Chiefly letters relating to operations at University of South Carolina during the Great Depression, when the financial situation significantly affected university operations; Shealy corresponded with various USC presidents, writing in his capacity as a member of the Board of Trustees; letters, 1927-1931, of President Davison McDowell Douglas discuss budget issues and expansion and loss of various programs at the University; earliest items, written May 1908 shortly before Shealy's graduation, consist of letters of recommendation for a teaching position from USC professors, George A. Wauchope, Patterson Wardlaw, and G.B. Moore reveal a high opinion of his abilities as a student and a perspective teacher; these letters landed Shealy positions of principal at Camden Grammar School (1908-1911) and later as superintendent of Walterboro High School (1912-1914). Letter, 31 July 1924, written on letterhead stationery of the S.C. House Ways and Means Committee and addressed to Olin D. Johnston (1896-1965), a fellow member of the South Carolina House of Representatives living in Anderson, S.C. The letter responded to Johnston's questions "relative to the action of the University Board in discontinuing the services of Judge [Thomas H.] Spain, formerly of the Law Faculty." Shealy reminds Johnston that the Board had met in executive session and that it would therefore "be improper for any member... to recite the reasons prompting its action in matters of this kind.... As you know," the letter continues, "it is the exclusive right of the Board to elect professors and other employees and officials of the University, and it is, likewise, the right and duty of the Board to discontinue such services as it dee[m]s to be for the best interest of the University." Further stating that "there were no personal reasons for our action" and reminding Johnston that "Judge Spain failed for re-election as Circuit Judge at the hands of the General Assembly," Shealy concluded, "we wish to keep the University out of politics; and I hope that the confidence you had in me in helping to elect me a member of the Board will prompt you to trust me to do the right thing as I can understand it." Letter, 7 May 1925, from William D. Melton, president of USC, re plans to award honorary degrees to Rev. R.C. Granberry of Gaffney, S.C.; Dr. W.C. Coker, of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and Bernard Baruch, of New York, along with biographical sketches of each; letter, 7 May 1925, from W.D. Melton, proposing that graduation ceremonies include presentation to each graduate of a Bible, along with the diploma, "It is done at the University of North Carolina and at various other institutions.... I believe this will be a very fine thing for the University to do at this time, but I do not wish to do so unless there is unanimity of opinion on the part of the Board"; to which Shealy replied, 13 May 1925, "I have thought a good deal about this proposal, and the only question of doubt in my mind is the religious leanings of some of the graduates.... I am not sure that all of our graduates would appreciate such a gift from the University." Letters from USC presidents to Shealy in his capacity as a member of the Board of Trustees, including series of letters from President Davison McDowell Douglas: letter, 29 Apr. 1927, in which Douglas thanks Shealy for his assistance in persuading Gov. John G. Richards to veto the section of the appropriations bill which abolished the School of Pharmacy, discussing the background of the proposal, and regretting the suspension of the Summer School and Extension Dept.; letter, 20 July 1927, re closing of Bull Street through the campus from Greene St. to Devine St.; letter, 23 Sept. 1927, re fraternity regulations and rising enrollment, "on the first two days last year we enrolled 1161 students.... this year we enrolled 1277, an increase of 116. Our entire enrollment last year was 1557. Judging from the opening I would guess our enrollment this year will be between 1600 and 1700"; letter, 3 Oct. 1928, re installation of a heater in the Field House near the Athletic Field, and list of other expenses, including the "Sinking Fund... borrowed for completion of the Library"; letter, 14 July 1930, to Gov. Richards, consisting of Shealy's carbon copy informing him of the faculty's recommendation to locate the School of Education building on the vacant lot between College and Green Streets [Wardlaw College] and listing advantages of the site. Letter, 19 Mar. 1931, D.M. Douglas to Sen. R. Lon Weeks, opposing what he considered to be a tuition discrimination against USC in favor of Winthrop and Clemson and advising that the increased tuition of $150.00 for graduate students "will almost ruin the Graduate School," noting that policies that encourage enrollment by out-of-state students helped California gain eight congressmen following the last census, while S.C. had lost one, "Nothing is going to build up a State as much as a liberal educational system," with enclosure, a table comparing "Tuition Costs in Southern State Universities," with comment, "over 90 percent of post graduates are teachers who expect to teach... average age of graduate students [at USC is] 30.9 (large majority women)"; letter, 24 Dec. 1931, from J. Nelson Frierson, re salaries of law school faculty and stating his reasons for wanting to abandon his private practice and devote himself fully to his duties as a teacher and dean at an annual salary of $4800. Two letters discuss housing for the use of administrators and presidents of USC; letter, 15 June 1931, from J. Rion McKissick, Dean of the School of Journalism, expressing appreciation "for the allotment of the Burney house to us." Vowing to use this home in service to hosting students, alumni, and friends of USC, "it is a home for which we have longed without daring hope that we should ever have it...."; letter, [ca. 1931] from Mrs. Netta L. Melton, widow of former president W.D. Melton, re the University's promise to purchase their former home, located on the southeast corner of Pendleton at Pickens, at a future date when state finances allowed such an investment, "upon the death of Mr. Melton and the election of a new president, the state rented our home, 1602 Pendleton Street, for a 'President's Home' ...during the past six years... we have made no effort whatsoever to sell the house, as we felt that the State of South Carolina had an option.... It has come to my attention that other property is being offered for sale, and.... I have found myself in financial distress." Also includes cover letters that included season passes for football, including two letters from L.T. Baker re unavailability of free passes to the annual Clemson game: 9 Sept. 1931, "We greatly regret that we cannot include the Clemson game as this game is under the joint control of the Clemson and University Athletic Associations" and 15 Sept. 1931, "We must realize the great difficulties in handling the Fair Week game, and I can understand why the joint management has to be very careful in setting a limit on passes...."; and other sporting events; teaching certificates; and cover letter, 18 Jan. 1975, from Cyrus L. Shealy, Jr. (b.1927), a professor at Wofford College re disposal of his father's papers.
