Chair of the Women’s Caucus, Rep. Shirley Hinson, congratulates Dr. Rodger Stroup, executive director of the SC Department of Archives and History, as she presents him with a framed copy of the resolution recognizing the agency’s first hundred years of service to SC. On the left is Rep. Denny Neilson and on the right is Rep. Catherine Ceips.

The SC Department of Archives and History’s 100–year anniversary was at the top of the agenda of the first 2006 meeting of the SC General Assembly Women’s Caucus. During the legislative session, female members of the General Assembly share a working lunch the last Wednesday of each month.

Following lunch, hosted by the SC Archives and History Foundation (SCAHF), the Women’s Caucus presented the state agency’s executive director, Dr. Rodger Stroup, a framed copy of a resolution passed by both houses. The resolution commended the former historic commission on its first century of service to SC.

After Caucus Chair Rep. Shirley Hinson of Goose Creek recognized guests, including board and staff members of the SCAHF, caucus members having bills under consideration gave brief status reports and asked for support from within the membership.

Joan Brady salvages a few camellias from the Women’s Caucus luncheon’s centerpiece. Stroup, Walker Clarke, SCAHF president, and Joan Davis, SCAHF executive director, gave concise remarks on how the non–profit foundation works to support the state agency’s broad mission. Dr. Charles Lesser, accessions archivist, displayed documents from the historic holdings for caucus members to look at before heading into their afternoon committee meetings.

The SC General Assembly Women’s Caucus is an organization for women serving at all levels of government in SC.

Regular membership is open to women who are elected officials on the municipal, county, and state level; executive managers in state or other government agencies; members of the boards and commissions of public agencies; or on the judicial circuit or family court bench.

Former elected or appointed officials of school boards, municipal, or county governments; professionals in agencies of SC government; members of boards or commissions of public agencies; members of the judiciary of state and local government; and other individuals or groups who subscribe to the goals of this organization are eligible for associate membership (non–voting).

Walker Clarke, president of the SC Archives and History Foundation, and Edie Purvis, executive director of the SC General Assembly Women’s Caucus According to Edie Purvis, executive director of the caucus, who in 2002, compiled a directory of women in the legislature, “The purpose of the organization is to provide an educational and professional resource network to women elected or appointed as leadership officials, to further develop their leadership skills; and to encourage, educate and support potential female office holders.”

In addition to Hinson, current officers are Rep. Denny W. Neilson, first vice chairman (Darlington); Rep. Vida O. Miller, second vice chairman, Pawleys Island; and Rep. Catherine C. Ceips, secretary/treasurer (Beaufort).

The Women’s Caucus

The Women’s Caucus was formally organized in 1929 when Mary Gourdin Ellis of Jasper County became the first woman elected as state senator. The Gourdin farmer and Winthrop–educated schoolteacher served one term. It was 1945 before the next female was elected, this time to the House of Representatives.