Records of the John L. Dart Library Historic Vertical Files, 1866-2010
Processing Request
| Creator | John L. Dart Library (formerly Dart Hall Library), Charleston County Public Library |
| Date | 1866-2010, Bulk 1940-1980 |
| Physical description |
5 linear feet |
| Preferred Citation |
[Identification of the Specific Item], [Title], Charleston County Public Library, Charleston, SC |
| Repository | Charleston Archive, Charleston County Public Library. 68 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401 |
| Compiled By | Sarah Hisnanick-Murphy, February 2020 |
| Access to materials |
Collection is open for research. |
| Subject Headings |
African Americans African Americans—Biography—South Carolina—Charleston—20th Century African Americans—History—South Carolina—Charleston—19th Century African Americans—History—South Carolina—Charleston—20th Century African Americans and Libraries—South Carolina—Charleston—History—20th century Charleston County Library—History |
Scope and Content
This collection contains the vertical files from the John L. Dart Library (formerly Dart Hall/Library), 1866-2010. The files include biography files, church files, schools, landmarks, organizations, and other miscellaneous topics all pertaining to Black Charlestonians & South Carolinians, mostly from the mid-twentieth century.
The vertical files (approximately 5 linear feet) consist of clippings, pamphlets, handouts, and miscellaneous papers, all of which are related to the various aspects of Black people/history in South Carolina. The collection is divided into two parts that are titled: “Lowcountry Negro Files” and “South Carolina Negro Files”.
The oldest item in the collection is a reprint from the 1866 Harper Weekly “Zion School for Colored Children” and, according to the document, was gifted to the Charleston Industrial Institute as a souvenir (LNF---Schools---Charleston Industrial Institute). There is also a reprint of the 1896 prospectus for the school in this file.
The newest item in the collection is a 2010 printout of an email from Charleston County Public Library Historian, Dr. Nic Butler. The document includes his research notes concerning the history of the segregation and integration of the (CCPL) library system (LNF---Library II).
One other item of note in the collection is a 1942 Burke Industrial High School yearbook. It appears to be hand-made and contains many hand-drawn designs (LNF---Schools---Burke Industrial High School). There is also a student handbook in this file.
Administrative/Biographical History
The John L. Dart Library, formerly Dart Hall, began as the Charleston Industrial Normal Institute led by the distinguished educator and minister: Reverend John L. Dart. The Charleston Industrial Institute eventually moved and became what is now known as Burke High School, but Reverend Dart’s extensive book collection remained at Dart Hall. It was Dart’s daughter, Susan Dart Butler, who saw and acted on the need for library services for African American people in Charleston, South Carolina. She opened her father’s reading collection, in the form of a reading room, at Dart Hall in 1927. Butler used her own resources to run the Dart Hall reading room until it became the “Dart Hall Branch” of the Charleston Free Library in 1931. Susan Dart Butler remained the head librarian of the Dart Hall Branch until her retirement in 1957. Dart Hall was moved to a new building in 1968 that was no longer segregated and renamed the John L. Dart Library.
Susan Dart Butler and the existence of Dart Hall Library, along with her agreement to work together with Charleston County, can be credited with securing the funding from the Rosenwald Foundation, the funding that helped establish Charleston Free Library as a whole.
*Note on terminology:
The term “Negro” is used throughout this collection. The collection was named and stamped the “Lowcountry Negro Files” and “South Carolina Negro Files” by their original creators at Dart Library and have been left as such to preserve the historical record and context of the files.
The Charleston Archive is committed to describing all people in a respectful manner and attempting to reduce the use of harmful language in describing records without disrupting the context, significance, and prevalence of systemic racism in historic records. If you have any concerns with how we have handled this collection, please reach out to us at [email protected] .
Related Materials
Butler, Nicolas. “The Story of Susan’s Library.” Audio blog post. Charleston Time Machine. Charleston County Public Library, 2017. Web.
https://www.ccpl.org/charleston-time-machine/story-susans-library .
Laptop & Coffeeshop Productions. “The History of Dart Library.” Charleston County Public Library, 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yXWCpdCnjU&t=2073s .
Collection Outline
I. “Lowcountry Negro Files" BOX 1-11
II. “South Carolina Negro Files" BOX 12
Container List
- “Lowcountry Negro Files”
|
Box |
Folder Title |
Sub-Title |
|
One |
Bicentennial |
|
|
One |
Biography |
Aa-Ah |
|
One |
Biography |
Ai-Ap |
|
One |
Biography |
Alston, Elizabeth |
|
One |
Biography |
Amos-Frazier, Marjorie |
|
One |
Biography |
Anderson, Leroy F. |
|
One |
Biography |
Aq-Az |
|
One |
Biography |
Ba-Bh |
|
One |
Biography |
Bi-Bp |
|
One |
Biography |
Blake, Alphonso (Rev). |
|
One |
Biography |
Bq-Bz |
|
One |
Biography |
Brown (general) |
|
One |
Biography |
Butler, Susan Dart |
|
One |
Biography |
Ca-Ch |
|
One |
Biography |
Cardozo, Francis |
|
One |
Biography |
Childress, Alice |
|
One |
Biography |
Chisolm, John |
|
One |
Biography |
Ci-Cp |
|
One |
Biography |
Clark, Septima P. |
|
Two |
Biography |
Clement, Arthur Jr. (I) |
|
Two |
Biography |
Clement, Arthur Jr. (II) |
|
Two |
Biography |
Collective Charleston Negro |
|
Two |
Biography |
Cq-Cz |
|
Two |
Biography |
Cunningham, Leonard Aloxsius (Rev.) |
|
Two |
Biography |
Da-Dh |
|
Two |
Biography |
Dart, John L. |
|
Two |
Biography |
Dawson, Fred D. |
|
Two |
Biography |
Devine, St. Julian F. |
|
Two |
Biography |
Di-Dp |
|
Two |
Biography |
Douglas, Hillery P. |
|
Two |
Biography |
Douglas, Rosslee Green |
|
Two |
Biography |
Douglas, W. Earl (I) |
|
Two |
Biography |
Douglas, W. Earl (II) |
|
Three |
Biography |
Douglas, W. Earl (III) |
|
Three |
Biography |
Dowling, John (Rev.) |
|
Three |
Biography |
Dq-Dz |
|
Three |
Biography |
Ea-Eh |
|
Three |
Biography |
Edwards, Johnette G. |
|
Three |
Biography |
Ei-Ep |
|
Three |
Biography |
Eq-Ez |
|
Three |
Biography |
Fa-Fh |
|
Three |
Biography |
Fetter, Franklin C. |
|
Three |
Biography |
Fielding, Bernard |
|
Three |
Biography |
Fielding, Herbert |
|
Three |
Biography |
Fields, Mamie |
|
Three |
Biography |
Fields, Richard E. |
|
Three |
Biography |
Fi-Fp |
|
Three |
Biography |
Floyd, David C. |
|
Three |
Biography |
Ford, Robert |
|
Three |
Biography |
Forsythe, Ruby M. |
|
Three |
Biography |
Foster, Charles |
|
Three |
Biography |
Fq-Fz |
|
Three |
Biography |
Fraser, Wilmont J. |
|
Three |
Biography |
Ga-Gh |
|
Three |
Biography |
Gadson, Tobias |
|
Three |
Biography |
Ganaway, Richard |
|
Three |
Biography |
Gantt, Harvey |
|
Four |
Biography |
Gi-Gp |
|
Four |
Biography |
Gq-Gz |
|
Four |
Biography |
Grant, Henry L. |
|
Four |
Biography |
Gravely, Samuel L. |
|
Four |
Biography |
Greenberg, Reuben |
|
Four |
Biography |
Hamilton, Lonnie |
|
Four |
Biography |
Harleston, E. A. |
|
Four |
Biography |
Harvey, Aaron |
|
Four |
Biography |
Hassell, Herbert Anderson |
|
Four |
Biography |
Heyward, George W. |
|
Four |
Biography |
Hi-Hp |
|
Four |
Biography |
Holloway, Richard |
|
Four |
Biography |
Holmes, Maranda |
|
Four |
Biography |
Hunter, Bobby Lee |
|
Four |
Biography |
Hq-Hz |
|
Four |
Biography |
Hill, David Riley |
|
Four |
Biography |
Ja-Jh |
|
Four |
Biography |
Jefferson, Hilda |
|
Four |
Biography |
Jenkins, Daniel J. (Rev.) |
|
Four |
Biography |
Ji-Jp |
|
Four |
Biography |
Johnson, Clyde (I) |
|
Four |
Biography |
Johnson, Clyde (II) |
|
Four |
Biography |
Johnson, Ralph H. |
|
Four |
Biography |
Just, Ernest E. |
|
Five |
Biography |
K |
|
Five |
Biography |
L |
|
Five |
Biography |
Lasaine, M. Alice |
|
Five |
Biography |
Ma-Mh |
|
Five |
Biography |
Mack, David |
|
Five |
Biography |
Mackey, Stephen B. |
|
Five |
Biography |
Martin, Daniel |
|
Five |
Biography |
Martin, Montez C. Jr. |
|
Five |
Biography |
McFarland, Arthur |
|
Five |
Biography |
Meriwether, Dr. Delano |
|
Five |
Biography |
Mi-Mp |
|
Five |
Biography |
Mq-Mz |
|
Five |
Biography |
Murray, Joseph R. (Rep.) |
|
Five |
Biography |
Na-Nh |
|
Five |
Biography |
Nesmith, Alonzo W. Jr. |
|
Five |
Biography |
Newman, Omega F. |
|
Five |
Biography |
Pa-Ph |
|
Five |
Biography |
Payton, George Jr. |
|
Five |
Biography |
Pi-Pp |
|
Five |
Biography |
Pq-Pz |
|
Five |
Biography |
Ra-Rh |
|
Five |
Biography |
Ri-Rp |
|
Five |
Biography |
Rq-Rz |
|
Five |
Biography |
Sa-Sh |
|
Five |
Biography |
Saunders, William |
|
Five |
Biography |
Shell, Art |
|
Five |
Biography |
Shine, Joseph D. |
|
Five |
Biography |
Si - Sp |
|
Five |
Biography |
Simmons, Philip |
|
Five |
Biography |
Simpson, Merton |
|
Six |
Biography |
Smalls, Jade |
|
Six |
Biography |
Small, Veronica G. |
|
Six |
Biography |
Sq-Sz |
|
Six |
Biography |
Stepney, Rebecca |
|
Six |
Biography |
Ta-Th |
|
Six |
Biography |
Ti-Tp |
|
Six |
Biography |
Tq-Tz |
|
Six |
Biography |
Vesey, Denmark |
|
Six |
Biography |
Wa-Wh |
|
Six |
Biography |
Washington, McKinley |
|
Six |
Biography |
Whipper, Lucille |
|
Six |
Biography |
Wi-Wp |
|
Six |
Biography |
Wq-Wz |
|
Six |
Biography |
Woods, Robert R. |
|
Six |
Biography |
Wright, Jonathan J. |
|
Six |
Businesses |
A-H |
|
Six |
Businesses |
I-P |
|
Six |
Businesses |
Q-Z |
|
Six |
Candidates (for Office) |
|
|
Six |
Charleston Black Pageants |
|
|
Six |
Churches |
(general) |
|
Six |
Churches |
A-H |
|
Six |
Churches |
Emanuel A.M.E. |
|
Six |
Churches |
I-P |
|
Seven |
Churches |
Morris Street Baptist |
|
Seven |
Churches |
Q-Z |
|
Seven |
Churches |
Old Bethel Methodist |
|
Seven |
Culture |
Gullah |
|
Seven |
Culture |
Music |
|
Seven |
Culture |
Quilts |
|
Seven |
Culture |
Root Medicine |
|
Seven |
Culture |
Sweetgrass Baskets |
|
Seven |
Education |
|
|
Seven |
Entertainment |
|
|
Seven |
Festivals |
Black Arts Festival |
|
Seven |
Festivals |
Moja Festival |
|
Seven |
Geanealogy |
|
|
Seven |
Health |
|
|
Eight |
History |
Civil Rights |
|
Eight |
History |
Free Negroes |
|
Eight |
History |
General |
|
Eight |
Hospital Strike (I) |
|
|
Eight |
Hospital Strike (II) |
|
|
Eight |
Hospitals |
|
|
Eight |
Landmarks |
A-H |
|
Eight |
Landmarks |
Dart Hall |
|
Eight |
Landmarks |
I-P |
|
Eight |
Landmarks |
Jenkins Orphanage |
|
Nine |
Landmarks |
Old Slave Mart |
|
Nine |
Landmarks |
Q-Z |
|
Nine |
Landmarks |
Rural Mission |
|
Nine |
Landmarks |
YWCA |
|
Nine |
Library (I) |
|
|
Nine |
Library (II) |
|
|
Nine |
Manpower and Training |
|
|
Nine |
McClennan Banks Hospital |
|
|
Nine |
Miscellaneous (I) |
|
|
Nine |
Miscellaneous (II) |
|
|
Ten |
Negro Associations |
|
|
Ten |
Negro Congressmen |
|
|
Ten |
Negro (in) Government |
|
|
Ten |
Negro Mayors |
|
|
Ten |
Negro Migration |
|
|
Ten |
Negro Songs |
|
|
Ten |
Neighborhood House |
|
|
Ten |
Newspaper |
|
|
Ten |
Organization |
A-H |
|
Ten |
Organization |
Avery Institute of Afro-American History |
|
Ten |
Organization |
Black History Cultural Center |
|
Ten |
Organization |
Brown Fellowship Society |
|
Ten |
Organization |
I-P |
|
Ten |
Organization |
Jenkins Orphanage |
|
Ten |
Organization |
Links |
|
Ten |
Organization |
Wagner Terrace Neighborhood Association |
|
Eleven |
Porgy and Bess |
|
|
Eleven |
Schools |
(general) |
|
Eleven |
Schools |
A-H |
|
Eleven |
Schools |
Avery Institute |
|
Eleven |
Schools |
Burke High School (I) |
|
Eleven |
Schools |
Burke High School (II) |
|
Eleven |
Schools |
Charleston Industrial Institute |
|
Eleven |
Schools |
I-P |
|
Eleven |
Schools |
Q-Z |
- “South Carolina Negro Files”
|
Twelve |
Biography |
B |
|
Twelve |
Biography |
C-D |
|
Twelve |
Biography |
F |
|
Twelve |
Biography |
G-H |
|
Twelve |
Biography |
I-L |
|
Twelve |
Biography |
M |
|
Twelve |
Biography |
N-O |
|
Twelve |
Biography |
P-Z |
|
Twelve |
Churches |
(general) |
|
Twelve |
History |
(general) |
|
Twelve |
Women |
(general) |
