth one established in the nation. The Credit Union dissolved on September 1, 1977.
Fennell Infirmary Records - Accession 227 - M97 (125)

Fennell Infirmary
Accession 227 - M97 (125)
The Fennell Infirmary Records consist of photocopies of newspaper articles, photographs, and biographical data concerning Dr. William Wallace Fennell (1869-1926), a physician and founder of Fennell Infirmary in Rock Hill, SC. The Fennell Infirmary was started in 1910.
The Fergusons of Pitfour - Accession 1141 - M523 (574)

Ferguson Family and Marianne McLeod Gilchrist
Accession 1141 - M523 (574)
This collection consists of The Fergusons of Pitfour: A Hero & His Family by Dr. Marianne McLeod Gilchrist published in 1999. The book describes the family of James Ferguson (1700-1777) who was a Scottish advocate and second Laird of Pitfour. A good portion of this work is devoted to his son Major Patrick Ferguson (1744-1780), a member of the British military during the American Revolution and his military career that eventually led to his death during the Battle of King's Mountain on October 7, 1780 which took place in York County, SC. Also included in this book are narratives and a family tree detailing the rest of James Ferguson's family.
James S. Ferguson Genealogy - Accession 550

James S. Ferguson, Pearle Oates Williams, and J. Thomas Williams
Accession 550
The James Ferguson Genealogy consists of a family tree chart (measuring 21’ 3” x 3’) written by Mrs. Pearle Oates Williams and J. Thomas Williams, Sr. The family tree chart documents the various lines of the Ferguson family from 1715 through 1983. The family later settled in York and Chester counties, South Carolina. A few of the more prominent allied families are: Armstrong, Banks, Barnett, Boyd, Brown, Craven, Crook, Dowd, Locke, Melton, Morrison, Nunnery, Oates, Pittman, Williams, and Worthy.
Fewell Family Papers- Accession 528 - M226 (273)

Fewell Family
Accession 528 - M226 (273)
The Fewell Family Papers relate to the Fewell family of York County, South Carolina from immigration to America around 1700 through 1979. Included in the collection are photocopies of lineage charts, a will of John Fewell, and the reminiscences of Edward Fewell, Jr. (1979). Also included is a Stock Certificate for 20 shares of Carolina Traction Company for Ed Fewell dated February 16, 1914.
Fewell-Caldwell-Carothers Family Papers - Accession 254

Fewell Family, Caldwell Family, and Carothers Family
Accession 254
The collection consists of genealogical data, correspondence, speeches and essays, sermons, Civil War and World War I papers and memorabilia, diaries, legal and financial papers, photographs, newspaper clippings, and various papers relating to the Fewell, Caldwell, and Carothers families. The collection also contains records relating to Winthrop College, Winthrop Training School, and Salem College, Winston-Salem, N.C. Bound Volumes in the collection are scrapbooks realign to the college career of Eva M. Fewell (Carothers), and the civic and business careers of Benjamin M. Fewell and Erwin Carothers. Related by marriage, the Fewell and Carothers families have a long history of business and civic service to the city of Rock Hill. The collection represents a research source for information concerning Rock Hill, and the 1800’s sermons of Reverend Cyrus K. Caldwell suggest any number of editorial and research projects for history students and scholars.

The collection also contains genealogical information on Caldwell, Fewell, Carothers, Garrison, Broughton, Barron, Hope, Davidson, and Allison families. Includes papers of Anna Hope Caldwell, Erwin Carothers, Eva M. Fewell, Anne Carothers, and the sermons of Reverend Cyrus K. Caldwell of Tennessee.
Fewell-May Genealogical Chart - Accession 744 - M344 (395)

Fewell Family and May Family
Accession 744 - M344 (395)
The Fewell-May Genealogical Chart consists of two charts listing the family of John Fewell, Jr. (1769-1845) and his wife Marina (1771-1843); William S. May (1805-1854)and his wife Arabella Fewell (1813-1841); and Alexander Fewell (1795-1882) and his wife Margaret Barron (1798-1878) all of York County, South Carolina.
Tirza Faris Fewell Letters - Accession 1458

Tirza Jane Faris Fewell and Fewell Family
Accession 1458
This collection consists primarily of personal correspondence addressed to Tirza Jane Faris Fewell (1858–1928), including letters from family members, friends, and her future husband, Samuel Alexander Fewell (1850–1908). The correspondence provides insight into family relationships, courtship, and daily life in the late nineteenth century.

Letters from family members contain updates on the health of relatives, news of personal plans and future goals, and accounts of significant family events, including the death of Tirza’s grandmother. Correspondence from friends—some unidentified—includes social updates such as news of a marriage, travel arrangements involving Rock Hill, invitations to visit, and requests for assistance with household provisions.

The collection also includes a series of love letters from Samuel Alexander Fewell written during his courtship of Tirza. These letters discuss his children, the death of his father, the purchase of his home, his intentions to visit Tirza, and routine matters such as the health and daily activities of family and acquaintances. Together, the letters offer a detailed and personal view of relationships, domestic concerns, and social life during the period.
Matthew A. Fike Papers - Accession 1376

Matthew A. Fike
Accession 1376
The Matthew A. Fike Papers consist of records from Winthrop Professor of English, Dr. Matthew A. Fike. The collection contains numerous publications of Dr. Fike in scholarly journals. This collection contains published book reviews, letters, papers presented at various conferences, and papers written by Dr. Fike while in attendance at American University in Bulgaria and while teaching at Winthrop University. Dr. Fike has been a professor at Winthrop since 2000 and specializes in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature, British Literature, and Jungian Literary Criticism.
William Gist Finley Papers - Accession 167

William Gist Finley
Accession 167
William Gist Finley (1895-1969) was a lawyer and solicitor of the Sixth Judicial Circuit (1930-1950) from York, SC. The William Gist Finley Papers consist of biographical data, correspondence, photographs, speeches, newspaper clippings, and other papers relating to Finley’s career and death, and to York County’s history. Includes biographical sketch of David Edward Finley, a history of York, South Carolina, York Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church history, Bethel Presbyterian Church history, York County Bible Society records, Kings Mountain National Park, Rose Hill State Park near Union, South Carolina, and the Carolina and Northwestern Railroad.
First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Records - Accession 1648 - M807 (864)

First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Accession 1648 - M807 (864)
This collection consists of material related to the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, SC which was organized in 1895. The collection consists of a commemoration of Reverend Dr. Arthur Small Rogers who was pastor for 53 years from 1896-1948 compiled by Jessie Huey Laurence, a History of First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church: In Commemoration of the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary 1895-1970 by Margaret Bagley Scalf, a Manual of Information: First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, South Carolina (1967), two church directories (one for 1975-1979 and second from the 1970s with photographs of members), a listing of members eligible for Deacons (nd), two Daughters of the American Revolution Magazines (June 1926 and August 1929), three Associate Reformed Presbyterian Journal Of Missions magazines(November 1948, December 1948, and February 1949, and three undated postcards (one of the Friedheim House, Main Building at Winthrop College, and of the Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, SC.
First Presbyterian Church - Accession 736 - M340 (391)

First Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, SC
Accession 736 - M340 (391)
The First Presbyterian Church Records consist of a programs and booklets which commemorates important events relating to the First Presbyterian Church of Rock Hill, SC (1869- sf). The collection consists of three programs: one commemorates 100 years of Presbyterianism in Rock Hill, South Carolina which includes a brief history; a second program relates to the dedication of Gregg Chapel which includes a biographical sketch of Francis Whitlock Gregg, D.D. (1873-1958) who was a pastor of the church from 1913 to 1947; the third booklet commemorates the 75^th Anniversary of the church.
Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church History - Accession 1086 - M496 (547)

Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church
Accession 1086 - M496 (547)
This collection consists of a booklet titled “Through the Years” 1752-2002: Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church Bicenquinquagenary Celebration September 22, 2002 compiled by Jessie R. Busick, James H. Saye, Jr. and Martha H. Sudol. This booklet details the 250 year history of Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church of Chester County, South Carolina which can trace its beginnings to 1752.
Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church of Chester County Records

Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church
Accession 109 M47 (62)
The Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church of Chester County Records include an historical statement (1839) on its origin and development by one of its pastors Rev. John B. Davies, and copies of entries for various sessions containing information on how the church handled misconduct of its members.
Edmund FitzGerald Papers - Accession 1155 - M531 (582)

Edmund J. FitzGerald and Rock Hill Pilgrim's Inn
Accession 1155 - M531 (582)
The collection consists of a Winthrop Master of Liberal Arts Project by Edmund J. FitzGerald titled The Story of Pilgrims’ Inn in 2000 and a few other records and papers that document the history of Rock Hill Pilgrims Inn. The Pilgrim’s’ Inn is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1981 by Tricia Kuhlkin to serve Rock Hill and surrounding communities of York County, SC by providing shelter, assistance, and supportive services to the community’s most vulnerable citizens including individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or are having trouble providing for their basic needs.
Martha Thomas Fitzgerald Papers - Accession 1742

Martha Thomas Fitzgerald
Accession 1742
The Martha Thomas Fitzgerald Papers document the personal, professional, and public life of Martha Thomas Fitzgerald (1895–1981), a Winthrop College graduate (Class of 1916), educator, civic leader, and politician. Notably, Mrs. Fitzgerald was the first woman elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in a general election, marking a significant milestone in the state’s political history. The collection reflects her long career in education, public service, and civic engagement in South Carolina.

The collection consists primarily of correspondence related to Fitzgerald’s legislative service, her work with the South Carolina Department of Education, and her involvement in a wide range of civic and women’s organizations. Correspondence spans several decades and includes letters received during her tenure as a state representative and education official. Of particular interest are three letters from U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy dated 1959, which highlight her national political connections and influence.

Materials documenting Fitzgerald’s civic activities include newsletters, meeting minutes, reports, and related records from organizations such as women’s clubs and advocacy groups. These records illustrate her leadership roles and sustained commitment to women’s civic participation and public service. The collection also includes education-related essays and pamphlets she collected during her career as a teacher, as well as her academic transcript from Columbia University.

Additional materials include newspaper clippings covering Fitzgerald’s career and public life, photographs and postcards depicting social events and South Carolina rural schools, and various forms of memorabilia such as nametags, place cards, and business cards from events she attended. Personal writings—poems, notes, and song lyrics—offer insight into her creative interests, while brochures and programs reflect her cultural, political, and religious affiliations.

Together, the Martha Thomas Fitzgerald Papers provide valuable documentation of women’s political leadership, education reform, and civic life in South Carolina during the twentieth century, as well as the career of a pioneering woman legislator whose work bridged education, politics, and community service
Martha Thomas Fitzgerald Papers - Accession 273

Martha Thomas Fitzgerald
Accession 273
The Martha Thomas Fitzgerald Papers consist of biographical data, correspondence, minutes, newspaper clippings, memoranda, reports, and photographs (of particular interest are the many photographs of rural S.C. school houses in the 1920s). The collection pertains to Mrs. Fitzgerald’s work with the South Carolina Department of Education, the South Carolina House of Representatives, and her work with various civic organizations such as the Altrusa Club, the League of Women Voters, the Daughters of American Colonists, United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW), Delta Kappa Gamma, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Salvation Army. There is also information on the Status of Women Commission Council on Aging, agriculture, Queens College, University of South Carolina, Winthrop University, Columbia University, public health, South Carolina history, City of Columbia, South Carolina, and Richland County, South Carolina. Correspondents include Strom Thurmond and three letters from John F. Kennedy when he was senator. Mrs. Fitzgerald was the first woman elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in a general election.
Patricia Royer FitzGerald Papers - Accession 1521

Patricia Royer FitzGerald, Brothers Family, Vidal Family, and Baisieux Family
Accession 1521
The Patricia Royer FitzGerald Papers consists of various family genealogy research, newspaper clippings, photographs, writings, and manuscripts. The genealogy material consists of genealogical charts, biographical information, handwritten family stories and anecdotes, marriage records, birth records, death records, correspondence, research notes, photographs, and copies of articles written about the family related mostly to the Brothers Family, Baisieux family, and Vidal family. The rest of the collection consists of Pat FitzGerald (1937-2017) writings and manuscripts related to her time as a writer for the Rock Hill, SC based newspaper, The Herald predominately writing for the Travel and Lifestyle section, but also consists of her manuscripts and publications related to her private career as a writer, mostly related to her book titled, Tahitian Pearl – A Journey for my Mother published in 2014.
South Carolina School Food Service Association - Accession 82

Food Service Association, South Carolina
Accession 82
The South Carolina Food Service Association Records consist of historical statements, constitutions and by-laws, annual, officer and committee reports, minutes of the executive board, correspondence, financial records, membership records, newsletters, handbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings and other records. There are records relating to the regional and national school food service associations and to the 1963 International Congress on Home Economics.
York County Friends of Food Stamp Applicants Records Accession 86 - M37 (49)

Food Stamp Applicants, York County Friends of
Accession 86 - M37 (49-50)
The York County Friends of Food Stamp Applicants (YCFFSA) Records consist of minutes, correspondence, agenda notes, historical statements, and other records relating to the history of the organization, whose purpose was to assist underprivileged persons in need by aiding them with their food stamp applications and to direct them to other social agencies.
President Gerald R. Ford Letter - Accession 1476 - M717 (773)

Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr.
Accession 1476 - M717 (773)
This collection consists of a form letter sent out by former US President Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006) on March 8, 1978 to Rock Hill, SC resident Suzannah Blackwell. The letter request that the recipient fill out a survey that was originally with the letter and for a contribution to the Republican Party. The letter offers great insight into the political climate of the time from the Republican Party perspective. In the letter President Gerald R. Ford (who was President from 1974-1977) outlines several policies and actions of the sitting US President, Jimmy Carter (1924- ) who was President from 1977-1981, which he and fellow Republicans feel are contrary to the needs of the United States at the time. He mentions President Carter’s changes to the national defense program including abandoning continued production of the B-1 Bomber, canceling production of “60 new Minutemen III missiles, and cutting the defense budget. President Ford is also critical of President Carter’s energy program with its energy tax which will “not be used to stimulate energy production” but will “be used to pay for still more social welfare programs.” He is also critical of President Carter’s foreign policy which includes expanded relations with communist Cubs and withdrawing troops from South Korea. He sums up the potential issues by stating “Which way is the Administration leading us: Towards more government control and regulation? Towards an outdated national defense system? Towards complete dependence on foreign oil? Towards a foreign policy that creates doubts in the minds of our allies and encouragement in the minds of our adversaries?”
John Forsyth Letters - Accession 996 - M438 (489)

John Forsyth
Accession 996 - M438 (489)
The John Forsyth Letters consist of a letter dated July 11, 1813 from John Forsyth (1780-1841), United States Representative from Georgia, to William Jones (1760-1831) secretary of the Navy from January 12, 1813 to December 2, 1814 concerning a young gentleman B.W. Miller of Georgia. The collection also contains a letter dated January 17, 1835 from John Forsyth, Secretary of State to Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, Chairman of the Select Committee on Executive Patronage transmitting a list of people connected with the State Department in 1833. Forsyth was born in Virginia in 1780 but had moved to Georgia by age four. He graduated from Princeton in 1799, served in the United States House of Representatives from 1813 to 1818, served in United States Senate 1818 to 1819, served as Minister to Spain 1819-1821, served again in United States House 1823-1827, elected Governor of Georgia in 1827, Served as Secretary of State from July 1, 1834 to March 3, 1837. He died on October 2, 1841.
Fort Mill High School Class of 1927 Records - Accession 1205 - M573 (626)

Fort Mill High School
Accession 1205 - M573 (626)
This collection consists a graduation invitation for commencement exercises for the Class of 1927 at Fort Mill High School in Fort Mill, SC and a program for the Fort Mill High School Class of 1927 reunion held in on September 17, 1977 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary class reunion.
Fort Mill Methodism History - Accession 510 - M215 (259)

Fort Mill Methodism
Accession 510 - M215 (259)
The Fort Mill Methodism History was written by Ruth Crook Adkins and emphasizes the role of Methodism in the Fort Mill, SC community from 1832 to 1982, particularly Philadelphia United Methodist Church.
Stewart and Company Ledger - Accession 1041 - M468 (519)

Fort Mill, SC and Stewart and Company
Accession 1041 - M468 (519)
The Stewart and Company Ledger consists of a financial ledger of the Stewart and Company in Fort Mill, SC which was a general mercantile operation operated by J.O. Stewart and J.B. Mack. It includes the customers names, their purchases and the cost of the items charged. Also included in the ledger is a list of authors and book titles ranging from the early 1900s through 1918 with number of pages listed.
Mary Martin Foster Collection - Accession 1657

Mary Martin Foster
Accession 1657
The Mary Martin Foster Collection consists of a handmade dress with matching bonnet and a pair of eyeglasses with a case. This collection is undated but is believed to be from the early twentieth century. The items are in good condition with little wear. The garments and glasses belonged to Ms. Mary Martin Foster. These items were donated by Ms. Foster’s great-granddaughter, Jean Wells, former Winthrop Assistant Professor in the Ida Jane Dacus Library.
Framed Item Collection - Accession 1425 - M701 (757)

Framed Item Collection
Accession 1425 - M701 (757)
This collection consists of miscellaneous framed items that are not part of larger collection. This collection is an artificial collection that will be added to as more framed items are received. The provenance is unknown for the majority of the original items added to this collection. The framed items range in topics and subjects and is typically comprised of artwork, portraits, awards and certificates, however include a variety of items placed in frames.
Augustus Franks Correspondence - Accession 443 - M179 (220)

Augustus Franks
Accession 443 - M179 (220)
The Augustus Franks Correspondence consists of typed script copy of correspondence of Augustus Franks. Franks was a Bavarian immigrant who served in the Confederate Army and the letters pertain to his service in the 7^th Infantry Texas Co. D and contain descriptions of living conditions, battles, hospitals, music, Union prisons and other aspects of a soldiers life.
Martha Franks Photographs - Accession 1021 - M447 (498)

Martha L. Franks
Accession 1021 - M447 (498)
This collection consists of two photographs of Martha L. Franks (1901-1992) a 1922 Winthrop graduate from Laurens County who went on to become a southern Baptist missionary to China from 1925 to 1965. One photograph is a copy of an original of Ms. Franks in middle age and one is an original of her later in life.
Fraser-Winthrop Papers - Accession 615

Fraser Family and Winthrop Family
Accession 615
The Fraser-Winthrop Papers consists of microfiche copies of “Sketches from Nature” by Alexander Fraser (1722-1860), a plantation owner and S.C. state legislator, and Charles Fraser (1782-1860), a Charleston, S.C. attorney and artist. The “Sketches” contain low country plantation and theater scenes, and studies of flowers and insects. Also included are notes (ca. 1700-1898) on the Winthrop family of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Charleston, South Carolina, two letters (1842, 1844) to Joseph Augustus Winthrop (1791-1864), Charleston, and seven letters (1806-1846) from Charles Fraser to his sisters and Miss Mary Witherspoon of Charleston.
Mary Elizabeth Frayser Papers - Accession 1

Mary Elizabeth Frayser
Accession 1
The Mary E. Frayser Papers consist of correspondence, speeches, reports, clippings, minutes, histories, family histories, constitutions and bylaws, membership lists, program notes, photographs, and other papers, relating to her work with the South Carolina Extension Service (1912-1940) Winthrop College, her involvement with the South Carolina Council for the Common Good (1935-1952), the South Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs (1926-1952), the South Carolina Status of Women Conference (1945-1952), the South Carolina Division of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) (1929, 1935-1949), the South Carolina Interracial Institute (1938-1942), the South Carolina Division of the Southern Regional Council (1944-1951), and the South Carolina Conference of Social Work (1936-1967). There are also papers relating to Frayser’s efforts to promote social and economic legislation and participation by women in public affairs and her interest in libraries and work in the movement for the support of public libraries in South Carolina (1925-1968). Correspondents included G.H. Aull, Evan Chesterman, Wil Lou Gray, Sarah Hughes, Christine South Gee, and Maude Massey Rogers. This collection is a good source of women’s club activities in the twentieth century. Important areas of research would include the way club activity affected social and economic legislation in the state and the various forces involved in the movement for state tax supported libraries. While the papers do range from 1841 to 1953, the greater bulk of the papers extend from the early 1930s to about 1947. Since the work of the various women's club organizations were so inter-related, a researcher working with the papers of a particular organization for a particular time span should consider the Frayser papers of all other organizations. The related papers for the “Correspondence and Related Papers” series for particular organizations are generally similar and include: memoranda, outlines, reports, resolutions, minutes, etc. Additional Frayser information can be found by referring to the Winthrop University Archives (official records).
Mary Elizabeth Frayser Papers - Accession 1739

Mary Elizabeth Frayser
Accession 1739
The Mary Elizabeth Frayser Papers document the professional career, civic engagement, and reform work of Mary E. Frayser, an educator, home economist, social worker, and prominent women’s club leader in South Carolina during the twentieth century. The collection reflects Frayser’s long-standing commitment to education, social welfare, women’s rights, and public policy, as well as her involvement in numerous state and regional organizations dedicated to social and economic reform.

Materials in the collection include newspaper clippings, correspondence, speeches, reports, articles, pamphlets, meeting-related documents, publications, and other printed materials. These records document Frayser’s work with the South Carolina Extension Service (1912–1940), Winthrop College, and her leadership and participation in organizations such as the South Carolina Council for the Common Good, the South Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs, the South Carolina Status of Women Conference, the South Carolina Division of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the South Carolina Interracial Institute, the South Carolina Division of the Southern Regional Council, and the South Carolina Conference of Social Work.

The collection contains extensive subject files addressing issues central to Frayser’s reform efforts, including women’s suffrage and political participation, child labor and child welfare, education, prison reform, vocational rehabilitation, taxation, public health, racial cooperation, and community development. Of particular note are materials related to the National Child Labor Committee, published articles and speeches circulated nationally, and documentation of conferences and public programs focused on children, youth, and social welfare. The papers also reflect Frayser’s interest in libraries and her advocacy for state-supported public libraries in South Carolina.

Newspaper clippings and collected publications provide context for contemporary debates on social policy and women’s roles in public life, while university reports and educational materials illustrate Frayser’s ongoing engagement with higher education institutions. Correspondence with notable figures—including Wil Lou Gray, Christine South Gee, and Maude Massey Rogers—further documents her professional networks and influence within reform and club movements.

The papers span from 1841 to 1972, with the bulk of the materials dating from the early 1930s through the late 1940s, the period of Frayser’s most active involvement in women’s organizations and social reform initiatives. Due to the interconnected nature of women’s club activities during this period, researchers examining a specific organization or issue are encouraged to consult materials across multiple series within the collection. The Mary Frayser Papers provide a rich resource for the study of women’s activism, social reform, and the role of voluntary organizations in shaping public policy in South Carolina.
Mary Elizabeth Frayser Papers - Accession 17 - M4 (4-14)

Mary Elizabeth Frayser
Accession 17 - M4 (4-14)
The Mary Elizabeth Frayser Papers consist of correspondence, related records, and newspaper and magazine clippings. Most of the correspondence is between Estellene Walker and Mary Frayser concerning the work of the State Library Board and the movement for better libraries in South Carolina.

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