Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church Records Collection
	Avery Research Center Manuscript Number 1030
	Historical Note:
	Zion-Olivet formed in 1959 when two African American congregations in Charleston
	SC, Zion and Olivet, merged. Zion Presbyterian Church had formed in 1850 when
	the black members of Charleston's Second Presbyterian Church withdrew to create a
	church under white supervision; the congregation eventually worshipped in a permanent
	location at the corner of Meeting and Calhoun Streets. Olivet Church was organized
	in 1879 and worshipped in a building at 93 Beaufain Street. Once the two churches
	merged, the congregation worshipped at both sites until 1964 when they moved to
	134 Cannon Street.
	Scope and Content: 10 linear ft., (1854-1991, bulk 1960-1980)
	The records in the collection are divided into three main sections, Zion Presbyterian
	church, Olivet Presbyterian church and Zion-Olivet Presbyterian church records. The
	Zion-Olivet records, which constitute the bulk of the collection, are further divided into
	five series arranged largely chronologically into financial, kindergarten/day-care, member
	United Presbyterian Women (UPW) and United Presbyterian Men (UPM) materials.
	Following these series, is a section for materials re the larger Presbyterian Church
	USA. The last section of the collection consists of miscellaneous items. The Zion church
	records (1854-1954) contain a listing of baptisms and other church functions performed
	mostly by John L. Girardeau and Joseph B. Mack. Also included are minutes and
	membership information re the Women's Missionary Society. The records of Olivet
	(1909-1957) contain information re members and occasional minutes of various meetings
	of the church. They also provide a record of finances, baptisms, births and deaths. The
	bulk of the Zion-Olivet records (1959-1991) are financial, with donation lists, check
	books, receipt books and related material. Most of the kindergarten/day care records
	are also financial. The member records consist of roll books, correspondence of pastors
	and officers, minutes of meetings, church services and anniversary programs. Both the
	UPW and UPM records contain correspondence from local and national chapters,
	ledgers re finances and membership, pamphlets re social activism, men's work in the
	church and a copy of the UPW handbook (1974). Records of the Presbyterian Church
	USA (1973-1987) include pamphlets re local and global missions, programs of regional
	meetings held at other Presbyterian churches in SC, directories of regional officers and
	random newsletters of the national and regional church. Also included is information re
	Mary Holmes College, Boggs Academy and Johnson C. Smith University. The
	miscellaneous records (1952-1977) consist of a ledger of minutes from the Netherlands
	Guiana League (later the Surinam-American League) in the New York City area, as
	well as music books and Bible study manuals.
		Box #/
I.	Zion Presbyterian Church records	Folder #
1	Volume (1854-1870) contains a record of baptisms at Zion Presbyterian Church	1-1
	with information as to whose child was baptized, when, by whom (by John L.
	Girardeau or Joseph B. Mack), and occasional remarks. With a list of names in back
	of the book.
2	Volume (1935-1945) lists Zion Presbyterian members and addresses alphabetically;	1-2
	with minutes from its general session, noting appointments, church finances, general
	condition of the members and other church business.
3	Typed bill of sale (1932) for a portion of ground in Zion's cemetery. With loose	1-3
	materials from above volume, including correspondence (1936) of Zion Presbyterian
	Church re visiting ministers and upcoming meetings. Also included is a letter (1943) from
	J.B. Drake seeking "comrades" to buy life insurance.
4	Volume (1940, 1947-1954, with gaps) titled "Journal" with information re Zion's	1-4
	Women's Missionary Society (WMS). It includes names of members and their
	contributions with occasional notations re deaths. Also included are occasional minutes
	of meetings of the WMS.
5	Miscellaneous Zion Church materials, including five church bulletins from 1947; two	1-5
	from 1950, a 1955 newsletter, a brief historical sketch [nd] of Zion's Women's
	Missionary Society, and a treasurer's report (1953) for the Atlantic Presbytery.
II.	Olivet Presbyterian Church records
1	Volume (1909-1926) listing donations of church members as well as their place of	2-1
	residence. The back of the book contains a total of pastors' salaries for July 1924.
2	Volume (1909-1952) containing minutesof session meetings re fund raising, church	2-2
	finances, officers, the church membership and other business. Lists in back of the book
	record a few new members as well as some baptisms, births, deaths and officers
	(1913-1930).
3	Volume (1944-1956) contains records of financial transactions, money collected at	2-3
	various rallies and other fundraisers and amounts paid to the pastor and other church
	officers.
4	Volume (1957-1966) used by both Olivet and Zion-Olivet churches. The first portion	3-1
	(to page 94) from Olivet Church contains financial records re donations, salaries of
	the pastor and other church officers, with other church expenses. Page 94 on records
	money collected by members of Zion-Olivet Church, with partial list of members and
	addresses. With one program (1957).
III.	Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church records: finances
1	Two volumes (1959-1976) containing record of deposits made for Zion and Zion-	3-2
	Olivet Presbyterian Churches.
2	Volume (1960-1962) of check payments of Zion-Olivet includes a list of items and	3-3
	events paid for by the church with columns labeled "Check no.," "Current," "Sunday
	School," Special Offering," "Rent," "Expenditures," "Balance" and "Deposits."
3	Volume (1962-1964) of church finances of "Receipts" and "Disbursements" with data	3-4
	on telephone, gas and other expenditures. The "Building Fund Accts" documents
	transfers and deposits into various bank accounts. The final section on "General and
	Local Missions" lists moneys received and disbursed for that account.
4	Loose materials from above volume includes a budget outline (1965) and receipts.	3-5
5	Receipt book (1964-1965) of contributions made by members, noting for what the	3-6
	funds were used. The majority of the receipts are for the building fund.
6	Volume (1965-1966) listing donations from church members.	4-1
7	Volume (1965) containing records of bank receipts, bills paid and other financial	4-2
	information re those employed at the Zion-Olivet nursery and day care, trips made,
	utilities, insurance, etc.
8	Receipt book (1966) of contributions made by church members to the building fund.	4-3
9	Two check books (1961-1963) contain bank deposit slips and a record of checks	4-4
	written with date, by whom and for what purpose.
10	Check book (1962-1970) contains bank deposit slips, a record of checks written and	4-5
	the balance of the Zion-Olivet Church Building Fund account.
11	Two check books (1964-1966) contain bank deposit slips and a record of checks	5-1
	written with date, by whom and for what purpose.
12	Two check books (1966-1967) contain bank deposit slips and a record of checks	5-2
	with the date, by whom and for what purpose. There is also a duplicate check book.
13	Two check books (1967-1968) contain bank deposit slips and a record of checks	5-3
	written with date, by whom and for what purpose.
14	Seven check books (1968-1969) contain bank deposit slips and a record of checks	5-4
	written with date, by whom and for what purpose.
15	Two check books (1968-1970) contain bank deposit slips and a record of checks	6-1
	written with date, by whom and for what purpose.
16	Two check books (1969-1971) contain bank deposit slips and a record of checks	6-2
	written with date, by whom and for what purpose.
17	Two check books (1970-1971) contain bank deposit slips and a record of checks	6-3
	written with date, by whom and for what purpose.
18	Volume (1967-1969) contains a list of members and their contributions.	7-1
19	Loose materials (1969-1980) re various insurance policies on the Zion-Olivet building.	7-2
20	Papers (1969-1970) re contributions to the 50 Million Fund by Zion-Olivet members	7-3
	supporting Boggs Academy in Keysville, Ga.
21	Volumes (1970-1971) of funds spent on office supplies, utilities, salaries of church	7-4
	officers, etc.
22	Ledger (1970-1971) contains a listing of money spent.	7-5
23	Eight deposit books (1971-1979) with dates and amounts deposited into the	8-1
	Zion-Olivet building fund and the general church fund.
24	Loose materials (1972-1984) re "Spring Rallies" held at Zion-Olivet. Information	8-2
	includes the amount of money raised, by whom and notes on planning the events.
25	Volume (1973-1976) lists the financial status of various church committees and	8-3
	organizations, the balance of each organization and the salaries of church officers.
26	Loose materials (1973-1979) re church repairs and related business.	8-4
27	Finance committee reports and proposed budgets for Zion-Olivet (1973-1980).	9-1
28	Pension information (1974-1984) re F. P. Metz.	9-2
29	Vouchers (1974-1981) given by the church for various expenses.	9-3
30	"Tea Reports" (1975-1978) list the amount of money raised by church members	9-4
	at the annual fund raiser.
31	Loose receipts and other materials (1975-1982) re church expenditures, loans, etc.	9-5
32	Weekly receipts (1977-1979) of money collected through pledges, fund raisers and	9-6
	other events and committees.
33	Unbound pages from volume (1977-1979) list amount of money brought in via	9-7
	collection envelopes, the collection plate and at the church school.
34	Paper bags (1978) listing information about money collected at the spring rally.	9-8
35	Receipts and other information (1984) re the 25th anniversary of merger of churches.	9-9
36	Two volumes (1978-1979) of contributions by members with donor name and amount	10-1
37	Two volumes (1980-1981) of contributions by members with donor name and amount.	10-2
38	Oversized ledger (1980) re the finances of Zion-Olivet and its various committees.	10-3
IV.	Zion-Olivet Church Presbyterian records: Kindergarten/Child Care Center
1	Receipt book (1965-1966) contains a record of the amount paid, by whom and for	11-1
	what purpose (registration, tuition, etc.).
2	Deposit book (1966-1977) for the Zion-Olivet "Kindergarten Child Care Center,"	11-2
	documenting date and amount deposited.
3	Two check books (1966-1968) recording check date, amount, purpose, etc.	11-3
4	Two receipts books (1967-68, 1970-71) recording amounts, purpose, payer, etc.	11-4
5	Two receipts books (1971-1972) recording who paid, amount, and purpose.	11-5
6	Three receipt books (1972-1975) recording who paid, amount, and purpose.	12-1
7	Receipt book (1969-1970) recording who paid, amount and purpose.	12-2
8	Check book (1969-1970) noting amount, date, purpose and by whom check written.	12-3
9	Receipt and check book (1970-1971) for the Charleston Nursery and Day Care	13-1
	Center containing a record of the amount of money received, the date and by whom.
	Loose materials (1970) re the founding of the Charleston Nursery and Day Care Center.
10	Receipt book (1972) for the Charleston Nursery and Day Care Center containing a	13-2
	record of the amount of money received, the date and by whom.
11	Loose papers (1974-1977) re the Zion-Olivet Kindergarten and Child Care Center.	13-3
	Papers include letters requesting parents to pay outstanding bills, insurance, applications
	for the kindergarten and invoices from West End Dairy.
12	Ledger (1973-1976) for the Zion-Olivet Kindergarten listing expenses for salaries,	13-4
	utilities, food, etc. Also included is a list of employees.
V.	Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church records: Members
1	Two volumes of "The Improved Sunday School Secretary's Record Book" (1964-67)	14-1
	listing attendance, offerings, new members, visitors, classes and teachers.
2	Two record books (1969-1974) of attendance, offerings, new members, visitors,	14-2
	classes and teachers.
3	Volumes (1974-1977) of attendance, offerings, new members, visitors, class, teachers.	14-3
4	Volumes (1977-1979) of attendance, offerings, new members, visitors, class, teachers.	14-4
5	Volumes (1979-1981) of attendance, offerings, new members, visitors, class, teachers.	14-5
6	General correspondence (1964-1977) re Zion-Olivet including a letter protesting the	15-1
	liquor license to P&E Sweet Shop, policy changes and other church business.
7	Correspondence (1965-1979) re the Zion-Olivet church building. Information includes	15-2
	letters re repairs, demolition of 93 Beaufain Street and deed of Olivet Church.
8	Six class books (1967-1978) for Primary I with name of instructor, list of students	15-3
	and occasionally their address, their attendance, donations and birthday.
		15-4
9	Nine class books (1967-1978) for Jr. High (7th-8th grades) with names of teachers,
	some addresses, attendance, donations and birthdays.
		15-5
10	Seven class books (1968-1982) for Primary II with teacher and student names, some
	addresses, attendance, donations and birthdays.
11	Eleven class books (1969-1981) for 11th, 12th and College aged youth including	15-6
	names of teachers, student lists, addresses, attendance, donations and birthdays.
12	Six class books (1972-1979) for Adult Bible class with teacher names, student lists,	15-7
	addresses, attendance, donations, and birthdays.
13	Four Nursery class books (1975-1982) with names, addresses, attendance, etc.	15-8
14	Four Kindergarten class books (1975-1982) with names, attendance, addresses, etc.	15-9
15	Three class books (1975-1982) for 9th and 10th grade with teacher names; students,	15-10
	addresses, donations, and birthdays.
16	Funeral and Wedding programs (1971-1979) for services held at Zion-Olivet.	15-11
17	Church directories and listings (1971-1991, w/ gaps) provides lists of the names,	15-12
	addresses and phone numbers of members of Zion-Olivet as well as committees and
	their members.
18	Correspondence (1973-1978) re F. Perry Metz with information about his pension	15-13
	plan and an appreciation service in tribute to him.
19	Anniversary and other programs (1974-1992, w/ gaps) with information on church	15-14
	history, committees and community advertisements.
20	Application for nominating officers (1975) and loose materials describing church's	15-15
	general mission, its Day Care and other committees [nd]. Includes information on
	church history and the purpose of various committees.
21	Records of the Evangelism Committee (1977-79) re members and activities.	15-16
22	Agendas and meeting notes (1978-1979, 1984) from two meetings of church officials	16-1
	discussing candlelight service and other church business. With a form authorizing
	James Singleton and F. Perry Metz as executors of the church.
23	Volume (1979-1986, w/ gaps) titled, "Book of Minutes, Membership and Baptismal	16-2
	and Necrology." It contains trustee minutes with data re church repairs, finances,
	welfare of members, the day care center and other church business. It also includes a
	listing of baptisms that note name, date/place of birth, name of mother/father and date
	of baptism; deaths are also noted with name of deceased, date of death and when the
	funeral was held, and often where. New members are also recorded from time-to-time.
24	Loose materials (1984) re the 25th anniversary program. Materials include post cards,	16-3
	notes from the Anniversary Committee, with related papers and early drafts.
25	Programs (1984) of church services with a newsletter with announcements and news	16-4
	and two copies of The Scroll that deal with Zion-Olivet history. With two (1968)
	programs and a brief biographical sketch (1984) of Rev. Robert Thomas Newbolt, Jr.
26	Programs (1985) of church services which include a newsletter with information re the	16-5
	church and its activities, as well as community events.
27	Church newsletters (1988) include information re church activities and committees as	16-6
	well as related community events; with 3 copies of The Scroll (1988-1989) re Louis
	Simms's History of Zion-Olivet Church and the program (1990) for the dedication
	of a historical marker for Zion at the corner of Calhoun and Meeting.
28	Programs (1989) of church services which include a newsletter with information re	16-7
	the church and its activities, as well as community events.
29	Programs (1990) of church services.	17-1
30	Programs (1991) of church services.	17-2
VI.	Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church records: Women's Associations
1	Volume (1965-1979, w/ gaps) of finances of the Zion-Olivet's United Presbyterian	17-3
	Women. Includes information re money spent, collected and pledged by members.
2	Constitutions, by-laws andmeeting minutes (1971-1976) of the United Presbyterian	17-4
	Women and related women's organizations of the Presbyterian Church USA. Papers
	include treasury reports, global committee reports, etc.
3	Programs (1971-1976) from various meetings of the United Presbyterian Women	17-5
	(UPW) of Atlantic Presbytery. Other programs include the southern Synodical meeting
	of the UPW and a global awareness meeting.
4	United Presbyterian Women's handbook of instructions and procedures (1974) lists	17-6
	the administrational structure of the organization at the national and local levels and
	highlights various tools and techniques for running a successful local unit.
5	Newsletters (1974-1976) of the United Presbyterian Women and other women's	17-7
	groups within the Presbyterian Church USA highlighting national and world news re
	women's issues, poverty and social activism.
6	Correspondence (1972-1976) of local chapters of the United Presbyterian Women.	18-1
7	Correspondence (1973-1977) re United Presbyterian Women and other women's	18-2
	organizations within the Presbyterian Church USA. Letters and memos include
	information on voting for delegates, human rights worldwide, various social issues,
	upcoming meetings, etc.
8	Loose materials (1978-1979) re contributions and pledges made to Zion-Olivet's	18-3
	women's associations, as well as a list of local officers and a newsletter for the United
	Presbyterian Women of Zion-Olivet.
VII.	Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church records: United Presbyterian Men
1	Notebook (1962-1964) contains minutes of meetings and the amount of dues collected	18-4
	by members. Information includes notes on events sponsored by the group, status of
	members and finances, as well as election of officers.
2	Loose material (1963-1982) re programs, minutes of meetings and other reports of the	18-5
	United Presbyterian Men of Zion-Olivet.
3	Ledger and loose materials (1964-1984) re the finances of the United Presbyterian	18-6
	Men. Materials include bank receipts, dues paid and projected budget.
4	Ledger (1964-1967) contains minutes of meetings and dues collected. Minutes include	18-7
	information re events and fund raising by selling candy, Christmas trees, etc.
5	Loose materials (1964-1981) re annual meetings and retreats. Correspondence	18-8
	highlights the purpose of the events and provides a tentative schedule.
6	Ledger (1971-1982, w/gaps) detail the finances of the United Presbyterian Men of	18-9
	Zion-Olivet, including money spent on activities and dues paid.
7	Ledger (1971-1983, w/ gaps) contains financial information about events, fund raisers	18-10
	and dues collected from members. The last page contains information re dues for 1967.
8	A list (1981) of members of United Presbyterian Men of Zion-Olivet.	18-11
9	Loose material re the philosophy of the United Presbyterian Men and men's work in	18-12
	the Presbyterian church in general. Materials include a pamphlet and various memos.
VIII	Presbyterian Church USA/Synod of the South/Atlantic Presbyterial records
1	Loose materials (1973-1977) re all levels of the Presbyterian Church USA in the South	19-1
	Carolina area. Information includes programs, reports of various meetings and a hand-
	book on the order of worship for church services.
2	Loose materials (1974-1975) re the Atlantic Presbytery. Information includes listings	19-2
	of churches in the presbytery as well as roster of officers and a directory.
3	Various newsletters and minutes of meetings (1974-1976) re the Synod of the South.	19-3
	Newsletters list financial standing of the synod and other general events. The minutes
	are from the executive council and discuss poverty and education among other themes.
4	Financial information (1974-1979) for the Synod of the South and the Atlantic	19-4
	Presbytery.
5	Programs (1975-1990, w/ gaps) from local Presbyterian churches include St. James,	19-5
	Wallingford, Ebenezer and Blackhawk Presbyterial Association.
6	Survey sheets (1976) of officers of the executive committee of the Atlantic Presbytery.	19-6
	Sheets include name, title, local church, address, phone number and year term expires.
7	Miscellaneous pamphlets (1970s) of the Presbyterian Church USA include topics such	19-7
	as local and foreign missions, poverty women's issues, equal rights amendment,
	environmentalism, the Duvall Home for retarded children, etc.
8	Material (1970s) re Presbyterian colleges and universities include Mary Holmes	19-8
	College, MS; Boggs Academy, GA; and a program for the Johnson C. Smith Choir
	(1987).
IX.	Miscellaneous material
1	Volume of minutes (1952-1956) of the Netherlands Guiana League, later Surinam-	19-9
	American League, located in the New York City area. Minutes note dances,
	speakers and other events sponsored by the league. Loose material from a meeting of
	the league re its soccer team in Brooklyn, NY. With information on members, etc.
	Found with Church materials, but no other provenance known.
2	Two children's music books (1954, 1956) bible study books (1977).	19-10