The Posthumous Series consists of articles, booklets, a chronology, clippings, correspondence, diagrams, editorials, a eulogy, a guest book, legal documents, lists, a manual, newsletters, an obituary, photographs, press releases, programs, publications, research papers, resolutions, telegrams, a transcript, and testimonials.

Items in this series cover the period 1947, 1969-1981 and 1988. The bulk of the material dates from 1972-1973 and document Byrnes’ funeral and tributes made to him after his death.

The series is arranged alphabetically by folder title, and correspondence within the folders is arranged chronologically. Photographs have been removed to photograph storage. See the Photographs Series for photographs removed from this series.

Items in this series consist primarily of correspondence and newspaper clippings covering the period from Byrnes’ death on April 9, 1972, to the present. These include copies of the funeral program and Guest Book; a eulogy by General Lucius Clay; correspondence and plans relating to Byrnes’ funeral from Augustus T. Graydon, who played a large part in planning the services; and various tributes, memorials, and resolutions honoring Byrnes. There is also correspondence to and from Solicitor General Erwin Griswold who helped plan the U.S. Supreme Court Bar tribute to Byrnes.

Among the other material found in the collection is a transcript of a television program regarding the political feud between Byrnes and Edgar A. Brown; items relating to the Byrnes Foundation; and research papers from the “Byrnes and the Origins of the Cold War” Conference held at the University of South Carolina in 1979. There are also a number of folders relating to various tributes to Byrnes by Clemson University.

Correspondents include South Carolina State Representative Solomon Blatt; journalists Walter Brown and Raymond Moley; John K. Cauthen, former Executive Vice President of the South Carolina Textile Manufacturing Association; lawyer Benjamin Cohen; White House Special Counsel Harry Dent; Clemson University President Robert C. Edwards; Mamie Eisenhower, wife of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower; businessman James Farley; Congressman Gerald Ford; Senators Hubert Humphrey and Jacob Javits; President Richard M. Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon; Nelson Rockefeller, Governor of New York; Senator Strom Thurmond and his wife Nancy Thurmond; former Senator Joseph Tydings; and General William Westmoreland. There is a letter from Mrs. Nixon responding to one from Mrs. Byrnes that expressed her sympathy over President Nixon’s resignation.