Two hundred thirty manuscripts, 1874, 1877-1894, 1925, 1938, 1985, and undated, consisting chiefly of letters from Charles E. Spencer to his future wife, Ada Emmaline McCall, document their three-year courtship and engagement, 1877-1880, during his attempts to establish himself in an occupation. In 1877, Spencer worked at his father's store in Bishopville, S.C.; during the final quarter of that year, he worked at Robert Kennedy's dry goods store in Camden, S.C.; Spencer's letters discuss his affection for Ada, political matters, social activities, as well as race relations, murders, robberies and other crimes in the area. Among the social activities discussed, Spencer reports the excitement generated by baseball games played between the local club from Bishopville and those from surrounding communities. He first mentioned the sport on 14 Oct. 1877, "Hear that Bishopville is made somewhat lively by match-games of Base Ball now, the young ladies turn out to see them play, think if I were some of the young men, I would have some excuse not to play, and would have a pleasant time with the ladies." Spencer observed that croquet was a much better way to pass time since both men and women could participate. Letters of 1878 describe Spencer's efforts at cotton farming, and, later that year, his stint as a traveling salesman selling sewing machines on commission to families in and around Bishopville and Lynchburg, S.C., on behalf of the White Sewing Machine Company, a vocation that led to his establishment of a store in Bishipville, as seen on letterhead stationery (Oct. 1881). Letters of Oct. and Nov. 1878 describe events surrounding that year's election, including the uneasy relations between the races and political factions of the post-Reconstruction era, with accounts of the rumors and unrest among the Democrat and "Radical Republican" factions in the community. As a businessman who could benefit from civic improvements in Bishopville, Spencer often writes of technological improvements of services which could help the town grow or add to its prestige, including the establishment of a streetcar system and the construction of a jail (23 June 1878), the filling of "a reservoir by the means of which we can supply the residences" (11 July 1878), the construction of new buildings and the improvement of existing structures (24 Aug. 1879), and the possibility of making Lynches River navigable from Bishopville to the railroad (11 Nov. 1879). Spencer's diploma, 1874, from the Bryant, Stratton, & Sadler Southern Business College of Baltimore represents the earliest item in the collection, and includes an image of the 1815 Battle Monument designed by Maximillian Godefrey that honors those who died at at Fort McHenry & North Point during the War of 1812. Later correspondence includes letters written by children, friends and relatives of Ada McCall Spencer, originating from Mars Bluff, Sumter, and elsewhere in South Carolina, as well as Richmond, Va., and Wilson, N.C.; several letters of 1880s originated from the W.D. Scargorough general store, located in Scarboro, S.C. Most letters from 1877 transcribed and edited by Caroline S. Neal in a volume titled: Letters of Charles E. Spencer to Ada E. McCall: 1877 (available on site). Collection includes research notes used in compiling this volume.
