Charleston S.C. Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, 1951 - 2010

Descriptive Summary

Abstract:	The Charleston South Carolina Chapter is part of the Links, Incorporated, a historically African-American national women's service organization committed to educational, cultural, and civic activities. The organization was founded in Philadelphia, PA in 1946; the Charleston chapter was organized in 1951.
	The collection consists of organizational and administrative records detailing civic and club activities of the Charleston Chapter of the Links focusing on their four program facets: National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. Additionally, the collection includes partial organizational and civic activity records from the Links' regional Southern Area and the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Title:	Charleston S.C. Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Papers, 1951 - 2010
Call Number:	AMN 1016
Repository:	Avery Research Center
Bulk:	1962-2005
Inclusive:	1951-2010
Language of Material:	Material in English
Extent:	10.1 Linear feet (21 archival boxes)

Historical note

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established by Philadelphia residents, Margaret Hawkins and Sarah Scott in 1946. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 276 chapters located in forty-one states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The organization is one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African-American and other persons of African ancestry. Nationally and locally, The Links, Incorporated target five facets of involvement: National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services.

Instituted in 1951, the Charleston Chapter of The Links, Inc., early service projects included the purchase of a Life Membership in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and annual financial contributions to the United Negro College Fund, Jenkins Orphanage, YWCA of Greater Charleston, American Cancer Society, Trident United Way, and the St. John’s Rural Mission. The Charleston chapter has been involved in sponsoring Hurricane Hugo relief efforts, the Black Arts Festival at the Gibbs Art Gallery, creative writing workshops, the MOJA Arts Festival, the Wilfred Delphin and Edwin Romain "Musica de Camera" Series at Piccolo Spoleto, and various concerts and traveling Broadway productions.

SOURCE: The Links, Incorporated website: "About The Links, Incorporated:" //www.linksinc.org/about.shtml

Collection Overview

The collection consists of organizational, administrative records and civic activities of the Charleston chapter, the regional Southern Area and the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. With a focus on The Links, Inc. five facets of: National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services, the collection is organized to reflect the Charleston chapter involvement in these various activities. Included throughout the collection are meeting minutes, financial reports, memorandums, correspondence, brochures, programs and newspaper clippings. Also, present within the collection are numerous photographs and scrapbook of local, Southern regional, and national members participation.

Series 1. The Links, Incorporated, Charleston S.C. Chapter (1951-2010). This series with sub-series contains organizational papers; minutes, and financial reports; memorandums and correspondence, in addition with programs, brochures, photographs and newspaper clippings of chapter member and their activities. The five facets activities of National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services, are detailed in committee records sub-series. Also, included are various senior member profiles (Miriam DeCosta Seabrook, Emily DeCosta, Ruby Pendergrass Cornwell, Maxine Martin Smith and Lucille S. Whipper, among others) many with photographs.

Series 2. The Links, Incorporated: Regional: Southern Area (1955-2003). This series with sub-series includes organizational records; minutes, programs from Southern Area Regional Conferences; and correspondence, financial reports and organizational papers from the 1991 Thirty-first Southern Area Conference held in Charleston.

Series 3. The Links, Incorporated: National Headquarters (1968-2000). This series with two sub-series, contains organizational records; minutes, reports, newsletters, and conference programs, created and distributed by the Links' National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The second sub-series contains informational materials on conferences held on the national level throughout the United States.

Series 4. Oversize Materials (1951-1984). Includes large photograph and oversize items (scrapbook) created by the Charleston Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Collection Arrangement

1. Links, Incorporated: Charleston S.C. Chapter, 1951-2010

2. Links, Incorporated: Regional-Southern Area, 1962-1999, undated

3. Links, Incorporated: National Headquarters, 1968-2000

4. Oversize Materials, c.1951-1984

Subject Headings

• Charleston S.C. Chapter of Links, Inc., 1951-2010.
• Cornwell, Ruby P. (Ruby Pendergrass), 1903-2003
• DeCosta, Emily
• Delfin, Wilfred
• Martin, Maxine Smith
• Romain, Edwin
• Seabrook, Miriam DeCosta, 1896-1992
• Whipper, Lucille S.
• African American arts--20th century--Exhibitions
• African American women -- Social life and customs -- South Carolina -- Charleston.
• African American women -- Societies and clubs -- South Carolina -- Charleston.
• Charleston (S.C.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.
• Hurricane Hugo, 1989
• Women in disaster relief--South Carolina
• Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Box 1   Folder 1Box 1   Folder 2Box 1   Folder 3Box 1   Folder 4Box 1   Folder 5Box 1   Folder 6 Box 1   Folder 7 Box 1   Folder 8Box 1   Folder 9Box 1   Folder 10Box 1   Folder 11Box 1   Folder 12Box 1   Folder 13 Box 1   Folder 14Box 1   Folder 15Box 1   Folder 16 Box 1   Folder 17 Box 1   Folder 18Box 1   Folder 19Box 1   Folder 20Box 1   Folder 21Box 1   Folder 22Box 1   Folder 23 Box 1   Folder 24Box 1   Folder 25Box 1   Folder 26 Box 2   Folder 1 Box 2   Folder 2Box 2   Folder 3Box 2   Folder 4Box 2   Folder 5 Box 2   Folder 6 Box 2   Folder 7 Box 2   Folder 8Box 2   Folder 9Box 2   Folder 10Box 2   Folder 11Box 3   Folder 1 Box 4   Folder 1 Box 4   Folder 2Box 4   Folder 3Box 4   Folder 4 Box 4   Folder 5 Box 4   Folder 6Box 4   Folder 7Box 4   Folder 8Box 4   Folder 9Box 4   Folder 10 Box 5   Folder 1Box 5   Folder 2 Box 4   Folder 11Box 4   Folder 12Box 4   Folder 13Box 4   Folder 14 Box 4   Folder 15Box 4   Folder 16Box 4   Folder 17 Box 4   Folder 18 Box 4   Folder 19Box 4   Folder 20Box 4   Folder 21Box 4   Folder 22Box 4   Folder 23Box 4   Folder 24Box 4   Folder 25Box 4   Folder 26Box 4   Folder 27Box 4   Folder 28 Box 6   Folder 1 Box 6   Folder 2Box 6   Folder 3Box 6   Folder 4Box 6   Folder 5Box 6   Folder 6Box 6   Folder 7Box 6   Folder 8 Box 6   Folder 9 Box 6   Folder 10Box 6   Folder 11Box 6   Folder 12Box 6   Folder 13Box 6   Folder 14Box 6   Folder 15 Box 6   Folder 16Box 6   Folder 17 Box 6   Folder 18Box 7   Folder 1 Box 7   Folder 2Box 7   Folder 3Box 7   Folder 4Box 7   Folder 5 Box 7   Folder 6Box 7   Folder 7 Box 8   Folder 1Box 8   Folder 2 Box 8   Folder 3 Box 8   Folder 4Box 8   Folder 5Box 8   Folder 6Box 8   Folder 7 Box 8   Folder 8 Box 8   Folder 9Box 8   Folder 10 Box 8   Folder 11Box 8   Folder 12 Box 8   Folder 13Box 8   Folder 14Box 8   Folder 15 Box 8   Folder 16Box 8   Folder 17 Box 9   Folder 1Box 9   Folder 2Box 9   Folder 3Box 9   Folder 4Box 9   Folder 5 Box 9   Folder 6 Box 9   Folder 7Box 9   Folder 8Box 9   Folder 9 Box 9   Folder 10Box 9   Folder 11Box 9   Folder 12 Box 9   Folder 13Box 9   Folder 14Box 9   Folder 15Box 10   Folder 1Box 10   Folder 2 Box 10   Folder 3 Box 10   Folder 4 Box 10   Folder 5 Box 10   Folder 6Box 10   Folder 7 Box 11   Folder 1 Box 11   Folder 2Box 11   Folder 3 Box 11   Folder 4 Box 11   Folder 5Box 11   Folder 6 Box 11   Folder 7 Box 12   Folder 1Box 12   Folder 2Box 12   Folder 3
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   Folder 1 Box 20

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright Notice

The nature of the Avery Research Center's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Avery Research Center claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charleston S.C. Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Avery Research Center, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA.

Processing Information

Processed by Georgette Mayo, 2013

Encoded by Aaron Spelbring, 2014

Edited by Aaron Spelbring, 2014