William J. Grayson Papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Mss-0319
The collection contains a small scrapbook or journal consisting of poems, letters and miscellaneous writings of Grayson's, plus numerous clippings he glued directly onto the pages of the scrapbook. The clippings range from short quotes to extensive articles from newspapers and religious tracts dating from the period 1831 to 1861. The earliest hand-written entry is also dated 1831. The loose sheets are a collection of letters, poems, sheets with handwritten entries and articles glued directly to those sheets, and a typewritten manuscript entitled "An abridged sketch of the life of Colonel Daniel Stevens of Charleston, South Carolina, taken by him in the year 1833, then 86 years of age." Richard J. Calhoun, editor of Grayson's autobiography, mentions typing being done by the Works Progress Administration. Steven was the grandfather of Grayson's wife, Sarah Matilda (Somersall). The oversize folder contains a certificate of the New England Society, South Carolina Chapter, dated March 8, 1842.
William John Grayson was born in Beaufort, South Carolina on November 12, 1788. Grayson pursued his primary education in several northern schools and graduated from South Carolina College at Columbia in 1809. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1822, and began practice in Beaufort, S.C. He was elected as a member of the State house of representatives, 1813-1815 and 1822-1825 and served in the State senate from 1826-1831. He was then elected commissioner in equity for Beaufort District in 1831 and resigned from the senate. The next year he was elected as a Nullifier to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1833-March 3, 1837). He was appointed collector of customs at Charleston from August 9, 1841, to March 3, 1837). He was appointed collector of customs at Charleston from August 9, 1841, to March 19, 1853, after which he retired to his plantation. He was a frequent contributor to the Southern Quarterly Review. Grayson died in Newberry, S.C., on October 4, 1863 and was buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, S.C.
0.1 Cubic Feet (consisting of 2 folders and 1 oversize folder.)
English
The scrapbook is self-contained and remains in original order. The loose sheets are roughly in chronological order.
Poems and scrapbook donated by Douglas Lytle and Nathale Scott, 1991, accession 91-69. Certificate donated by Douglas and Pat Lytle, 1998, accession 98-136.
Processed by Blair Hinson in 2009.
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository