Pendleton Farmers' Society Records
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Mss-0210
The records reflect activities of the Pendleton Farmers' Society. Included in the records are a book, booklets, correspondence, a ledger, memoirs, two minute books (1824-33; 1853-1895, 1904), miscellaneous papers, newspaper clippings, premium lists, scrapbooks, a treasurer's account book (1828-1853) and WPA Project transcripts.
The book, entitled “Pendleton Farmer's Society” (1908), is a history of the Society that includes its constitution, by-laws, and membership lists; handwritten drafts of portions of the book are in the collection. Booklets include an 1820 copy of “The Constitution and Bye-Laws of the Pendleton Farmers' Society together with the letters and papers which have been read before the Society”, at its various meetings, and two booklets dedicated to the centennial of the Pendleton Farmers' Society.
There is correspondence relating to the status of the Society as the oldest farmers' society in the United States. The ledger book contains not only debits and credits of the society from 1845 to 1917, but also minutes (1914 to 1919). Also in the ledger are loose checks, counter checks and invoices from Pendleton merchants to the Pendleton Farmers' Society c.1919.
Eight memoirs of the Pendleton Farmers' Society contain addresses given at Society meetings as well as committee reports on agricultural topics--soil management was a particular concern to the farmers; one memoir includes the names of members from 1815-1946 in alphabetical order rather than chronologically.
There are two scrapbooks, each entitled "Old Houses in and around Pendleton" that contain photographs of Pendleton buildings; in spite of the same name there are differences in content between the scrapbooks.
Two WPA Projects 65-33-118 and 165-33-7172 includes four typed transcripts: Project 65-33-118 had one transcript of minutes (1853-1895, 1904) and Project 165-33-7172 has three transcripts: minutes (1824-1833); treasurer's book (1828-1853); and account book (1904-1917), minutes (1914-1919) and list of members (1907). A note in the collection states that minutes from September 1833 to October 1853 are missing.
The Pendleton Farmers' Society was organized on June 12, 1815, as the "Farmers Society of Pendleton District"; its first president was Thomas Pinckney, Jr. The farmers joined together to improve agricultural practices on their land. Committees were appointed to address agricultural subjects; at meetings of the Society, members presented papers on agricultural topics with the public sometimes being invited to hear the speakers. The Pendleton Farmers' Society's original building, the Pendleton Farmers' Hall located on the square in Pendleton, South Carolina, is considered to be the oldest farmers' hall in the United States.
1.65 Cubic Feet (including two oversize volumes.)
English
The Pendleton Farmers' Society was organized on June 12, 1815, as the "Farmers Society of Pendleton District"; its first president was Thomas Pinckney, Jr. The Pendleton Farmers' Society's original building, the Pendleton Farmers' Hall located on the square in Pendleton, South Carolina, is considered to be the oldest farmers' hall in the United States.
Donated to Clemson University Libraries by Gaillard Hunter and Dr. James Edward Mills. Accessioned as 81-1 and 86-8.
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository