Slavery and The University

"South Carolina, Charleston City Death Records, 1821-1926", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4TCX-DNT2 : 23 December 2019), Peter J Conyers, 1900.

            This document is a report of deaths from the City of Charleston between the years 1821 and 1926. This record gives names, ages, races, cause of death, and place of deaths. Preliminary research shows that Peter Conyers died in 1900 of old age at his residence of 7 Felix Street. Additional research may uncover additional data.

Irvine, Walker. Letter to Governor Hampton. The Walker Irvine Collection: The Citadel Archives: 1877. 

            This is a handwritten letter, accessed at the Daniel Library,  from Walker Irvine, an alumni of The Citadel, during his time petitioning to reopen the school. He is detailing the laundresses and their wages. In this letter, Irvine is requesting for the laundresses to be relocated to the campus of the school to save money. Additional research my uncover additional information.

Board of Visitors Meeting Minutes of the Citadel, 1842-1865. The Citadel Archives and Museum.

            The Board of Visitors is the governing body of the Citadel. These Meeting Minutes record what was discussed in regards to the management of the Citadel at both the Columbia and Charleston campuses. The Board of Visitors minutes are especially relevant to researchers of black labor because they record school expenditures and document how little was being spent on paid labor at the Citadel. Expenditures began to be recorded in 1853.

Bond, O. J, The Story of The Citadel. Southern Historical Press, 1989. 

            Oliver J. Bond's The Story Of The Citadel is a book written by an influential Citadel alumnus chronicling the history of the school from 1822 to 1932. It was published originally in 1936. The first four chapters of Bond's book are relevant specifically to the Antebellum period, covering the years 1822 to 1862. Bond's book discusses Arthur Mitchell, a black fifer in the Citadel band who worked at the Citadel both while enslaved and after being freed, on pages 136 and 137.

“Classified Ads.” Charleston Courier, January 24, 1850 to December 31, 1856.

            Three classified ads were discovered in the archives of the Charleston Courier that sought black workers to staff the Citadel campus. The Charleston Courier was a local newspaper widely circulated in Charleston. The first ad was placed on January 24, 1850, the second on August 26, 1851, and the third on December 31, 1856. These classifieds provide examples of common language used to refer to black individuals and their labor in the Antebellum period. 

Grayson, William John. The Hireling and the Slave. Princeton, NJ: J. Russell, 1855. 

            The Hireling and the Slave was written by William John Grayson in the 1850s and published in 1855. It provides commentary on early black labor with the backdrop of the debate on abolition and the rights of enslaved black Americans. Researchers might find this beneficial because it is a contemporary perspective on the system of black enslavement and black labor. 

Regulations of the Arsenal Academy at Columbia and the Citadel Academy At Charleston

 Collection, 1843-1858. The Citadel Archives and Museum. 

            Regulations books are used by cadets to ensure they adhere to the standards of the Citadel throughout their careers there. These books demonstrate the changes in rules and codes of conduct the cadets are expected to abide by. The Regulations are useful to researchers studying black labor history because they contain restrictions against the keeping of servants by individual cadets. 

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZTH-GYP : 18 February 2021), Arther Mitchell, 1860.

             The 1860 United States Federal Census is a record of individuals in the United States. This document is from the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The Census provides valuable information on names, ages, race, children, and occupations. This census record indicates that Arthur Mitchell was a black man employed by The Citadel in 1860 in the role of musician.

"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8RH-7JX. 

         The 1870 United States Federal Census is a record of individuals in the United States. This document is from the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The Census provides valuable information on names, ages, race, children, and occupations. Preliminary research indicates Peter John Conyers and his wife, Catherine, were waiters and seamstresses, respectfully. Their children were also dress makers and students. Additional research may uncover additional data.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBZ-934Z?i=24&cc=1417683&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM6S9-KT8.

            The 1880 United States Federal Census is a record of individuals in the United States. This document is from the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The Census provides valuable information on names, ages, race, children, and occupations. Preliminary research indicates Peter John Conyers and his wife, Catherine, were farmers and seamstresses, respectfully. Peter changed occupations to become a farmer, whereas Catherine remained in the washing profession, likely at The Citadel. Their children were also mill workers for the phosphate and corn mills and students. Additional research may uncover additional data.

Cadet Staff, ed. The Sphinx. Charleston, SC: The Citadel, 1900-30.

          The Sphinx is the Citadel’s annual yearbook produced and distributed by cadet staff with faculty supervision and approval. The 31 editions used for this project comprise the first available editions of this text in its physical form which are available in the Daniel Library. At least three notable depictions of Black workers can be found within the 31 published editions examined for this project -- in the 1915, 1923, and 1929 editions, to be exact -- but racist sentiments and remarks against people of color are present throughout multiple editions, and can be used as a foundation for further research into the racial opinions of cadets and faculty members.