» Drayton papers, 1701-2004

The vast majority of the collection concerns the Drayton family and South Carolina, for instance, the Proprietary and Royal Land Grants to Thomas and John Drayton (1701-1765). The collection includes medical journals (1777-1781) and diaries (1784-1820) of Charles Drayton I (“Carolus”), as well as correspondence (1721-1883) of John Drayton, Charles Drayton I, II and III, Mary Middleton Drayton, Thomas Henry Middleton Drayton, and Dr. John Drayton on plantation affairs, politics, bills, debts and family news. Included are plats (1755-1882) from surveys of Drayton Hall, Drayton’s Cowpen, Bob Savannah, Jehossee, and Tuxpan, Mexico. The Notes sub-series (1755-1885) includes plantation matters (crop cultivation, slave inventories and plantation rules, horticulture, education, literature and medicine. Also included are plantation log books (1844 and 1850) for Drayton Hall. There are 21 watercolors by George Edwards (circa 1733) and sketches of Drayton Hall and Charleston Custom’s House. Included are stereoviews (1870-1879) and photographs (1890-1874) of Drayton Hall and family members. Among the family deeds (1762-1969) is William Henry Drayton and Dorothy Golightly’s marriage settlement (1764). The collection’s newspapers (1791-1885) include Civil War and family news from the Charleston Evening News, Charleston Mercury, and Charleston Courier. There are genealogical records including two extensive Drayton family charts. The collection also includes the National Trust’s administrative papers since it began ownership of Drayton Hall in 1975.