Republican Party of South Carolina
Papers, 1932-2012, 34 ft.
Collection Finding Aid
Headquartered in Columbia, the Party's primary purposes are to promote its interests
throughout the state, provide campaign assistance to Republican candidates for state
and national office, and liaison with the national and local Republican parties.
Related Collections:
Charles L. Appleby, Jr.
Charles E. Boineau, Jr. (includes Oral History Transcript)
Gregory D. Shorey (includes Oral History Transcript)
South Carolinians for Eisenhower
Related Link:
Official RPSC Website
Related Oral Histories:
Oral History Transcript, Robert F. Chapman (49 pages)
Chapman served as Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party from 1962-1963.
Oral History Transcript, Jesse L. Cooksey (72 pages)
Jesse L. Cooksey reflects on his long association with the Republican Party, including
his tenure as chairman of the Spartanburg County Republican Party and, 1974 to 1976,
the South Carolina Republican Party. As state chair, Cooksey oversaw the first Republican
statewide primary and election of James B. Edwards as governor, and witnessed the
reapportionment of the House into single member districts.
Oral History Transcript, Martha Edens (40 pages)
Martha Edens has been a well-known Republican figure in the state since the 1950s,
serving as National Committeewoman for South Carolina and as Chair of the Richland
County Republican Party. Her brother, J. Drake Edens, Jr. was state Party chairman
from 1963-1965. She discusses her brother's commitment to the Party and describes
the resurgent Party's early days and its members, commenting on Charles Boineau, Gayle
Averyt, Bill Workman, Carroll Campbell and others. She shares a particular fondness
for Floyd Spence and Strom Thurmond, as well as her admiration for current notables
Joe Wilson and Mark Sanford. She describes numerous campaigns and many of the Republican
National Conventions she attended, including in 1972 and 1996. She talks about the
obstacles she faced as a woman in politics and why she feels the Republican Party
is welcoming to women.
Oral History Transcript, Raymond A. Harris (48 pages)
Raymond A. Harris, former South Carolina Republican Party executive director (1965
to 1968) and chairman (Dec. 1968 to Jan. 1971), reflects on his life and particularly
his leadership in the Republican Party.
Oral History Transcript, Daniel I. Ross, Jr. (115 pages)
Daniel I. Ross, Jr. reflects on his life and particularly his activity in the Republican
Party in South Carolina. He became active in the Party in the early 1950s, served
as County Chair, State Executive Committeeman, 2nd District Chair, managed Jim Henderson’s
1970 bid for Lieutenant Governor, Deputy State Chairman of the Nixon Presidential
Campaign, District Campaign Chair for Strom Thurmond’s 1972 reelection campaign, Chaired
James B. Edwards 1974 gubernatorial primary campaign and co-chaired Edwards’ successful
general election campaign, and played a leading role in George Bush’s 1988 and 1992
presidential campaigns. He served as Party chairman from 1976 to 1980. As chair,
he vigorously expanded the Party’s base outside its strongholds in the upstate and
Lexington County and worked to win offices at lower levels of government as well as
targeting statewide and Congressional offices.