{"id":15,"featured":0,"modified":"2025-01-24 04:18:20","latitude":32.7840157873653907927291584201157093048095703125,"longitude":-79.939143955707550048828125,"title":"Brown Fellowship Society Cemetery, 52 Pitt Street","address":"52 Pitt StCharleston, SC 29401","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/58fa57e2e7a6b35dfd3bffb64becf93d.jpg","creator":["Grace Hall"],"description":"

The Brown Fellowship Society, founded November 1<\/span>st<\/span>, 1790 by Charleston\u2019s community of elite free persons of color, is more than two centuries old. This Society was once central to the African American community of Charleston, and members maintained a cemetery next to their meeting hall on Pitt Street. This property is now a paved parking lot for Addlestone Library and Rivers Green.\u00a0Every single day students and staff at the College pass through one of the most important sites in the history of the City\u2019s African American community, whether they know it or not.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1790 five members of Charleston\u2019s free Black elite - James Mitchell, George Bampfield, William Cattel, George Bedon, and Samuel Saltus - gathered together and formed the Brown Fellowship Society. The society was meant to be a mutual aid association for the free Black community in a time that permitted them minimal benefits from public services. Rather, they had to provide for their own needs even though they were deeply disadvantaged in comparison to their white counterparts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Membership in the Society was originally limited to fifty men of Charleston\u2019s free people of color, most of whom would have been affiliated with the St. Philip\u2019s Episcopal Church. Most of these men were of the artisan community or business entrepreneurs. Some of their original goals were assisting widows and orphans of members, providing burial plots, and other various services. At one point in the early nineteenth century they established a school for free people of color. This school was established by Thomas Bonneau in 1807 in <\/span>Richard Holloway\u2019<\/span>s yard, for the children of the society\u2019s members. They also supported and educated a young orphan who later became a bishop in the AME Church.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Society used their treasury as a sort of revolving fund to provide capital for enterprising members who wanted to get involved in real estate or make investments in other endeavors. At one point the Brown Fellowship Society gained a large amount of real estate from the College of Charleston starting in 1794 and on up until 1820. The society then converted the real estate to bank stocks because they determined that they would receive a greater return. By 1856, the society\u2019s original investment was worth $6,000, which was then shared by the members. As a part of this financial support, the society also functioned as a sort of credit union, allowing its members to borrow from its treasury.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the main benefits of the society was the use of its cemetery. Because these free people of color were not allowed to be buried in St. Philip\u2019s Episcopal Churchyard Cemetery, they founded their own. Both members and their families could be buried in the Society\u2019s cemetery upon their death. If for any reason a member who died did not leave behind enough money to provide for burial cost and to support their children, the society would assume their burden. The society would financially support and educate their children until they reached the age of fourteen, at which time they would be apprenticed out to craftsmen until they became an adult. The people buried in that cemetery include some of the most affluent members of Charleston\u2019s free Black community.\u00a0

At least three more African American cemeteries opened here: The Machpelah Society, taking its name from the Tomb of the Patriarchs (Machpelah) in the Old Testament; Plymouth Church, a nearby African American Congregational Church; and the Free Dark Men Society, another antebellum organization of free people of color.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\n

Burials in the cemetery continued well into the 1900s, until the property was purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston so that a parking lot could be paved for Bishop England High School. Despite promising to relocate the headstones, monuments, and remains to the new graveyard located off of Cunnington Avenue, there is no evidence that this occurred. Most of the remains were never removed, and very few of the gravestones were relocated. Bishop England paved over the history of Charleston\u2019s Black community as if it did not exist. Recognition finally came after the construction of Addlestone Library, when the College of Charleston erected a monument in honor of those who were buried on the property.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The College of Charleston held a dedication ceremony for the African-American Cemetery Memorial on February 7th, 2008 at Rivers Green of the Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library. Some of those in attendance included the Dean of Libraries at the College of Charleston, the President of the College of Charleston, College of Charleston History Professor Dr. Bernard Powers Jr., and Mr. Anthony B. O\u2019Neill, President of the Brown Fellowship Society. In the Program for the Dedication Dr. Powers writes, \u201cBy recognizing the African-American cemeteries as an important site of memory, a significant chapter is being written in Charleston\u2019s modern history. Simultaneously, homage is being paid to its past.\u201d To Dr. Powers, \u201cThis location adjacent to the Addlestone Library at the College of Charleston is especially compelling because the men in these organizations were interested in promoting education.\u201d

<\/p>","sponsor":null,"subtitle":null,"accessinfo":null,"lede":"This is the site of burial societies for Charleston\u2019s community of elite free persons of color, one of which began more than two centuries ago. ","website":null,"related_resources":["

Bernard E. Powers, Black Charlestonians: A Social History, 1822-1885 (University of Arkansas Press, 1999)

<\/span><\/i><\/p>","

Bernard E. Powers, \u201cBrown Fellowship Society,\u201d in South Carolina Encyclopedia.\u00a0

<\/span><\/i><\/div>","Bernard Powers, \u201cA Brief History of the African-American Cemeteries on Rivers Green\u201d<\/span><\/i>","

Brown Fellowship Society Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina - Find A Grave Cemetery<\/span><\/i><\/p>","

Charleston Evening Post<\/span><\/i>, 1990.<\/span><\/p>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/58fa57e2e7a6b35dfd3bffb64becf93d.jpg":{"id":233,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","title":"Brown Fellowship and Macphelah Society Cemeteries","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/58fa57e2e7a6b35dfd3bffb64becf93d.jpg","description":"This photo from the Holloway Family Scrapbook shows 52-54 Pitt Street, which was home to the Brown Fellowship and Macphelah Society Cemeteries. In this historic photo one can see what the cemeteries once looked like from Pitt Street before the site was turned into a parking lot for Bishop England High School. Courtesy of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. | Holloway Family Scrapbook<\/a>."},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/a4e834ef33d9d09e6b9c0a36cca36bef.jpg":{"id":231,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","title":"African-American Cemetery Memorial","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/a4e834ef33d9d09e6b9c0a36cca36bef.jpg","description":"In 2008 The College of Charleston dedicated the African-American Cemetery Memorial located on Rivers Green behind Addlestone Library. This memorial honors three African-American Cemeteries once located on the site of Addlestone Library and Rivers Green. These cemeteries belonged to the Brown Fellowship Society, the Humane Brotherhood, and what is known as the Macphelah Society. Photograph courtesy of the College of Charleston."},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/387888895abf40a2c37320e659ab7708.jpg":{"id":223,"mime-type":"image\/png","title":"Charleston Daily News Jan 1871 Funeral Notices","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/387888895abf40a2c37320e659ab7708.jpg","description":"This newspaper clipping is of an 1871 <\/span>Charleston Daily News<\/span><\/i> Funeral Notice for Malcolm Brown. The first three announcements are from Friday January 6, and the fourth is from Saturday January 7 after Mr. Brown's burial at the Brown Fellowship Society's Cemetery on Pitt Street. Mr. Malcolm Brown was the Treasurer for the Brown Fellowship Society and an Alderman for the city. Malcolm Brown was one of many influential African Americans buried in the Society's Cemetery.<\/span>"},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/b66f3d099ece6a271c496bc6a4ed9bd0.jpg":{"id":224,"mime-type":"image\/png","title":"Charleston Daily News Nov 1872","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/b66f3d099ece6a271c496bc6a4ed9bd0.jpg","description":"

In 1872 the Brown Fellowship Society celebrated its eighty-second anniversary. This newspaper clipping from <\/span>The Charleston Daily News<\/span><\/i> on November 13, 1872 lists the officers elected at the Society's anniversary meeting for the following year, including the Burial Ground Trustees.<\/span><\/p>"},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/51db2498e977f7f4c3ddcba048936b63.jpg":{"id":227,"mime-type":"image\/png","title":"The Greenville News 16 March 1973","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/51db2498e977f7f4c3ddcba048936b63.jpg","description":"Newspaper clipping from <\/span>The Greenville News<\/span><\/i> on March 16, 1973 about a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Brown Fellowship Society being placed on display at the National Portrait Gallery in 1973.<\/span>"},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/d43a60fc740b1f3201e847a0b06f8cd3.jpg":{"id":228,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","title":"Rivers Green Gate","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/d43a60fc740b1f3201e847a0b06f8cd3.jpg","description":"After the Brown Fellowship Society's Cemetery was purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, the Diocese promised to move the gravestones, monuments, and remains to a new cemetery off of Cunnington Avenue. Unfortunately, this did not occur. In 2001 as construction was starting on Addlestone Library at the College of Charleston, human remains were discovered. The Brown Fellowship Society's Cemetery now sits under the parking lot for the Library, pictured here."},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/26f5c3aeea5dd3e26797727b579fd117.jpg":{"id":232,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","title":"Addlestone Library","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/26f5c3aeea5dd3e26797727b579fd117.jpg","description":"After the Brown Fellowship Society's Cemetery was purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston in the 1940s, the Diocese promised to move the gravestones, monuments, and remains to a new cemetery off of Cunnington Avenue. Unfortunately, this did not occur, not all of the remains were relocated like was promised. In 2001 as construction was starting on Addlestone Library at the College of Charleston, human remains were discovered. The Brown Fellowship Society's Cemetery now sits under the parking lot for the Library, pictured here. Courtesy of the College of Charleston."},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/3c6875aca731de3d39ed1e7cd160684a.jpg":{"id":229,"mime-type":"image\/png","title":"Dedication Ceremony","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/3c6875aca731de3d39ed1e7cd160684a.jpg","description":"On February 7, 2008 the College of Charleston held a dedication ceremony for the African-American Cemetery Memorial on Rivers Green behind the Library. This memorial honors three African- American Cemeteries once located on this site. These cemeteries belonged to the Brown Fellowship Society, the Humane Brotherhood, and what is known as the MacPhelah Society. This is the cover of the dedication ceremony program, a copy of which is housed in the College of Charleston's Special Collections. Courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries."},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/1920db7b1cb781b8c859bfcc141edf44.jpg":{"id":230,"mime-type":"image\/png","title":"Page 2 and 3 Dedication Ceremony","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/1920db7b1cb781b8c859bfcc141edf44.jpg","description":"On February 7, 2008 the College of Charleston held a dedication ceremony for the African-American Cemetery Memorial on Rivers Green behind Addlestone Library. This is the inside of the program for the dedication ceremony. This program includes a very informative brief history of the cemeteries by historian, College of Charleston Professor Emeritus, and the Director of the Center For the Study of Slavery, Dr. Bernard Powers. Courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries. "},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/7ee187f56a6fda735e96fc2f8bb3c305.jpg":{"id":392,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","title":"Cunnington Avenue entrance","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/7ee187f56a6fda735e96fc2f8bb3c305.jpg","description":"In the 1940s the Brown Fellowship Society's Cemetery was purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, so that a parking lot could be paved for Bishop England High School. A new property was purchased off of Cunnington Avenue in North Charleston to be used as the Society's cemetery. The Diocese promised to relocate the headstones, monuments, and remains to the new cemetery off of Cunnington, but there is no evidence that this occurred. This is a photo of the entrance to the Brown Fellowship Society's Cemetery off of Cunnington Ave. Photograph courtesy of Noah Dubois."},"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/fullsize\/62aacdf47e2713bfe2641f24cfaacc35.jpg":{"id":393,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","title":"Engraved Marker at Cunnington Avenue location","thumbnail":"https:\/\/discovering.cofc.edu\/redirect\/files\/square_thumbnails\/62aacdf47e2713bfe2641f24cfaacc35.jpg","description":"In the 1940s the Brown Fellowship Society's Cemetery was purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, so that a parking lot could be paved for Bishop England High School. A new property was purchased off of Cunnington Avenue in North Charleston to be used as the Society's cemetery. This is a photo of the entrance to the Brown Fellowship Society's Cemetery off of Cunnington Ave. Photograph courtesy of Noah Dubois."}}}