Martha Priscilla Shaw Collection

(Accession Number 1999-03)

Biographical Information:

  • Martha Priscilla Shaw (08/29/04 – 02/09/81)
  • Born in Alcolu, SC, August 29, 1904
  • Moved to Sumter, SC 1909
  • Educated in Sumter Public Schools
  • Attended Agnes Scott College 1 year
  • Graduated from Sargent School for Physical Education, 1925
  • Graduate work, Boston University, 1937
  • Taught Sumter Public Schools, 1925 to 1939
  • Acting Principal Girls High School, one year
  • Owner and director of summer private camp for girls, 1929 to 1950
  • Active interest in family lumber business, Shaw Manufacturing Company
  • Served on local and national organizations such as: YWCA, Red Cross, T. B. Association, Salvation Army, Community Chest, State and National Recreation, Camping Association and others
  • Honorary member Beta Sigma Phi
  • Member of the Pilot Club (Business Women’s Club)
  • Charter member of the local Junior Welfare League
  • Elected to Sumter City Council, 1950
  • First woman on the Sumter City Council
  • Elected Mayor of Sumter, SC, 1952
  • Served as Mayor of Sumter from 1952 to 1956
  • First woman mayor in the state of South Carolina

Scope and Contents:

  The items in this collection cover the years 1920 through 1976, with the bulk of the items dating from 1950 through 1956 and totals one linear foot. This collection was given to the Sumter County Museum Archives on June 19, 1982 by Martha Priscilla Shaw, Mayor Shaw’s niece, and D. S. Shaw, Jr.
  Among the more interesting items are postage stamps depicting President Lyndon B. Johnson and signed by the artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff, a postcard with the original Unfinished Portrait of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Elizabeth Shoumatoff, and a letter from the artist. A Mount Pisgah A.M.E. Church bulletin signed by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune is also included. Another interesting item in the collection is a letter signed by Eleanor Roosevelt.
  Items in the collection are arranged in twelve series by type of item or subject. Within most of the series, items are arranged chronologically. The scrapbook series are arranged by the original order of each scrapbook. The majority of the items are textual. Photographs and sound recordings are also part of the collection.
 
 

1. Awards, Nominations, and Honors:

This series contains correspondence, the radio schedule and script for the “This I Believe” program, biographical information M. P. Shaw sent to various organizations, and a rejected story M. P. Shaw sent to The Reader’s Digest. This series is arranged by award, nomination or honor and chronologically within each award. Awards, nominations, and honors included are: The “This I Believe” program The Fiorello H. LaGuardia Award The “Women in the News” program The Reader’s Digest The Upper Room
 

2. Mary Margaret McBride Project Award:

This series contains correspondence, the 1954 Mary Margaret McBride Project Award winners, and other items regarding the Mary Margaret McBride Project. Items with dates are arranged chronologically. The few items without dates are placed at the beginning of the series.
 

3. Letters of Congratulations:

This series contains correspondence regarding congratulations on various awards and honors. Items are arranged chronologically.
 

4. Mayoral Transactions:

This series contains mostly correspondence. Items in this series were created while M. P. Shaw was mayor. Of particular interest is a letter signed by Eleanor Roosevelt. Items are arranged chronologically.
 

5. City Council Transactions:

This series contains correspondence, items regarding the Park and Recreation Commission, City of Sumter schedule of insurance on city owned property, and other items created while M. P. Shaw served on the City Council. Items are arranged chronologically.
 

6. Booklets:

This series contains various booklets including booklets on Shaw Air Force Base, publications with articles about M. P. Shaw, and other booklets. Items with dates are arranged chronologically. The booklets without dates are placed at the beginning of the series.
 

7. Miscellaneous:

Folders in this series:
 

7/1 Miscellaneous:

This folder contains correspondence, a report on the 1954 American Municipal Congress, fourth anniversary meeting of Shaw-Sumter Community Council, a manuscript, and covers of booklets that contained photographs. The photographs are in the photo file. Items are arranged chronologically.
 

7/2 Miscellaneous-Artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff:

This folder contains postage stamps depicting President Lyndon B. Johnson and signed by the artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff, a postcard with the original Unfinished Portrait of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Elizabeth Shoumatoff, and a letter from the artist. A photocopy shows the original framed arrangement of these items.
 

7/3 Miscellaneous-Photographs:

This folder contains black and white photographs of various sizes and is located in the photo file. Most of these photographs were originally attached in booklets. The booklet covers are in the 7/1 Miscellaneous folder. Three photographs were not attached. One of these photographs, M. P. Shaw with a little girl, was originally framed. The photographs are in the photo file.
 

8. Certificates:

This series contains M. P. Shaw’s BS degree, contributor to Sumter Memorial Stadium Century Club, Certificate of Award for Inter-Racial Leadership, Certificate of Appreciation from Shaw Air Force Base, and the cover for the BS degree. The Certificate of Appreciation from Shaw Air Force Base is located in map drawer #7. Items are arranged in chronological order.
 

9. Scrapbooks:

This series contains the contents of two scrapbooks.
Folders in this series:
 

9/1 Scrapbooks-Newspaper Clippings:

These items were originally attached in a scrapbook. Most of the items are newspaper clippings about Shaw Air Force Base and M. P. Shaw. Other items include a program for the opening ceremony of the chapel at Shaw Air Force Base, telegrams, postcards, M. P. Shaw’s Voters Registration Certificate, business card as mayor, and her visitor’s pass to the House of Representatives. Of particular interest is a bulletin from Mount Pisgah A. M. E. Church signed by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. These items are arranged in the order in which they were originally placed in the scrapbook.
 

9/2 Scrapbooks-Newspaper Clippings-Arrangement:

This series contains photocopies showing the original arrangement of items in the newspaper clippings scrapbook.
 

9/3 Scrapbooks-Photographs:

This series contains black and white photographs of M. P. Shaw in various activities and her State of South Carolina Department of Education Special State Certificate for her to teach High School Physical Education. The photographs are located in the photo file. These items are arranged in the order in which they were originally placed in the scrapbook.
 

9/4 Scrapbooks-Photographs-Arrangement:

This series contains photocopies showing the original arrangement of items in the photographs scrapbook.
 

10. Newspapers:

This series contains photocopies of articles about M. P. Shaw from newspapers. These items are arranged in chronological order. The newspapers were placed in a newspaper box that has not been arranged. The photocopied articles came from the following newspapers.
  • [1999-03/10/1/1] “The Sumter Daily Item”, January 18, 1955. Sumter, SC Annual Report 1953-1954.
  • [1999-03/10/1/2] “The Sumter Daily Item”, December 31, 1955. Sumter, SC Annual Report 1954-1955.
  • [1999-03/10/1/3] “The Sumter Daily Item”, December 31, 1955. Sumter, SC Annual Report 1954-1955.
  • [1999-03/10/1/4] “The Sumter Daily Item”, December 31, 1955. Sumter, SC Annual Report 1954-1955.
  • [1999-03/10/1/5] “The Sumter Daily Item”, December 12, 1956. Sumter, SC Annual Report 1955-1956
  • [1999-03/10/1/6] “A Bicentennial Album: Sumter Through the Years, Supplement to the Sumter Daily Item, September 10, 1976, Part II.
 

11. Sound Recordings:

This series contains a reel-to-reel and a cassette tape sound recording.
 

12. Yearbooks:

This series contains the 1920 and 1921 The Gamecock yearbooks and the 1926 Hi-Ways yearbook. These items are located with the yearbooks.
 

Oversized and other items separated from the main body of the Martha Priscilla Shaw Collection

Photographs from the Miscellaneous and Scrapbook series are located in the photo file.
The Certificate of Appreciation from Shaw Air Force Base from the Certificates series is located in map drawer #7.
The newspapers from the Newspapers series are located in a newspaper box that has not been arranged.
The 1920 and 1921 The Gamecock yearbooks and the 1926 Hi-Ways yearbook are located with the yearbooks.