History note: In 1878 the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South authorized that creation of various Woman’s Societies throughout the Southeast. The South Carolina Conference Woman’s Missionary Society was one of the first to be recognized. The organization broke into various groups and then recombined throughout its history. The organization’s name was changed to its current form, the United Methodist Women, in 1972.
Organization note: Arranged into 14 series: District Histories; Executive Committee Records; Directories; Programs of Events and Meetings; History; Miscellaneous Correspondence; Publicity and Public Relations; Property Records; Information regarding Deceased Officers; Publications; Photographs; Bound Annual Reports and Meeting Minutes; Scrapbooks; and Books.
Access note: Unrestricted.
Summary note: Records consist mostly of district histories of the UMW organization arranged by church, memorabilia such as scrapbooks and newspaper clippings, photographs from various events and programs, committee meeting reports and minutes, correspondence, programs, and various other material dealing with the history and organization of the United Methodist Women. Most of the records are arranged chronologically and original order was kept during processing when possible. Detailed content notes are found in the finding aid.
Citation: Cite as: Papers of the South Carolina Conference United Methodist Women, Archives, Sandor Teszler Library, Wofford College.
Location: Archives, Sandor Teszler Library, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC 29303.
Administrative note: Arranged October 2007 by Sara Brewer.
Finding Aid:
I. Box 1 - Series: District Histories
The history of the UMW organization within the twelve South Carolina Districts (Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville, Greenwood, Hartsville, Marion, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, and Walterboro). Contains histories of UMW at various churches within district, correspondence, pamphlets, programs, district calendars, lists of officers, and directories. Arranged alphabetically by district name, then randomly by church. Dates mostly to 1980s and 1990s. 45 folders. In good condition.
1. Anderson District- 2 folders
2. Charleston District- 3 folders
3. Columbia District- 9 folders
4. Florence District- 2 folders
5. Greenville District- 2 folders
6. Greenwood District- 5 folders
7. Hartsville District- 2 folders
8. Marion District- 2 folders
9. Orangeburg District- 4 folders
10. Rock Hill District- 5 folders
11. Spartanburg District- 7 folders
12. Walterboro District- 2 folders
Papers dealing with the UMW Executive Committee and other various committees. Contains reports from district presidents, general reports, meeting minutes, policies, procedures, programs from annual meetings, notes, correspondence, financial information, calendars, etc. Arranged chronologically. Dates range from 1961-1995 (Have years 1961; 1972-1995). 32 folders. Mostly in good condition.
III. Box 3 - Series: Executive Committee Records
Continuation of the papers dealing with the UMW Executive Committee and other various committees. Contains reports from district presidents, general reports, meeting minutes, policies, procedures, programs from annual meetings, notes, correspondence, financial information, calendars, etc. Arranged chronologically. Dates from 1995-2002. 33 folders. Mostly in good condition.
IV. Box 4 - Series: Directories; Programs of Events and Meetings
a. Series: Directories. Directories of Women’s Society of Christian Service, Wesleyan Service Guild, and United Methodist Women. Contains conference officers, local officers and presidents, and task force members. Arranged chronologically. Dates range from 1968-2003 (Missing years 1974, 1984, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1998). 9 folders. In good condition.
1. Folder 1- 1968-1971
2. Folder 2- 1972-73; 1975-76
3. Folder 3- 1977-1980
4. Folder 4- 1981-1983
5. Folder 5- 1986-1989
6. Folder 6- 1990-91; 1994
7. Folder 7- 1995-1997
8. Folder 8- 1999-2001
9. Folder 9- 2002-2003
b. Series: Programs of Events and Meetings. Programs of various semi-annual and annual events and meetings. Arranged chronologically. Dates range from 1931-2000. 13 folders. Mostly in good condition.
1. Folder 1-1931; 1937; 1943-45; 1948-49; 1955, 1958; 1960-62
2. Folder 2- 1963-64
3. Folder 3- 1965-66
4. Folder 4- 1967-68; 1970
5. Folder 5- 1972; 1974-75; 1977-80
6. Folder 6- 1981-83
7. Folder 7- 1983-85
8. Folder 8- 1985-86
9. Folder 9- 1987-89
10. Folder 10- 1990-92
11. Folder 11- 1994-97
12. Folder 12- 1997-98
13. Folder 13- 1998-2000
V. Box 5 - Series: History; Miscellaneous Correspondence; Publicity and Public Relations; Property Records; Information Regarding Deceased Officers; Publications; Photographs
a. Series: History. Records regarding the history of the United Methodist Women organization. Contains timelines, written histories, notes, correspondence, profiles of officers, and pamphlets. Arranged in chronological order. Dates range from 1896-1994. 1 folder. In good condition.
1. Folder 1- History 1896-1994
b. Series: Miscellaneous Correspondence. Miscellaneous correspondence from numerous authors on a variety of topics and issues. Arranged in chronological order. Dates range from 1898-1997. 1 folder. In good condition.
1. Folder 1- 1898-1997
c. Series: Publicity and Public Relations. Records dealing with the United Methodist Women organization and public relations. Contains newspaper clippings, handouts for media release, and correspondence. Arranged in chronological order. Dates range from 1960-1985. 2 folders. In good condition.
1. Folder 1- Newspaper clippings 1960-1985
2. Folder 2- Media Handouts
d. Series: Property Records. Records dealing the Wallace Family Life Center property. Contains letters, grant applications, budget statements, financial information, contracts, notes, annual reports, brochures, maps, and other records that relate to the business of the Wallace Family Life Center. Arranged in chronological order. Dates range from 1978-1996 (bulk 1995-1996). 4 folders. In good condition.
1. Folder 1- 1978-1981
2. Folder 2- 1990-1995
3. Folder 3- 1995-1996
4. Folder 4- 1996-1996
e. Series: Information regarding deceased officers. Records dealing with three officers that died between 1997 and 2000. Contains photos, programs from memorial services, biographies, newspaper clippings, and one audio tape. Officers names were Judith Nadine Phillips, Mary Alice Williams, and Maude Haigler Lawrence. Arranged in chronological order. Dates range from 1997-2000. 2 folders. In good condition.
1. Folder 1- Paper records 1997-2000
2. Folder 2- Audio tape of Gordon Funeral, Mary Alice Williams Memorial 7/30/1997
f. Series: Publications. Various monthly publications that deal with the United Methodist Women’s organization. Contains the publications News Sheet, Work Sheet, Mission Echo, Mission Gram, and other miscellaneous publications. Mostly arranged in reverse chronological order. Dates range from 1937-2003. Missing numerous months in several of the publications. 16 folders. Mostly in good condition.
A. News Sheet and Work Sheet Publication (arranged in reverse chronological order)
1. Folder 1- News Sheet / Work Sheet 1970-1974
2. Folder 2- News Sheet / Work Sheet 1969-1970
3. Folder 3- News Sheet / Work Sheet 1967-1969
4. Folder 4- News Sheet / Work Sheet 1964-1967
5. Folder 5- News Sheet / Work Sheet 1960-1964
6. Folder 6- News Sheet / Work Sheet 1956-1960
7. Folder 7- News Sheet / Work Sheet 1953-1956
8. Folder 8- News Sheet / Work Sheet 1946-1953
B. Mission Echo Publication
1. Folder 1- Mission Echo 1978-1981
2. Folder 2- Mission Echo 1982-1986
3. Folder 3- Mission Echo 1986-1996
4. Folder 4- Mission Echo 1996-1999
5. Folder 5- Mission Echo 2000-2003
C. Mission Gram Publication
1. Folder 1- Mission Gram 1984-2000
D. Miscellaneous Publications
1. Folder 1- Various miscellaneous publications 1932-1984
2. Folder 2- Various miscellaneous publications 1984-1998
g. Series: Photographs. Various formal and informal photographs from annual meetings, events, publications, and other miscellaneous activities. Arranged in chronological order. Known dates range from 1996-1999. 9 folders. Mostly in good condition.
1. Folder 1- Officers Training and Capitol Day 1996-1997
a. Officer Training Day (Nov. 96): 2 photographs, color, 4x6, with labels
b. Capitol Day (Apr. 1997): 5 photgraphs, color, 5x7, most with labels
2. Folder 2- Annual Meeting, Trinity Sumter, and various other events 1997
a. 42 photographs, color, 4x6, some with labels
3. Folder 3- Annual Meeting and Mission Trip 1997
a. 42 photographs, color, 5x7, some with labels
4. Folder 4- Annual Meetings and Events 1998-1999
a. 47 photographs (20 4x6 and 27 5x7), color, some with labels
5. Folder 5- Single Again Event and Capitol Day 1999
a. Single Again Event (Mar. 1999): 8 photographs, 5x7, color, some with labels
b. Capitol Day (1999): 16 photographs, 5x7, color, some with labels
6. Folder 6- Daring Hearts and Spirits Free Publication
a. 42 photographs, various sizes, black and white and color, some with labels
7. Folder 7- Miscellaneous
a. Contains negatives, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Roughly 40 photographs, various sizes, black and white and color, some with labels
8. Folder 8- Miscellaneous
a. Contains negatives and photographs. 41 photographs, black and white, no labels
9. Folder 9- Miscellaneous
a. Roughly 80 photographs, various sizes, black and white and color, some with labels
VI. Box 6 - Series: Bound Minutes and Reports
Various bound minutes and reports from annual meetings of the United Methodist Women organization and its predecessors. Contains bound volumes from the United Methodist Women, Women’s Society of Christian Service, Women’s Missionary Council, Women’s Foreign Missionary Society, Women’s Missionary Society (Upper S.C. Conference and South Carolina Conference), Historical Addresses, and other various organizations. Arranged in chronological order. Dates range from 1878-1936. (See also 5 bound books of reports and meeting minutes.) Mostly in good condition, though some older volumes have some damage. 1878-1936
VII. Box 7 - Series: Bound Minutes and Reports
Continuation of various bound minutes and reports from annual meetings of the United Methodist Women organization and its predecessors. Contains bound volumes from the United Methodist Women, Society of Christian Service, Women’s Missionary Council, Women’s Foreign Missionary Society, Women’s Missionary Society (Upper S.C. Conference and South Carolina Conference), and Historical Addresses. Arranged in chronological order. Dates range from 1942-1958. Mostly in good condition, though some older volumes have some damage. 1942-1958
VIII. Box 8 - Series: Bound Minutes and Reports
Continuation of various bound minutes and reports from annual meetings of the United Methodist Women organization and its predecessors. Contains bound volumes from the United Methodist Women, Society of Christian Service, Women’s Missionary Council, Women’s Foreign Missionary Society, Women’s Missionary Society (Upper S.C. Conference and South Carolina Conference), Historical Addresses, and other various organizations. Arranged in chronological order. Dates range from 1958-1968. Mostly in good condition, though some older volumes have some damage. 1958-1968
IX. Box 9 - Series: Scrapbooks
Scrapbooks containing a variety of newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, lists of officers, etc. Dates range from 1890-1986. 6 scrapbooks. Mostly in good condition.
1. Box 9 - Series: Scrapbooks
a. South Carolina Wesleyan Service Guilds Scrapbook 1968-1969: Contains list of guilds by districts, program from charter meeting May 1969
b. Unnamed Scrapbook 1965-1966: Contains newspaper clippings (School of Christian Mission, Annual Meeting announcements, etc.), copies of the publications Work Sheet and The Advocate, programs, Columbia and Orangeburg districts publicity
X. Box 10 - Series: Scrapbooks
Scrapbooks containing a variety of newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, lists of officers, etc. Dates range from 1890-1986. 6 scrapbooks. Mostly in good condition.
South Carolina Women’s Missionary Society Life Membership Book c. 1890-1939 (bulk 1930s): Contains photographs and biographical data for women for joined the organization c.1890-1939.
XI. Box 11 - Series: Scrapbooks
Scrapbooks containing a variety of newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, lists of officers, etc. Dates range from 1890-1986. 6 scrapbooks. Mostly in good condition.
a. Anderson District Publicity Scrapbook 1957-1986: Contains newspaper clippings of annual meetings, seminars, workshops, announcements of new officers, retreats, and various other events and activities.
b. Spartanburg and Piedmont Scrapbook 1949-1968: Contains photographs of bishops, brief histories of the district, list of officers and personnel, newspaper clippings, programs, and other photographs.
XII. Box 12 - Series: Scrapbooks
Scrapbooks containing a variety of newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, lists of officers, etc. Dates range from 1890-1986. 6 scrapbooks. Mostly in good condition.
Women’s Society of Christian Service Scrapbook 1936-1937: Contains newspaper clippings, programs of events and activities, obituaries of members, postcards, correspondence, etc.
XIII. Series: Books
i. Daring Hearts and Spirits Free: South Carolina Women in the United Methodist Tradition - Compiled and Edited by Harriet Anderson Mays and Harry Roy Mays (2 copies)
ii. Fifty Wonderful Years: 1878-1928 by Walter I. Herbert
iii. An Outline of a Course in Religion: Designed for Use in Departments of Religion in Standard Senior Colleges by Helen Barber Bourne
iv. Women’s Missionary Society of the Upper South Carolina Conference 1940-1949
v. Women’s Society of Christian Service of the South Carolina Conference 1950-1953
vi. Women’s Society of Christian Service of the South Carolina Conference 1954-1957
vii. Women’s Society of Christian Service of the South Carolina Conference 1958-1961
viii. Women’s Society of Christian Service of the South Carolina Conference 1962-1965