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Republican Party of South Carolina Papers

The papers of the Republican Party of South Carolina document the Party's activities at the local, state, and national levels.

Republican Party of South Carolina

Papers, 1932-2012, 34 ft.

Collection Finding Aid
Headquartered in Columbia, the Party's primary purposes are to promote its interests throughout the state, provide campaign assistance to Republican candidates for state and national office, and liaison with the national and local Republican parties.

 

Related Collections:
Charles L. Appleby, Jr.

Charles E. Boineau, Jr. (includes Oral History Transcript)

J. Drake Edens, Jr.

Wanda L. Forbes

Bernard Manning

Edgar L. & Ann B. Morris

John & Erminie Nave

C. Kenneth Powell

Joseph O. Rogers

Gregory D. Shorey (includes Oral History Transcript)

South Carolinians for Eisenhower

William D. Workman, Jr.

 

Related Link:
Official RPSC Website

 

Related Oral Histories:
Oral History Transcript, Robert F. Chapman (49 pages)
Chapman served as Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party from 1962-1963.

Oral History Transcript, Jesse L. Cooksey (72 pages)
Jesse L. Cooksey reflects on his long association with the Republican Party, including his tenure as chairman of the Spartanburg County Republican Party and, 1974 to 1976, the South Carolina Republican Party.  As state chair, Cooksey oversaw the first Republican statewide primary and election of James B. Edwards as governor, and witnessed the reapportionment of the House into single member districts.

Oral History Transcript, Martha Edens (40 pages)
Martha Edens has been a well-known Republican figure in the state since the 1950s, serving as National Committeewoman for South Carolina and as Chair of the Richland County Republican Party. Her brother, J. Drake Edens, Jr. was state Party chairman from 1963-1965. She discusses her brother's commitment to the Party and describes the resurgent Party's early days and its members, commenting on Charles Boineau, Gayle Averyt, Bill Workman, Carroll Campbell and others. She shares a particular fondness for Floyd Spence and Strom Thurmond, as well as her admiration for current notables Joe Wilson and Mark Sanford. She describes numerous campaigns and many of the Republican National Conventions she attended, including in 1972 and 1996. She talks about the obstacles she faced as a woman in politics and why she feels the Republican Party is welcoming to women.

Oral History Transcript, Raymond A. Harris (48 pages)
Raymond A. Harris, former South Carolina Republican Party executive director (1965 to 1968) and chairman (Dec. 1968 to Jan. 1971), reflects on his life and particularly his leadership in the Republican Party.

Oral History Transcript, Daniel I. Ross, Jr. (115 pages)
Daniel I. Ross, Jr. reflects on his life and particularly his activity in the Republican Party in South Carolina. He became active in the Party in the early 1950s, served as County Chair, State Executive Committeeman, 2nd District Chair, managed Jim Henderson’s 1970 bid for Lieutenant Governor, Deputy State Chairman of the Nixon Presidential Campaign, District Campaign Chair for Strom Thurmond’s 1972 reelection campaign, Chaired James B. Edwards 1974 gubernatorial primary campaign and co-chaired Edwards’ successful general election campaign, and played a leading role in George Bush’s 1988 and 1992 presidential campaigns.  He served as Party chairman from 1976 to 1980.  As chair, he vigorously expanded the Party’s base outside its strongholds in the upstate and Lexington County and worked to win offices at lower levels of government as well as targeting statewide and Congressional offices.


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