Name/Title
Primary Sources, Box 2: Aiken-Rhett Family and Aiken-Rhett House (48 Elizabeth Street)Entry/Object ID
ELIZABETH.048.1.2Scope and Content
Box 2 contains architectural historical primary source material directly relating to the Aiken Rhett House, Jehossee and related properties.
Folder 1: Deeds
Complete chain of title for the Aiken Rhett House site from James Henry Ladson in 1804 to the Historic Charleston Foundation in 1995, with copies of original deeds.
Folder 2: Related Property Deeds
Miscellaneous deeds from various years for related properties including Jehossee Plantation, the "John Robinson House," and the Wragg Mall properties. Includes a list of RMC references to property owned by William Aiken during the 19th century, multiple lists of Henrietta Aiken Rhett's real estate from the late 19th and early 20th century, and the 1833 deed of partition of the lands of William Aiken, Sr., between his son and widow.
Folder 3: Flat Rock: Deeds to Rhett Properties
Deeds relating to Rhett properties in Flat Rock, Henderson County, NC dating from the mid-19th century through the early 20th century.
Folder 4: Plats/Maps
Plats and maps of the Aiken Rhett House site, including a late 18th century plat showing the division of the Wragg lands, the 1852 Bridgens and Allen map of the Aiken Rhett House property, Sanborn maps from 1884 through the 1950s, and a series of plats depicting the ownership evolution of the Aiken Rhett House site and surrounding parcels from 1804 through William Aiken in 1827.
Folder 5: Related Property Plats
Plats and maps of related sites, including Jehossee and the Wragg Mall properties.
Folder 6: Architectural Drawings
Architectural drawings related to the Aiken Rhett House including the 1858 drawing of the first floor and proposed gallery (possibly by Joseph Daniel Aiken); HABS drawings; "Evolution of an Icon" drawings by HCF ICOMOS intern Hunor Forro (2008); photocopy of a partial set of Albert Simons drawings (1950s); and miscellaneous pages from a ca. 1800 publication depicting various building images and equipment (possibly Diderot) from the Aiken Rhett papers at the Charleston Museum.
Folder 7: Ward Books, City Directories, etc.
Various local primary information sources on architecture including Charleston Ward Books and City Directories. Includes Ward Book entries for the Aiken Rhett House site from 1852 through 1968, Cross and Direct Index references from the Charleston City Directories from 1816 through 1968 and the 1886 Earthquake Damage Report entry for 48 Elizabeth Street.
Folder 8: Receipts to 1831
Copies of receipts, invoices, bills, etc. pertaining to, or possibly pertaining to the Aiken Rhett House up to the time of William Aiken, Sr.'s death in 1831, collected primarily from the Aiken Rhett family papers at the Charleston Museum.
Folder 9: Receipts, 1832-1887
Copies of receipts, invoices, bills, etc. pertaining to, or possibly pertaining to the Aiken Rhett House from 1832 up to the time of William Aiken, Jr.'s death in 1887, collected primarily from the Aiken Rhett family papers at the Charleston Museum. Includes some receipts from William and Harriet Aiken's 1857/8 trip to Europe, an invoice pertaining to the redecoration of the double parlors from 1874, and an 1876 invoice for various paints.
Folder 10: Receipts, 1888-1918
Copies of receipts, invoices, bills, etc. pertaining to, or possibly pertaining to the Aiken Rhett House from 1888 up to the time of Henrietta Aiken Rhett's death in 1918, collected primarily from the Aiken Rhett family papers at the Charleston Museum. Includes itemized statements of work done on Henrietta Aiken Rhett's various properties from the late 19th and early 20th century with specific references to the Aiken Rhett House, an invoice for painting done in 1891, an invoice for extensive plumbing work done in 1895, and an invoice for redecorating from 1897.
Folder 11: Receipts, 1919-1982
Copies of receipts, invoices, bills, etc. pertaining to, or possibly pertaining to the Aiken Rhett House from 1919 up to the time of Francis Dill Rhett's death in 1982, collected primarily from the Aiken Rhett family papers at the Charleston Museum. Includes invoices for painting in the Library from 1930, for painting and papering in a bathroom and bedroom from 1935, for redoing floors in 1936 and another for the dining room floor in 1937, for painting and repairs from 1937, and for the installation of a new heating system in 1950.
Folder 12: Technical Analysis
Field investigation notes and technical analyses of the Aiken Rhett House. Includes Chris Frey's stucco analyses and a draft of Susan Buck's paint analyses.
Folder 13: Jehossee: Maybanks vs. State of SC
Copy of the 1982 case before the Court of Common Pleas entitled "David H. Maybank, Thomas H. Maybank & John F. Maybank Jr., versus the State of South Carolina" over the rights to the property of Jehossee. Includes history of the island as well as chain-of-title and various plats and maps from the late 18th and 19th century.
Folder 14: Journal of Septima T. Holmes, Housekeeper Duties & Recipes
Notebook (2-ring binder) kept by Septima T. Holmes containing housekeeper duties and recipes. Some recipes include chemical analyses of foodstuffs and sketches. Her employer and the dates of her employment have not yet been determined; however, based on the appearance of the notebook (ca. 1940s appearance), she was possibly employed by Francis Hinson Dill Rhett, resident from 1940s-1970s.
Folder 15: "Recollections of the Aiken-Rhett House, 1969-1984," by J. Kenneth Jones, former Curator of Decorative Arts and Cultural History.
Observations of the condition and state of the Aiken-Rhett House and its contents prior to The Charleston Museum's acquisition, including the theft of furniture and elements, as well as the acquisition of the ARH by the Museum. Also includes the author's thoughts about Joseph and Josephine Maybank and Francis Dill Rhett; the French bronze and gilt floor candelabra and dining room sideboard; the filming of "Swamp Thing"; details about the hall chandelier, Governor Aiken's bedroom set, a French mantel clock, the Ravenel-Aiken wall sconces, and the "haunted house" tour. PDF on CD also included in file; see also Media link. (Mr. Jones donated over 70 color slides to HCF, see 2013.034, and is the author of an article in Folder 8.)Collection
Aiken-Rhett HouseAcquisition
Accession
ELIZABETH.048.Source or Donor
48 Elizabeth Street (Aiken-Rhett House)Acquisition Method
Collected by StaffLexicon
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Housework, HousekeepingSearch Terms
Aiken-Rhett House (Charleston, S.C.), Aiken-Rhett Family, Jehossee Island (S.C.), Flat Rock (Henderson County, N.C.), Recipes, Housekeepers--DiariesArchive Details
Archive Size/Extent
1 document box containing 15 file foldersArchive Notes
Associated Material: See ELIZABETH.048. for materials in other repositories.
Level of Description: ItemLocation
Location
Container
Document BoxShelf
ARH ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Moved By
FanioDate
May 21, 2014Notes
Notes: Journal of Septima Holmes. For event planning at ARH.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Aiken FamilyPerson or Organization
Rhett FamilyRelated Entries
Notes
ELIZABETH.048.1.1, ELIZABETH.048.1.3
Related Units of Description: Various items in HCF Archives. See ARH collection record (ELIZABETH.048.) and related materials.General Notes
Note
Notes: Copy of Albert Simons drawings (partial) obtained from a Charleston Museum file; original drawing(s) may be at Charleston Museum.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
May 25, 2007Updated By
admin@catalogit.appUpdate Date
February 17, 2023
