Patrons of Husbandy Records
Mss.0038

Summary Information

Repository
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections
Creator
South Carolina State Grange.
Title
Patrons of Husbandry Records
ID
Mss.0038
Date [inclusive]
1872-1934
Extent
6.5 cubic feet (10 boxes, 1 volume)
Language
English
Abstract
The provenance of these papers is unknown, but in 1927 Dr. William Hayne Mills, a Clemson College professor, asked Mr. W. A. James, Secretary of the South Carolina State Grange, to prepare a history of the South Carolina Grange. Mr. James prepared a short history using an original volume of minutes. Since the Cooper Library now has both this volume and the short three page history, it is reasonable to assume that Mr. James and Dr. Mills were instrumental in the acquisition of this collection. The Patrons of Husbandry Records precede the Farmers' State Alliance, a collection also held by this Library. Together they provide information about agriculture in South Carolina between 1872-1905. This collection was formerly cataloged as BB6.1/S797. This register was prepared by Berniece Holt, Manuscript Curator Specialist in 1983.

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Historical Sketch

The Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, commonly known as the "Grange", was an important agrarian movement during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Farmers during this period suffered from low crop prices, tight money policies by banks, and monopolistic practices by railroads and other large businesses. The Grange was formed in response to these conditions. It campaigned actively for regulation of big businesses, improvement of agricultural education, and the development of cooperative marketing and buying to improve the financial fortunes of farmers. Politically, the Grange often supported and was identified with populism.

The Patrons of Husbandry, or the State Grange of South Carolina, held its first state convention in 1872, six years after the first national convention. The minutes of this meeting indicate that there were 1304 members in seventy-six sub-granges in South Carolina. By the end of 1875, there were approximately 10,000 members throughout the State. During the late 1870's, the South Carolina Grange was at the forefront of efforts to improve the State's agriculture. The Grange promoted the establishment of agricultural colleges, the creation of a State Board of Agriculture, and a variety of cooperative efforts to improve and stimulate agriculture in South Carolina. The annual sessions of the Grange were a focus for discussions of methods for improving the lot of the South Carolina farmer. Addresses were given on a wide-range of subjects and debate often followed with voting on resolutions. These sessions resembled a combination of an agricultural extension short course, a fraternal lodge meeting, and a political convention. After 1880, the Grange declined in activity as other organizations grew to replace it. It did continue to function and hold meetings throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Many of the goals of the Grange such as the establishment of a State Board of Agriculture, a State College of Agriculture, railroad regulation, and the promotion of agricultural education for farmers have been achieved. The organization itself remains as an example of self-help, cooperative action, and political lobbying during the nineteenth century.

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Scope and Content Note

The Patrons of Husbandry Records consist primarily of county grange and sub-grange reports, seven document boxes, 1872-1906. These reports reflect membership, gains and losses, and dues payments. Occasionally there are lists of members and descriptions of suspensions or expulsions. The reports contain the names and addresses of the County Master, Treasurer, and Secretary.

The important portion of the records are the minutes, proceedings, reports, and resolutions of the Annual Sessions, 1872-1943. These minutes include one volume of incomplete minutes, 1873-1905, and several folders of minutes, 1872-1889. They provide extensive minutes of the meetings. The presentation of essays or addresses was an important aspect of the annual sessions. These essays, delivered by agricultural leaders D. Wyatt Aiken, A. P. Butler, B. F. Crayton, Edward E. Evans, J. H. Foster, W. A. James, James M. Lipscomb, Thomas Taylor, W. K. Thompson, and Richard Tozer, related to practical agriculture as well as other issues of the day. Following these presentations, debate like discussions took place, and committees were appointed to prepare resolutions. The assembled delegates voted on these resolutions, and the Executive Committee recommended action. The South Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical Society and the Grange held a number of joint meetings in the 1870's and 1880's.

There is a small amount of correspondence of Grange officers D. Wyatt Aiken, W. A. James, B. F. Barton, R. M. Sims, Thomas Taylor, Thomas W. Holloway, and others for the period 1875-1927. A few miscellaneous advertisements, brochures, charters, printed materials, and undated fragments comprise the remainder of the collection.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Clemson University Libraries Special Collections 2010 August 9

Processing Information note

The conversion of this finding aid to Encoded Archival Description format was made possible with a grant from the South Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board in 2009-2010. The finding aid was prepared for encoding by Jen Bingham.

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Controlled Access Headings

Personal Name(s)

  • Aiken, D. Wyatt, (David Wyatt)
  • Butler, A.P., (Andrew Pickens), 1826-1902
  • Crayton, B. F.
  • Evans, Edward E.
  • Foster, Joseph Henry, 1835-1885
  • James, W.A., (William Apollos), 1857-1930
  • Jones, Iredale
  • Lipscomb, James M.
  • Mills, Julius
  • Mills, W.H. (William Hayne), 1872-1942
  • Taylor, Thomas, Colonel
  • Thompson, W. K.
  • Tozer, Richard
  • Woodward, T. W.

Subject(s)

  • Agriculture--South Carolina.

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Collection Inventory

Annual Sessions 
Box Folder

Minutes. "Digest of State Grange Minutes." 1872-1905 

 1 1

Minutes and proceedings. Extracts 1873 

 1 2
Volume

Proceedings of the State Grange of South Carolina 1873-1905   Handwritten minutes in a leather-bound blank book measuring 16.25 inches x 11 inches x 2 inches.

 1
Box Folder

Proceedings of the State Grange of South Carolina 1873-1905   Typed copy of handwritten minutes. Transcribed by WPA in 1936.

 1 3

Financial. Reimbursement requests 1874 

 1 4

Financial. Reimbursement requests 1874 

 1 5

Financial. Reimbursement requests 1874 

 1 6

Proceedings and Resolutions 1875 

 1 7

Financial (receipts and payments) 1875-1877 

 1 8

Minutes (Hood, William, Secretary) 1875-1877 

 1 9

Minutes (extracts) 1875-1878 

 1 10

Resolutions (prepared by Executive Committee, May, 1876) 1876-1877 

 1 11

Anderson, S. C. Summer, August 8-10 1877 

 1 12

Essays (printed) read before the State Grange and the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society, Anderson, S. C. August 8-10 1877 

 1 13

Essay (original), "Bee Culture" by Col. A. P. Butler, Edgefield 1877 

 1 14

Essay (original), "Business Machinery" 1877 

 1 15

Essay (original), "Commercial Fertilizers" by Col. Thomas Taylor 1877 

 1 16

Essay (original) , "Farm Machinery" or ["Plantation Engines"] by Richard Tozer, Columbia 1877 

 1 17

Essay (original), "The Fence Law" by B. F. Crayton 1877 

 1 18

Essay (original), "Grasses and the Cultivation of Clover" by T. W. Holloway, Pomaria 1877 

 1 19

Essay (original), "Immigration" (Labor) by Major Julius Mills, Chester 1877 

 1 20

Essay (original), "Life Insurance" by Dr. W. F. Barton, Orangeburg 1877 

 1 21

Essay (original), "Pisiculture" (fish culture) by Major T. W. Woodward, Fairfield 1877 

 1 22

Essay (original), "Sheep" by J. Walsh Watts, Laurens 1877 

 1 23

Essay (original), "Tenantry System" by Honorable Iredell Jones 1877 

 1 24

Minutes, proceedings, Reports 1878-1879 

 1 25

Minutes, proceedings, Reports 1880 

 2 26

Minutes, proceedings, Reports 1881 

 2 27

Essay (original), "Manures" by Edward E. Evans 1883 

 2 28

Minutes, proceedings, Reports 1883 

Scope and Contents note

Includes original essay, "How the Supply of Labor is to be Maintained"

 2 29

Minutes, proceedings, Reports (forms) 1884 

 2 30

Proceedings, (National, Boston) 1885 

 2 31

Financial 1888 

 2 32

Minutes, proceedings, Reports 1889 

Scope and Contents note

Includes address by W. K. Thompson, Worthy Master

 2 33

Proceedings and Rosters 1933 1936 1938 

 2 34

Proceedings 1943 

 2 35

Essay (original), "Cholera in poultry" by J. H. Foster, Lancaster Undated 

 2 36

Essay (original), "Cotton" Undated 

 2 37

Essay (original), [Highways, Transportation; Organization] Undated 

 2 38

Essay (original), "Soils" by McBryde Undated 

 2 39

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County Grange Reports 
Box Folder

Abbeville, A-D 

 2 40

Abbeville, E-Leb 

 2 41

Abbeville, Lev-Lon 

 2 42

Abbeville, Low-N 

 3 43

Abbeville, O-S 

 3 44

Aiken, A-S 

 3 45

Anderson, A-Bo 

 3 46

Anderson, Br-De 

 3 47

Anderson, Do-Ha 

 3 48

Anderson, Ho-Mof 

 3 49

Anderson, Mou-O 

 3 50

Anderson, P-R 

 3 51

Anderson, S 

 3 52

Anderson, T 

 3 53

Anderson, U-W 

 3 54

Bamberg, A-G 

 3 55

Barnwell, A-Ge 

 4 56

Barnwell, Gr-T 

 4 57

Barnwell, U-W 

 4 58

Beaufort, A-P 

 4 59

Charleston, A-E 

 4 60

Charleston, F-W 

 4 61

Chester, A-F 

 4 62

Chester, G-R 

 4 63

Chester, S-W 

 4 64

Chesterfield, A-C 

 4 65

Clarendon, A-Ma 

 4 66

Clarendon, Mo-S 

 4 67

Clarendon, T-U 

 4 68

Colleton, A-F 

 4 69

Colleton, G-W 

 5 70

Darlington, A-D 

 5 71

Darlington, E-F 

 5 72

Darlington, G-L 

 5 73

Darlington, M-T 

 5 74

Edgefield, A-J 

 5 75

Edgefield, K-L 

 5 76

Edgefield, M-Pl 

 5 77

Edgefield, Po-Sa 

 5 78

Edgefield, Sp-W 

 5 79

Fairfield, A-F 

 5 80

Fairfield, G-W 

 6 81

Florence 

 6 82

Georgetown 

 6 83

Greenville, A-G 

 6 84

Greenville, H-W 

 6 85

Greenwood 

 6 86

Horry, A-P 

 6 87

Horry, Q-W 

 6 88

Kershaw, A-Li 

 6 89

Kershaw, Ly-W 

 6 90

Lancaster 

 6 91

Laurens, A-D 

 6 92

Laurens, E-Mi 

 6 93

Laurens, Mt-W 

 6 94

Lee 

 6 95

Lexington, A-C 

 7 96

Lexington, D-H 

 7 97

Lexington, I-L 

 7 98

Lexington, M-W 

 7 99

Marion, A-E 

 7 100

Marion, F-L 

 7 101

Marion, M 

 7 102

Marion, N-R 

 7 103

Marlboro, A-B 

 7 104

Marlboro, C-Pa 

 7 105

Marlboro, Po- 

 7 106

Newberry 1872-1880 

 7 107

Newberry, A-B 

 7 108

Newberry, C-D 

 7 109

Newberry, E-L 

 7 110

Newberry, M-O 

 8 111

Newberry, Po 

 8 112

Newberry, Po 

 8 113

Newberry, Pr-S 

 8 114

Newberry, T-W 

 8 115

Oconee, A-Richland 

 8 116

Oconee, Richland-T 

 8 117

Oconee, U-W 

 8 118

Orangeburg, A-C 

 8 119

Orangeburg, D-F 

 8 120

Orangeburg, G-Po 

 8 121

Orangeburg, Pr-Wa 

 8 122

Orangeburg, Wh-Wi 

 8 123

Pickens, A-G 

 8 124

Pickens, H-T 

 9 125

Richland, A-Co 

 9 126

Richland, Cr-U 

 9 127

Spartanburg, A-G 

 9 128

Spartanburg, H-N 

 9 129

Spartanburg, O-T 

 9 130

Spartanburg, U-W 

 9 131

Sumter, A-C 

 9 132

Sumter, D-Man 

 9 133

Sumter, May-S 

 9 134

Union, A-F 

 9 135

Union, G-Me 

 9 136

Union, Mt-U 

 10 137

Williamsburg 

 10 138

York, A-C 

 10 139

York, D-S 

 10 140

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Miscellaneous 
Box Folder

Advertisements, Brochures, Circulars 1872-1903 

 10 141

Aiken, D. Wyatt. Death of April 6, 1887 and Memorial May, 1887 

 10 142

Business and Financial 1895-1909 

 10 143

By-Laws...S. C. also, Constitution and Declaration of purpose of the National Grange 1876 

 10 144

Correspondence 1875-1927 

 10 145

Fairs 1880 

 10 146

Fragments Undated 

 10 147

"The Grange and Politics" by James N. Lipscomb, Master State Grange 1882 

 10 148

The Grange Blue Book (post) 1934 

 10 149

"The Grange: Its origin, progress, and Educational purposes," by D. Wyatt Aiken 1883 

 10 150

"The Grange Patrons of Husbandry of S. C." prepared by W. A. James October 10, 1927 

 10 151

Memorabilia (badge: Gate Keeper) Undated 

 10 152

Minutes, Reports, Resolutions Undated 

 10 153

Minutes, Reports, Resolutions Undated 

 10 154

Patron's Cooperative Association Rules 1875-1876 

 10 155

Printed Material Undated 

 10 156

S. C. Real Estate, Planting and Mining Company 1872 

 10 157

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Charters 
Oversize_folder

Newberry County, Pormaria grange #27 June 29, 1872 

 1

Lexington County, Indian Mound grange #228 March 25, 1874 

 1

York County, Black's Station, Buffalo grange #332 February 16, 1875 

 1

Edgefield County, Redbank grange #353 October 1, 1875 

 1

York County, Smyrna grange #354 October 7, 1875 

 1

York County, Beersheba grange #357 November 5, 1875 

 1

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