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V4 2001 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 4, Number 15, April 8, 2001, Article 6 CHARLES TOWN SOCIAL CLUB Pete Smith writes: "In recent days I have been fascinated by the Charles Town Social Club medal. My first reaction is that "Charles Town Social Club" is a description rather than a name. The legend on the medal reads "SOCIAL CLUB / INSTITUTED / CHARLES TOWN / SOUTH CAROLINA / VI OCTOBER / MDCCLXIII." In a town with at least a dozen other social clubs, the "Social Club" name is pretty generic and an unusual choice for a name. Last night I went to the University of Minnesota Library to attempt some research. They have "South Carolina Gazette 1732-1775" by Honnig Cohen. It is a review of materials from the paper and includes several pages of first announcements of club meetings. There is no listing near October of 1763, no reference to "Social Club" and no club without a longer and more specific name. One would think that a club with enough ambition and resources to order a small run of medals from England would leave a better paper trail. What other explanation is there? The library is supposed to have the South Carolina Gazette on microfilm. It was not housed where the computer said it should be. Then I discovered that the roll indexed for 1763 did not have the 1763 papers. It was a frustrating search. I also looked at the South Carolina Gazette from 1783. I hoped I might find a related article like: "The Charlestown Social Club met on Thursday last at Mr. Backhouse's Pub. Visiting from London was Mr. Thomas Brand-Hollis who presented each member with a small token in commemoration of the club's founding 20 years previous." However, no such notice was found. The medal is an unusual shape and has an artistic style uncharacteristic for the period. The lack of documentation adds to the intrigue. I would be happy to see another E-Sylum reader provide the whole story but hope that doesn't spoil the fun."

Wayne Homren, Editor

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