Skip to main content

Monsignor James A. Carter papers

 Collection
Identifier: A-03-1060

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Monsignor James A. Carter, a Roman Catholic priest. The personal papers include photographs and newspaper articles regarding Carter’s family; his ordination as a deacon and a priest; papal honors; and miscellaneous newspaper articles in which Carter appears. The professional papers contain information regarding the death of Bishop David Thompson; Christ Our King, the parish in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in which Carter served as pastor; his position as vicar general; retirement; and published writings.

Dates

  • created: 1920-2016, undated
  • Other: Date acquired: 01/06/2017

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Diocese of Charleston makes no representation that it is the owner of any copyright or other literary property in the materials contained in its archives. In providing access to or permitting the reproduction of any such materials, the Diocese of Charleston does not assume any responsibility for determining the nature of any rights, ownership or interest therein; nor for obtaining the appropriate permissions to publish or use; nor for determining the nature of any liabilities (for defamation and invasion of privacy) that may arise from any publication or use. This rests entirely with the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Monsignor James A. Carter, a Roman Catholic priest, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 1, 1939, to James Aloysius Carter and Kathryne Magruder. Carter attended Cathedral School and Bishop England High School in Charleston. He received a bachelor’s degree from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He entered the seminary at St. Mary’s College in Kentucky, and completed his studies at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland. In Charleston, Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler ordained Carter to the priesthood for the Diocese of Charleston on May 7, 1966. From 1966-1973, Monsignor Carter served as an associate pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Greenville, St. John’s Church in North Charleston, and St. Peter’s Church in Columbia. In 1973, Carter was appointed pastor of Holy Spirit on Johns Island along with Our Lady of Good Counsel on Folly Beach. In 1974, he served as pastor of St. Paul in Spartanburg, and in 1980 was assigned to St. Mary Help of Christians in Aiken. In 1989, Carter was appointed pastor of Christ Our King in Mt. Pleasant, where he remained until his retirement in 2016. Monsignor Carter also served as vicar general of the Diocese of Charleston, vicar for clergy, chairman of the Priests’ Personnel Board, chairman of the Diocesan Building and Renovation Commission, chairman of the Ecumenical Affairs Committee, moderator of the Curia, moderator of the Council of Catholic Women in the Charleston Deanery, facilitator of the Presbyteral Council, rector of Cardinal Newman High School in Columbia, chaplain of the Ursuline Convent in Columbia, dean of the Aiken Deanery, dean of the Coastal Deanery, director of the Sites and Boundaries Committee, member of the Priests’ Senate, member of the Diocesan Board of Consultors, member of the Christian Action Council, member of the Theological Commission, member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, member of the Synod Executive Committee, and member of the Diocesan Finance Council. Following Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Monsignor Carter established and funded the East Cooper Community Outreach Center (ECCO) to minister to hurricane victims. The emergency relief effort has since grown into a permanent resource for the community in need and serves households in financial distress. In 1991, Monsignor Carter was named a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II and in 1998 he was appointed to the rank of Protonotary Apostolic. He was also selected as a member of the Heritage Registry of Who’s Who in 2006-2007. In 2016, Monsignor Carter was the recipient of The Order of the Palmetto. In honor of his golden jubilee, the Town of Mount Pleasant presented him with the Order of the Gavel and the City of Charleston declared April 29, 2016, as Monsignor James A. Carter Day.

Note written by

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet (1 document box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Personal and professional papers of Monsignor James A. Carter, a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Charleston.

Arrangement Note

I. Personal papers II. Professional papers

Source of Acquisition

Received from Monsignor James Carter, January 2017

Method of Acquisition

Gift.

Related Materials

Monsignor James A. Carter records.

https://sccatholic.org/view-finding-aid?54

Separated Materials

1. Chalice and Patten set with case. 2. Oversized Knights of Columbus photograph.

Processing Information

Processed by Melissa Mabry in April 2018.

Title
Inventory of the Monsignor James A. Carter papers
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston Archives Repository

Contact:
114 Broad Street
Carriage House
Charleston SC 29401 US
843-410-1720
843-410-1765