Greetings!
Welcome to The Charleston, SC Club of Washington, DC, a social club formed in 1948 expressly for the purpose of gathering Charleston “folk” to share stories about the good old days back home, enjoy food and beverages, reunite with old friends and meet “brand new” friends for the first time. The club continues to promote fellowship among its members, that is integrally part of who we are, but it has broadened its purpose to address common social, cultural and civic interests and to perpetuate our Charleston heritage. There is a special bond that combines and holds the club together to serve the members common good. This is not stated anywhere; it is unnecessary because this way of life was part of our Charleston upbringing. We lived it. Rev. Martin Luther King made this principle explicit when he said, “We are tied together in the single garment of destiny caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.”
As the official name designates, The Charleston Club was founded in our nation’s capital of Washington, DC, where many black citizens settled after fleeing the south in search of a better life. The Club’s 26 charter members were among those who were a part of what was historically called the “Great Migration”, having settled in the first stop along the route up the East Coast. One of our original charter member, Mrs. Julia Magwood Harris, was an active member of the Club until her recent passing at the age of 99. It was in Washington, where Mrs. Harris and her fellow charter members, settled, began their careers, raised their families, and maintained their desire to continue their connection to their beloved Charleston. That continued desire to maintain the connection to “home folks” lives on today as we strongly aspire to preserve our heritage and culture while being miles away from the place that we call home.
Our current membership is disbursed throughout District of Columbia (DC), Maryland and Virginia also known as the DMV. Along with preserving our heritage and culture, the Club takes pride in making annual donations to charitable organizations such as So Others Might Eat (SOME) and Martha’s Table. These organizations assists in approving the quality of life of those in the DMV. Additionally, the Club makes financial contributions to the National Museum of African American History & Culture and serves as a Charter Member of the International African American Museum located in Charleston, SC.
On behalf of the one hundred (100) plus members of The Charleston Club, I thank you for visiting our website; you are cordially invited to take your interest one step further by attending one or more of our meetings and/or social events. We would welcome you with open arms, and make you feel right at home. Email and questions or concerns to info@charlestonscclub.org.
Rhonda L. Barnes, President