Records chiefly consist of membership rolls for volunteer fire companies of Charleston (S.C.) including the Eagle Fire Engine Company, the Charleston Fire Engine Co., the Vigilant Fire Engine Co., Marion Fire Co., Aetna Fire Co., Washington Fire Co., Hope Fire Co., Charleston Fire Company of Axemen, Palmetto Fire Co., German Fire Co., and the Phoenix Fire Company. Also included is a printed blank form that certifies the bearer is an active firefighter and therefore exempt from Confederate military service. Printed on the certificate are two images of fire engines.
Papers include vouchers, receipts, and business letters (1884-1921) of Riley's foundry and machine works, political letters (1895-1903), and letters concerning the Hibernian Society (1896). Also includes a copy of the specifications (1894) of labor and material to be used in repairs to the U.S. Custom House, Charleston, S.C.
Records include correspondence, lists of dues-paying members, and receipts. The names of Carl Metz, R. Emmett Vaughan, and Charles F. Hencken, president, secretary, and treasurer of Local No. 502, figure prominently in the records. "Musicians' Protective Association" appears as part of the name of the local in many records.
The bulk of the material relates to the payment of dues to the union, and some records concern the rental of the German Artillery Hall for the organization's meeting and for concerts by the Metz Band.
Series of articles: " Some Charleston 'Firsts'" (Aug. 25, 1941), "Buffalo to Return to S.C. its Secession Proclamation" (Sept. 28, 1941), "Charleston Built Warship in 1798 as Gift to U.S." by D. Huger Bacot, "Lowcountry Gossip" by Chlotilde R. Martin (Dec. 28, 1941).
