Background Information: The Brown Fellowship Society was a benevolent society of free African- American and racially mixed men, affiliated with the St.Philip’s Episcopal Church, Charleston. The organization was founded in 1790 to benefit widows and orphans of members, provide burial spots in the cemetery it owned, and to provide other member services. The name of the organization was changed to the Century Fellowship in 1893, and although no regular meeting minutes are present after 1916, the Society continued to exist and conducted limited business. The Society commemorated its 200 th anniversary in 1990.

Scope and Content: Approximately ½ ft. (1844; 1869 - c.1990)

Description: The Brown Fellowship papers are arranged in three small series. Organizational materials include a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Brown Fellowship Society as founded in 1794, but published in 1844. The series also contains two original meeting minute logs that cover the events of mostly monthly meetings held from 1869 to 1911. Additionally, there are several pages of loose minutes not included in these logs that cover meetings held in the years 1913 through 1916. Topics discussed include maintenance of the graveyard, attendance, elections of officers, and discussions to provide assistance to members and their descendants. Numerous dedications in honor of deceased members are also included. Correspondence relates to cemetery and building maintenance, some financial affairs, and membership details. With pictorial broadsides (1904) and program (1990) re group’s 200 th anniversary.

Note: The Brown Fellowship Society Papers have been microfilmed and researchers should use the microfilm version.