Edith M. Dabbs Collection of Papers Relating to Saint Helena Island, S.C., 1791; 1860-1963

  1. Resources
  2. View Resource

ArchivalResource

Edith M. Dabbs Collection of Papers Relating to Saint Helena Island, S.C., 1791; 1860-1963

http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/d/Dabbs,Edith_M.html

Edith Mitchell Dabbs was born in 1906 in Dalzell, Sumter County, S.C. She married James McBride Dabbs in 1935, and, in 1937, settled at Rip Raps Plantation, the Dabbs family home just outside Sumter. She was active in documenting the history of Saint Helena Island, S.C., an interest stemming from her knowledge of Penn School, a school for African Americans that functioned on the Island between 1862 and 1948, with which both she and her husband were involved. The collection includes a handwritten transcription of a letter, 1791, from Abigail Capers. Saint Helena Island, S.C., describing her life at Laurell Hill, an indigo plantation; a photocopy of a transcription of parts of a diary, 1862-1864, of Penn School founder Laura M. Towne (1825-1901), with discussions of African Americans on Saint Helena Island, the work of members of the Port Royal Experiment there, Union troops in the area, and other matters; photographs of drawings, probably 1860s, of buildings on Saint Helena Island; and other items relating to Penn School and to life on Saint Helena Island.

18; 0.5

eng,

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6626299

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection

Related Entities

There are 1 Entities related to this resource.

Dabbs, Edith M.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67q9r4j (person)

Edith Mitchell Dabbs (November 10, 1906 - 1991) was an American Civil rights activist and writer from South Carolina known for her focus on Saint Helena and Penn Center. She was married to James McBride Dabbs whom she assisted with editing. Dabbs was one of the only authors to write about Saint Helena Island during her time. However, though her books continue to be cited, they were initially dismissed by some historians for not following the best practices of historic scholarship....