Acknowledgements: In 1898, the Rebecca Motte Chapter DAR Regent, Mrs. Francis Mather Jones appointed Mrs. Lee Cohen Harby, as chairman of the committee, "to secure the Exchange as a gift from the United States Government to be held by the Chapter as an historical memorial.” By an act of the US Congress, approved on March 4, 1913, the Treasury ordered the Exchange Building to be sold, and through the diligent efforts of Mrs. Lee Cohen Harby, and her committee of Mrs. J. S. Bird, Mrs. Wm. Ogilvie, Mrs. J.C.Simonds, Mrs. C. B. Huiet, Mrs. John A. Hertz, Mrs. G. F. von Kolnitz the following deed was executed on April 20, 1917 (the original deed is still in the possession of the Rebecca Motte Chapter): “to convey, by quitclaim deed, the building formerly used for post-office purposes and now known as the "Old Exchange," in the city of Charleston, South Carolina, to the order of Daughters of the American Revolution in and of the State of South Carolina, to be held by it as a historical memorial in trust for such use, care and occupation thereof by the Rebecca Motte Chapter of said order, resident in the city of Charleston, State aforesaid, as the said chapter shall in its judgment deem to best subserve the preservation of said Colonial building and promote the honorable and patriotic purpose for which the grant is requested”. The ladies of the Rebecca Motte Chapter began to preserve and renovate the Old Exchange Building. By 1975 it was apparent that the Old Exchange Building was in need of major repairs and renovation. The Rebecca Motte Chapter led by its chapter regent, Armine Richardson lobbied the State Bicentennial Commission to make the Old Exchange Building its Project. With help from SC Governor, James B. Edwards, the SC General Assembly passed an act creating the Old Exchange Commission on October 25, 1975. The Old Exchange Commission, a state agency was given operational and administrative control of all matters relating to the Old Exchange Building. The nine members of the Old Exchange Building consist of the following: 3 members must be elected by the House of Representatives and Senate in joint assembly; two members must be elected by the Rebecca Motte Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; two members, who must not be residents of Charleston County, must be elected by the South Carolina Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and the director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the chairman of the Department of Archives and History or their respective designees serve ex officio with voting privileges. The South Carolina State Society, NSDAR and the Rebecca Motte Chapter, NSDAR continue to govern the Old Exchange Building by their seats on the Old Exchange Commission. The Old Exchange Building was leased by the South Carolina State Society, NSDAR and the Rebecca Motte Chapter, NSDAR to the Old Exchange Commission for 25 years beginning on December 16, 1976, and subsequently renewed since then. Beginning in 1999, the Old Exchange Commission reached an agreement with the City of Charleston to manage the daily operations of the Old Exchange Building. The city does an excellent job of giving tours to the public, educational programs, and events. The Rebecca Motte Chapter has made the Old Exchange Building its headquarters since 1921. They moved out during World War II, and resumed its occupancy at the end of the war. The Rebecca Motte chapter has a special chapter room where it holds its meetings, displays its antique and artifact collection to the public, and houses it archives with documents dating back to the chapter’s founding in 1895. The South Carolina State Society also uses the Old Exchange Building for special events and meetings. (Wording from the Rebecca Motte Chapter, NSDAR Historic Property Form)

Form Submitted By: Rebecca Motte Chapter, NSDAR 11/05/2012