John Minott Rivers, Jr., son of John Minott Rivers (1903-1988) and Martha Robinson Rivers (1909-1994). The Rivers family owned WCSC, Inc., which operated a Charleston, S.C., radio and television stations until 1987. WCSC-AM went on the air in 1930, the second oldest radio station in South Carolina; WXTC-FM went on the air in 1947, the first FM station in Charleston. WCSC-TV, the first television station in Charleston, went live in 1953 and is the oldest in South Carolina in terms of continuous operation. WCSC, Inc., was also active in real estate and property development in and around Charleston. It also was involved in background music, long-distance telephones, paging, two-way radio, voice mail, cellular telephones, billboards, custom video production, security systems, hospital nursing stations, and the WCSC Broadcast Museum, now the John M. Rivers, Sr., Communications Museum housed at the College of Charleston. John Minott Rivers, Sr., filled leadership roles in broadcasting and in Charleston civic and social affairs. Martha Robinson Rivers was also a civic and social leader, who worked extensively with the Junior League, the Garden Club of Charleston, and other groups. Rivers's sister Martha Craig Rivers Ingram was important in fundraising for the arts in Nashville, Tenn.; his sister Elizabeth R. Lewine lived in New York City. Family and business papers relating to John Minott Rivers, Jr., and other members of the Rivers family, especially John Minott Rivers, Sr., Martha Robinson Rivers, and Martha Rivers Ingram. Included are writings by Martha Rivers and other family members; materials documenting civic activities of and trips taken by Rivers family members; and items that relate to Rivers, Buist, and Robinson family members and family history. Also included are many family photographs and photographs that document business and community activities; a few scrapbooks; and several college annuals. There are also several drafts and other materials relating to Martha Robinson Rivers's autobiography. Business papers include a few office files from WCSC, Inc., documenting real estate, property development, and broadcasting activities. The WCSC-TV materials include photocopies of broadcast editorials, 1962-1974, on various topics. Also included are a number of audio disks, chiefly LPs, that were received at WCSC Radio as promotional items, and video tapes relating to family and WCSC activities.
