“The expandable Patrick Family collection, R&R at work….”
Approximately ten years ago, author and historian Wm. B. White, Jr. was discussing the history related to Rev. Archibald Whyte, an influential educator, minister and teacher. From the Porch has previously showcased his home and history but if you missed it, click on the attached link. Mr. White was interested in the Whyte Papers which had been given to an upcountry S.C. archival facility, outside of the area with which they were historically associated . The papers encompassed his activities as head of the Fishing Creek Agricultural Society and involvement with the Patrick Family of White Oak, S.C. Many of his papers have been added to the pages of R&R, including a few on antebellum White Oak. Unknowingly, posting information on the Rev. Whyte and the history of White Oak, have each provided expanded avenues to secure content and continued donation of historic materials from Penn., Tenn., and beyond. Another collection arrived on June 28th consisting of about fifty receipts associated with the T.G. Patrick Store, a nice box of history.
The rural community of White Oak is perhaps best known in 2017, as the location of the White Oak Conference Center, a Baptist retreat. But a hundred years ago, the area between White Oak and Woodward, two small train stops, in Northern Fairfield County, S.C. were economically tied to members of the Patrick family and their two country stores. Each had an enormous impact on the citizens who resided in the region. The stores served as post offices, banks, cotton ginneries, grocery stores, social gathering spots, a place to buy a coffin, and generally whatever it was one needed to procure for the farm or home. Both stores ordered materials and supplies from all over the U.S.A.; Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, and Baltimore and consequently did enormous business!
R&R was offered the collection of store papers, originally from the T.G. Patrick and Co., several months ago, and they just arrived as an electronic file ready to be loaded to R&R. Having arrived fully digitized and cataloged, they were immediately added as a supplement page to the White Oak Post Office and Store’s main display page. No, this historic collection no longer is housed in Fairfield County, but rather in the greater Anderson, S.C. area. Historic treasures such as this one travel and acquiring digital copies for display and historic interpretation are vital to R&R’s mission. It seems collections associated with the Patrick’s two stores are everywhere and routinely arrive!
Again, what box of treasures do you have stored in your attic, under the bed or in a closet that you too can share? The most recent store collection, to be added to the Patrick display, was carefully scanned by the owner and provided to R&R without fanfare, just a straight forward sharing of one man’s desire to save a piece of history.
Mr. White’s initial discussion of Rev. Whyte’s role in the antebellum history of White Oak, has resulted in the acquisition of the massive collection of images, data, and store receipts. Besides the above mentioned box full of history, it has also been recently expanded through the display of chapters from the written history of the Patrick Family. The book’s chapters were also provided in digital format and added to the pages of R&R at the request of the author. Combined these resources are a treasure trove of outstanding proportions that impact not only the preservation of the Patrick families histories but anyone with cultural or genealogical ties to the vicinity.
One man’s box of historic treasures was shared so thousands could enjoy it, thanks Mr. Cooper! Interestingly, this was one of three large history collections provided to R&R that week.
R&R NOTE: Several weeks ago, I was privileged to provide a program on Roots and Recall for a civic organization in Laurens, S.C. and subsequently traveled outside the city to continue digitizing a collection of family memorabilia, images and genealogy. This visit was associated with one of the region’s most important historic sites, one of architectural significance. This group of papers has already been added to the pages of R&R, including about fifteen PDFs of genealogy associated with allied families, as it expands, we will bring subsequent attention to featuring it!
Following these improvements to the specific R&R page, the donor wrote, “Its perfect!” But it was the following email from the donor, who offered to open other opportunities to procure historic collections in adjacent Newberry Co., S.C., that was icing on the cake. She needn’t worry, she will be opening doors across the region as time permits.
From the Porch – Blog @ RootsandRecall.com – 7.13.17