By: Stacey Young, Archaeologist at South Carolina State Park Service
May 6, 2024
The Ask an Expert series features Q + A’s with people who are experts in a particular field or who have a depth of knowledge around historic preservation. We ask experts a variety of short answer questions and ask for their advice to Black preservation projects and leaders.
Would you be willing to be featured as an expert? Send us an email here.
Q: Introduce yourself! Tell us a little about you. How did you get started in your field? What kind of projects have you worked on?
My name is Stacey Young and I am an Archaeologist for the South Carolina State Park Service. I am responsible for managing archaeological resources on all 47 operational parks and newly acquired properties. Generally, my responsibilities include resource protection, research, and education and interpretation. I have served in this position for 4 years and have been working professionally as an archaeologist for about 20 years. Prior to working with State Parks, I worked in the private sector for various Cultural Resource Management firms based in Columbia. I have worked across the eastern United States on various types of compliance related projects and archaeological sites ranging from lithic quarry sites used by Indigenous people 8,000 years ago to 50-year-old sites used for military training activities. As an undergraduate in college, I studied anthropology and became interested in communities; how people organize, form, and maintain communities and how communities develop and change over time. I enrolled in an archaeological field school one summer and learned how I enjoyed the physical aspects of the outdoor fieldwork as well as the thought-provoking nature of the investigations. Recently, I have been working on archaeological projects at Rose Hill Plantation, Redcliffe Plantation, and Sesquicentennial State Park looking for evidence of former buildings and spaces occupied and used by African Americans, trying to gain more understanding of these communities and engaging with descendant and local communities who have connections to the people or places. Many of these projects are working in partnership with archaeologists and anthropologists from the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State University which allows opportunities for training students in the discipline.
Q: What is your specialty or specific area of expertise?
My specific area of expertise is African American and Indigenous archaeology and I’m skilled at working collaboratively with communities to ensure projects respect their cultural heritage.
Q: How does your work in archaeology intersect with preserving African American historic spaces?
Archaeology is a tool that can be used to provide information about the lived experiences of African American communities and spaces. While buildings and documents may not survive, or even exist, the material culture (artifacts and landscapes) left behind and often buried over time can be used to inform us of past activities and help us recognize former spaces that may not be visible above ground.
Q: What do people in preservation need to know about archaeology? How is it relevant to them?
Many people do not realize that most archaeological work in the United States is conducted because there is a federal law (Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act) that requires this work be performed prior to any federal undertaking. If your preservation project is a historic building or space, it is possible that there are associated archaeological deposits. Archaeological investigations may provide additional information about people who used the space and how the landscape changed overtime. This information may enhance the interpretation and significance of the resource and allow you to tell a broader story.
Q: What steps would you recommend for people who are not a professional archaeologist?
If you are researching a privately owned property, make sure that you are talking with the landowner. If you are researching places or sites located on state or federally owned properties contact someone from the agency and inquire about any information or research materials in their files, and be familiar with the laws and regulations. Reach out to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO); they generally maintain a list of professional archaeologists working throughout the state and information about the services offered. The SHPO website also has a list of various archaeology resources across the state which may be applicable to your project. If you are interested in archaeological research, make sure to engage with professional archaeologists who have prior experience working on similar projects and are qualified to perform the work. Generally, if someone contacts me about a project that is not on SCPRT property, I try to connect them with an archaeologist that has expertise related to their research project.
Q: What do people in preservation need to know about archaeology?
Many historic places contain archaeological sites. When you are thinking about preservation projects, you should consider identifying and preserving the archaeological components as well.
Q: If you had to give just one piece of advice to folks who are looking to bring archaeology into their preservation project, what would it be?
Archaeology provides supplementary information which can enhance the documentary research or architectural resource.
The Learning Lab series provides practical tips, advice, and guidance on specific historic preservation topics that are relevant to African American preservation projects. We hope these posts help community members and leaders better navigate the complexities of historic preservation work successfully.
What We’re Reading: Historic Preservation Edition I
Author: Brent Leggs, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Recommendation: This report asks a crucial question: “how can preservation be a force for advancing equitable development and social justice in African American neighborhoods and other communities of color? This report seeks to unpack some of the multidimensional and intersectional issues stemming from place-based structural inequities that continue to impact communities today. Our goal is twofold: first, to understand the implications of different forms of place-based injustice and their impact on the preservation of African American cultural heritage; and second, to identify preservation-based strategies for equitable growth that respect the historical and present-day realities and conditions of African American neighborhoods.”
Recommendation: This newly published collection highlights places across the US where we can see systemic racism in the built environment and the erasure of Black communities. “Black landscapes matter because they tell the truth. In this vital new collection, acclaimed landscape designer and public artist Walter Hood assembles a group of notable landscape architecture and planning professionals and scholars to probe how race, memory, and meaning intersect in the American landscape.”
Topics: cultural landscapes, architecture, built environment, art, memory
Recommendation: An interesting read to learn an overview of the history of African American historic preservation and the struggles still embodied today. This article features the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund as a major player and features some stories of preservation projects as they fight to protect and honor their legacy. Click here for a free pdf.
Recommendation: Colleges and universities contain some of our oldest buildings – a fact that many both within and outside of the campus place value in. But preservation has not always been a priority for campuses, and especially not conversations about what campuses should preserve and why. This is starting to shift however, and this article covers this growing shift in preservation thinking.
Recommendation: This book focuses on preservation of cities, and “the many ways that saving and restoring [the] historic fabric can help a city create thriving neighborhoods, good jobs, and a vibrant economy.” The history of urban development and recent urban resurgence is discussed and itt acknowledges both the positives and deep issues with this phenomenon (although it is not a book about the effects of urban renewal on Black communities, and could do a better job of addressing this reality.) The author “explains the critical importance of preservation for all our communities, the ways the historic preservation field has evolved to embrace the challenges of the twenty-first century, and the innovative work being done in the preservation space now.”
Recommendation: “In this instant New York Times bestseller, Jermaine Fowler takes a sweeping survey of human history to show how Black humanity has been erased and how its recovery can save the humanity of us all.”
Topics: Black history, whitewashed history, erasure, truth-telling, memory
Recommendation: South Carolina historic preservationist Joseph McGill, Jr. began the Slave Dwelling Project in 2010 in order to bring attention to the fact that formerly enslaved peoples’ dwellings still stand, and to foster honest conversations about history and race. “In this enlightening personal account, one man tells the story of his groundbreaking project to sleep overnight in former slave dwellings that still stand across the country—revealing the fascinating history behind these sites and shedding light on larger issues of race in America.”
The Learning Lab series provides practical tips, advice, and guidance on specific historic preservation topics that are relevant to African American preservation projects. We hope these posts help community members and leaders better navigate the complexities of historic preservation work successfully.
Short Description of topic
Cemeteries are essential historical repositories, encapsulating the legacies of generations. In South Carolina, African American burial grounds and cemeteries are of immense cultural and historical significance, often containing the untold stories of resilience and achievement. Here are ten tips for individuals and communities dedicated to preserving these sacred spaces, including detailed methods to enhance research and documentation efforts and a list of supportive resources available within South Carolina.
10 Tips for Preserving African American Burial Grounds and Cemeteries in South Carolina
1. Document Everything
Comprehensive documentation is crucial. Record names, dates, and inscriptions on gravestones with photographs and written records. Use Find A Grave or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to accurately identify and map grave locations, if available, to ensure that such details can be considered in future site planning.
2. Engage the Community
Preservation is a collective effort, often requiring input and support from others. Engaging local residents, schools, and organizations in your efforts can foster a shared commitment to preserving historic sites. Try hosting a series of community meetings, create newsletters, or start social media groups to raise awareness, share research/findings, and collect any pertinent information that could be used to further tell the story of your site(s).
3. Research Historical Significance
Start preliminary research about the history of the cemetery and those interred within it. Local archives, libraries, and online databases, such as Ancestry or Newspapers.com, can offer valuable insights about these subjects. Gathering oral histories from community elders and families connected to the cemetery can ensure that invaluable personal stories and information not found in written records can be included in your documentation of the site(s). Partner with local colleges or universities for academic support in research and documentation efforts, if desired.
4. Seek Legal Advice
Understanding the legal status of the burial ground is essential. Legal professionals can clarify ownership, rights, and state-specific laws protecting historic cemeteries. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in the state of South Carolina lacks the financial resources and legal authority for maintaining historic cemeteries, acquiring them, or enforcing cemetery protection laws. For general resources for saving historic cemeteries, visit the South Carolina Department of Archives and History here. For questions or additional information about perpetual care cemetery regulations, contact the South Carolina Perpetual Care Board. For non-perpetual care cemeteries, descendants of the interred are typically the primary regulators of their respective site(s). In many cases, a non-perpetual care cemetery may be stewarded by a nonprofit organization or private entity or individual. This information can be found through deeds or plat records located at your local register of deeds or assessor’s office.
5. Apply for Grants and Funding:
Funding for most cemetery projects is primarily sourced locally from non-public entities and relies on volunteer efforts for maintenance. There is no state agency equipped with the legal authority or financial means to maintain cemeteries. While SC Code 6-1-35 allows, but does not require, a municipality or county to preserve or protect any cemetery within its jurisdiction that has been abandoned or is not being maintained, additional funding can be sought through grants aimed at historic preservation. Numerous organizations provide resources and funding opportunities for projects dedicated to preserving historical sites, including African American cemeteries. It is advisable to contact local heritage or conservation commissions to stay informed about the latest funding opportunities relevant to the documentation, interpretation, or maintenance of your sites.
6. Establish Regular Maintenance:
Organize clean-up and maintenance days to keep the cemetery in respectful condition. This includes clearing overgrowth, fixing damaged gravestones, and ensuring accessibility, preserving the dignity of the site.
7. Promote Educational Programs:
Partner with local schools, historical societies, and community centers to develop educational programs connected to the site. Highlighting the cemetery’s history and importance can build broad support for preservation efforts, integrating these sites into the wider community narrative.
8. Leverage Technology
If accessible, use technology to raise awareness and funds. Digital platforms can facilitate crowdfunding, create virtual tours, or establish digital archives, making the cemetery’s history accessible worldwide and engaging more people in its preservation efforts.
9. Partner with Preservation Organizations
Collaborate with preservation groups for expertise, resources, and support. These partnerships can augment your efforts with professional guidance and additional resources, enhancing the effectiveness of any preservation activities.
10. Plan for the Future
Develop a long-term preservation plan. Establishing a trust or endowment can ensure ongoing care and protection, safeguarding the cemetery for future generations.
Plans for a new Walmart unexpectedly helped spur a second career for Jannie Harriot as a passionate advocate for African American historic preservation in South Carolina.
The Hartsville native had just returned to her hometown in 1990 after nearly 20 years of teaching and community agency work in New Jersey when the local school board announced it would be selling a former high school to the retail giant for the site of a new store.
Since 1921 that site had been home to multiple schools for the town’s Black community until it ultimately closed in 1982. Ms. Harriot was a graduate of one of those schools – Butler High School – and helped lead a community effort to save the old site.
They did indeed save it, and Ms. Harriot went on to play a pivotal role in African American historic preservation across South Carolina, culminating with her appointment as a charter member of the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission (SCAAHC) and the creation of its foundation, now known as WeGOJA.
From College to Teaching, Education Work, and Now Historic Preservation Work
Ms. Harriot attended Talladega College in Alabama, Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and Montclair State College in New Jersey.
She taught in public schools in both Carolinas and at community colleges in New York and New Jersey. She also has served as executive director for several non-profit organizations and executive director of the Allendale County First Steps to School Readiness.
At home in Hartsville, she was the founding chairperson of the Butler Heritage Foundation when they successfully petitioned the Darlington County Board of Education to deed the Butler High School in Hartsville to the foundation for preservation.
During her tenure as chair, the SCAAHC has published African American historic places guides and teaching materials. She is currently the executive director for programs and development at the Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum.
Here, Ms. Harriot shares more of her journey
Tell us more about the Butler work that got you started on this journey.
Jannie Harriot: Well, ironically, I knew nothing about historic preservation when I returned to South Carolina and Hartsville after 18 years in New Jersey. I had no plans and didn’t know what I was going to do next. Then one of my former teachers came to my house and told me that the school district is about to sell Butler for a Walmart and that I needed to go on a local radio station community talk show the next morning and tell everyone why they shouldn’t do that.
So, the next morning I got up and did the show and talked about why I thought my high school building was so important and why it should remain a part of the community. There was another person who taught at Butler who wanted to get involved, too.
We knew nothing about the process, really, but we decided to form a non-profit organization and worked to get members of all the graduating classes from Butler involved. For the next year, I spent my time talking to local officials and other community members convincing them that Butler should not be a Walmart.
That was in 1990 and 1991. So today, the Butler Heritage Foundation owns the property. We have a Boys & Girls Club there now, and a senior citizens club, and an historic building that has its own state marker.
That effort also led to a meeting in 1992 with the state Department of Archives and History and to a conference about the lack of historic preservation for African Americans in South Carolina. Thus was created first the South Carolina African American Heritage Council and several years later the African American Heritage Commission.
What about the Walmart? Jannie Harriot: Oh, they got their Walmart. On another site about three blocks down the street.
Around South Carolina in general, what did the field of African American preservation look like at that time? Jannie Harriot: Basically, nothing was being done at that time. That’s the first thing I learned when I, this business teacher from New Jersey who knew nothing about historic preservation, found myself on this commission with all these historians and professors.
But we all knew that African American history was very important and that it was being neglected in South Carolina, both in the schools and in preserving important sites. That’s not to say people hadn’t been trying. Dr. Barbara Jenkins down in Orangeburg was one of those people trying to do things, but basically there was no support from the state or from most communities.
What keeps you committed to this work? What drives your personal passion for it? Jannie Harriot: Well, I’m a child of the 60s. I took part in the marches. I’m also a person who believes that our children deserve the best of the best. I have none of my own, but my nieces and nephews tell me there’s something like 170 of us in four generations of our family.
I want a better world for all of them. I want all African Americans to be, as Dr. Martin Luther King said, recognized for who they are, not for what color they are. And I think that when we tell our true stories, when we preserve our important historic sites, that helps create an opportunity for that vision to become a reality.
What do you see has the most gratifying outcome of your work so far? Jannie Harriot: When the SCAAHC was created in 1993, there were only 36 sites in South Carolina listed on the National Register of Historic Places or displaying a state historical marker. Today there are more than 300.
Mind you, the historical marker program itself was started in 1936. It’s not because the SCAAHC created all those new sites in the past 30 years that we’re up to more than 300. But we surely played our part by encouraging and helping people in their home communities to recognize their own history and to uplift it by applying for state historical markers and for listing on the National Register.
After almost 20 years of having chaired the SCAAHC, the recognition of these sites that so significantly shaped our history and our culture is both validating and gratifying.
Along with the physical proof – the listings and markers – what other progress and changes have you witnessed in the African American historic preservation movement?
Jannie Harriot: More acceptance of the culture and of the contributions of African Americans in our state and in our country.
If people don’t really know about it, they can’t appreciate it. So, what I think is that the more we talk about those accomplishments, the more we talk about those contributions, the more other people will recognize what was done by the people of this state – by the Black people of this state – to create the South Carolina we see today.
What do you see as the biggest barriers to preserving African American history and historic spaces now? Jannie Harriot: Do you need to ask? I mean, can you imagine what’s going on? Can we talk about what’s going on in our General Assembly and in other state legislatures across the country? Being told that our history should not be taught in schools? Where do you teach them then? Where do kids learn about our contributions, our history? How are they going to know about it?
That simply is the biggest barrier. And if kids are not going to learn about African American history in the classroom, it’s up to us outside of the classroom to do what we can to make them aware of it.
How do you do that? What is your best advice or people who would like to get involved? Jannie Harriot: You know, I was having a conversation with someone a few days ago, and we were talking about Briggs vs. Elliot and about the new laws that are preventing the teaching of Black history, and what we said was, “Hey, break the law.”
I think about those teachers in Elloree, South Carolina, who quit their jobs because the state law said you can’t belong to the NAACP and be a teacher here. Now this generation of folks have to say, the heck with that, we’re going to do what needs to be done, too.
So, I say, get involved. Talk to our legislators. Help them understand that this is crazy. That they’re trying to disenfranchise a whole group of people by negating their past just because you find some of that history uncomfortable.
Can you imagine how uncomfortable I feel many times when I’m sitting in a state meeting or organization or a commission, and I’m the only Black person there, and everybody’s talking about their history, and my history is not even being discussed?
These stories won’t tell themselves. That’s our responsibility, to those who came before us, to ourselves, and to those yet to come.
The Ask an Expert series features Q + A’s with people who are experts in a particular field or who have a depth of knowledge around historic preservation. We ask experts a variety of short answer questions and ask for their advice to Black preservation projects and leaders.
Would you be willing to be featured as an expert? Send us an email here.
Q: Introduce yourself! Tell us a little about you. How did you get started in your field?
In 1985, I was granted the privilege of learning how to trace my own relatives. From 2007-2014, I served as a FamilySearch Missionary. I am jointly responsible for founding Genealogy Just Ask, LLC, which can be found at www.genealogyjustask.com.
On December 27, 2022, I had the honor of being a featured guest on “Genealogy Quick Start,” discussing my topic “Catching Clues from an Obituary to the Underground Railroad.” The link can be found here: https://bit.ly/3VQrIPu. Then on June 17, 2023, I presented for the UCCRP Juneteenth Celebration in Union, South Carolina as a South Carolina Humanities grant funded guest speaker.
In August 2023, Allison Garner Kotter reviewed my book, “My Best Genealogy Tips: Finding Formerly Enslaved Ancestors,” in the Crossroads Journal, a publication by the Utah Genealogical Association. She said that it “gives amazing examples and tips for multiple research strategies specific to researching formerly enslaved ancestors.”
I presented at the Charleston, SC FamilySearch – “Genealogy University: Come and Learn, Go and Search” where I presented Freedom Records, WPA Slave Narratives, and the FamilySearch’s Research Wiki.
Q: What kind of projects have you worked on?
I have participated with the UCCRP Research/History Committee. I have written blog posts. I researched the African Americans that were lynched..I worked on finding Fairview Cemetery burials in Greenwood, SC. We found over 800 burials. They are now on Find-A-Grave. The descendants ask me for obituaries and death certificates when they email me.I worked on the Jamestown project owned by Terry James. I found pertinent historical records. I even found Black ancestors before 1865 in the Darlington Museum in the church records.
Q: How does your work in genealogy intersect with preserving Black historic spaces?
The patron has lasting experience because we find historical records that relate to Black historic spaces. Genealogy not only connects people but also connects people to places and locations. Genealogy can help tell a more full and complete story of a Black historic place.
Q: What do African American preservation projects and leaders need to know about genealogy?
The African Americans who know their genealogy and oral history will appreciate coming to preserved Black historic spaces. These patrons need assistance with starting a family tree. That can be accomplished by going to FamilySearch.org. That site is always free. They can learn how to find historical records. All they have to do is go to the Research Wiki at FamilySearch.org. They can look for resources in the area where their ancestors lived. This is very important. Most patrons do not know how to do their family history. The professional will not teach them. We at Genealogy Just Ask teach them how to find their ancestors. This becomes their own experience.
Q: If someone asked for your advice on the first step they should take in genealogy for their historic preservation project – what would you say?
I would tell them to reach out to the community. Have a place where they can come together regularly. Together they can put together the oral history and assist each other with their family history.
Q: What is the first thing you tell people who are new to doing genealogy research?
Have you asked your relatives’ friends for any photos, stories, or documents? Take out your phone and record. Some of it can be added to FamilySearch.org (if it is your family) and the Black historic spaces.
Q: How do you get more people to be involved?
One idea is to reach out to the people not living in the area. They have ancestors who were from the community. You will be surprised how many will participate.
By: Rebekah Turnmire, AACRN Coordinator, Center for Civil Rights History & Research
April 10, 2024
The Learning Lab series provides practical tips, advice, and guidance on specific historic preservation topics that are relevant to African American preservation projects. We hope these posts help community members and leaders better navigate the complexities of historic preservation work successfully.
Short Description of topic
The African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN) was created by Congress in 2017 authorizing the National Park Service to commemorate, honor, and interpret the history of the African American Civil Rights movement and the sacrifices made by those who fought for its cause. AACRN is noncompetitive and encompasses properties, facilities, and interpretive programs that provide a comprehensive portrayal of the individuals, locations, and events connected to the African American Civil Rights movement. It is not only an opportunity to provide a comprehensive overview of often overlooked people, places and events associated with the movement, but is an opportunity to connect with places doing similar work and access AACRN-specific grant funds and expertise from the National Park Service. Plus, applications are accepted on a rolling basis! In 2022, the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at USC joined AACRN as a program and became an institutional partner. As an institutional partner, the Center staff can help those interested in joining AACRN draft applications, conduct historical research related to the property or program, and consult with current and future AACRN members. The Center for Civil Rights History and Research is a vital source helping craft applications or answer related research questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out! Getting South Carolina sites, programs, and facilities that interpret or are related to the African American Civil Rights Movement listed on the African American Civil Rights Network is important for long-term preservation and wider acknowledgement of the important, but often overlooked role, the state had on the national movement.
10 Tips for Applying to the African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN):
Check out the African American Civil Rights Network Application & Instructions page and read through the National Park Service’s “Definitions of Properties, Facilities, and Programs Resource Types,” “Criteria for Joining the Network,” and “Application Form Information.” This is an important first step before starting an application because it will help determine what route you take when drafting your application!
Facilities and Programs are much broader categories and do not have to be determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places! A mural, performance, workshop, and many other things can be listed as a program as long as it is a complete application that presents or explains the history of African American civil rights to the public.
Read through the application samples before gathering reference and research materials! This will help you decide whether you need to conduct more research or talk to the SC Department of Archives and History about National Register eligibility (if a property).
Create a draft of the full application in a word document, including the narrative statements and timeline, alongside the other required documents (letter of consent, eligibility form, brochures, etc). The application portal DOES NOT have a save function at this time. If you have a word document, you can copy and paste all the information without having to start from scratch if you accidentally leave or time-out of the portal while writing your narrative.
You do not have to be the owner or manager of a property, facility, or program to nominate a resource to AACRN. If you prefer, the Center for Civil Rights at USC’s AACRN Coordinator (Rebekah Turnmire) can compile the materials, write the application, and submit it for you or can assist with submitting an already crafted application.
The Letter of Owner Consent is an important part of ALL applications regardless of whether the resource is a property, facility, or program. The “owner” of the resource will depend on what type of resource is applying. If in doubt, reach out to me (Rebekah Turnmire) at the Center for Civil Rights or AACRN staff!
Additional documentation like brochures, maps, timelines, webpage screenshots, or other documents which illustrate the resource’s association with the African American Civil Rights movement are important but do not need to be exhaustive. A few good examples, of both public facing (brochures) and internal (primary sources or research papers) are sufficient!
If you are an organization, museum, archive, community group, I would suggest using the institution’s central or public email address so that if the person submitting the application leaves, a new person can easily access the portal.
Make sure to convert all materials (including the Letter of Owner Consent) into Adobe PDF format when you’re ready to upload and submit to the portal.
The Featured Projects series focuses on historic preservation projects focused on preserving Black history throughout SC. Each project is asked to respond to four prompts. We hope this series helps bring awareness to the stunning number and variety of preservation projects being undertaken across the state, highlights the dedication of our community leaders, and inspires future generations of projects.
Want to feature your preservation project? Send us an email here.
Provide a brief summary of your project, making sure to include why it’s important for African American historic preservation.
RCDC’s Nehemiah Project 24 responds to the need of the African American Community in Saluda, SC to rebuild. Much like the people of Israel of that epoch, African Americans have been enslaved, displaced, deprived. At times, their only resources are faith, crumbling buildings and resilience. Locked inside these resources though, is a tremendous wealth of talents waiting to be used to create for African Americans well-deserved permanent, prominent places in America, not as victims but as victors. The execution of the project will follow the model established by the Biblical Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem. As such, leadership is guided by faith and the focus on the division of labor and specializations from within the community. RCDC’s hard asset is the 65,000 square feet former Riverside “Equalization School”. The building is situated on 49 acres of land straddling the boundaries of the town and county of Saluda. It borders a recently established Saluda Commercial Park for Saluda County. The proximity to the town and nearby enterprises gives this asset the quality of prime property in a prime location. The three areas of emphasis for the project shall be: 1) A workforce development project that facilitates the creation of well-needed transitional housing and a specialized food & nutrition training destined to serve the cluster of growing agricultural enterprises in the surrounding area; 2) An enhanced After-School Program that will affirmatively prepare disadvantaged members of this rural community form an early age for higher education and skills acquisition; 3) Recreational and other community activities that will make Saluda attractive as a place to live, work and play. Sites such as Riverside must be respected, supported, and preserved. If retained, the positive elements of their history can form the foundation on which to build communities. If nurtured to evolve with changing times they provide not only foundation but also, the backbone to support their viability for generations. This is what we hope for Riverside whose history provides context for the RCDC Nehemiah Project 24. Riverside High School was built during an era when educational opportunities for Black people was a primary issue at the federal level of the United States Government in Washington. In 1951, South Carolina passed legislation to fund a statewide program of school construction for new African American elementary and high schools across South Carolina in both rural and urban areas. This equalization school program, built on the concept of “separate but equal”, was intended to circumvent a potential desegregation ruling by the Supreme Court when, on appeal from the U.S. District court for the Eastern District of South Carolina, Briggs v. Elliot became one of the five cases combined into Brown v. Board of Education. In 1954, Riverside School was built as an “Equalization School” for Black people in Saluda County. It served students from grades 1-12. That same year the Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional and required state schools to be integrated.(Brown v. Board of Education) As a result, Riverside became Riverside Middle School, an integrated school that served Saluda County as a formal education site. In 2001, the Saluda Education Complex was built and the following year the last tenant vacated the premises. Now standing as an empty building, the future of Riverside was in jeopardy. The school building and all of its history faced possible demolition. Concerned citizens of Saluda’s Black community united to save the historical premises. In March 2003, Riverside Community Development Corporation (“RCDC”), a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization obtained the building and the 49 acres of land.
What motivated you/your community/your team to begin this project?
Resources for the Black community in Saluda were still lacking. The vision for RCDC was clear: Use the property to provide services to uplift the community focusing on programs for children, adults, entrepreneurship and education. Most importantly, the Riverside School property stood as a monument to the history of a struggling community that persevered in its efforts to rise up from bondage to become victors instead of victims.
What challenges have you faced in this project?
1. Funding challenges loom large. RCDC, though a sub-grantee for an After-School Program, had never been the beneficiary of any federal, state or county grant money. The organization had been sustained thus far by independent fundraising and a corporate donor that has since excused itself. These contributions were hardly enough to maintain the 65,000 square feet structure. The building, while still structurally sound, has fallen into disrepair and cannot house community projects. 2. Community fatigue: After so many years of regression instead of progress, especially since the pandemic, the community needs a “booster shot” to get involved again so they can help address social concerns and development solutions that fits the current context of a rapidly developing Saluda County. They need to see a clear vision that they can buy into. 3. Leadership & Skillsets: The development of RCDC is a multi-million-dollar project because of its size. Projects of this caliber require sophisticated skillsets and experienced leadership.
How have you solved problems and found solutions? What advice would you give to others doing this kind of work?
The problems RCDC face have been identified but are yet to be solved. Our focus is now on implementing solutions which are couched in terms of: A purposeful, committed Board of Directors that Appoints an experienced Executive Director/CEO who has A viable Business Plan projected into 3-5 years. A non-profit organization is to be understood as an entity that can generate revenue. It must endeavor to use its assets or other resources to generate revenues whenever possible. It is important to get the community it serves involved as well as the broader community that also benefits indirectly. Hence, effective marketing is a necessity. Position the organization to benefit from government and foundation funding of which there is plenty. While doing so, understand that donors, grantors and lenders are making an investment. Consequently, the return on the investment must be clearly identifiable. This may not necessarily be a financial reward but a measurable social impact.
For more….
If you are interested in ensuring RCDC succeeds in its endeavor and become a template for similar historical sites, please contact: Vonnie@vonnierochester.com.
The Featured Projects series focuses on historic preservation projects focused on preserving Black history throughout SC. Each project is asked to respond to four prompts. We hope this series helps bring awareness to the stunning number and variety of preservation projects being undertaken across the state, highlights the dedication of our community leaders, and inspires future generations of projects.
Want to feature your preservation project? Send us an email here.
Provide a brief summary of your project, making sure to include why it’s important for African American historic preservation.
We successfully nominated Sims High School in Union, South Carolina, to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023. The project included photographing and documenting the building’s condition, networking with alumni to record their memories of the school, and researching the local history of racial segregation and integration in education. Sims High School was the center of the Black community in Union County. It has remained a point of pride for many people. To preserve the school building is to keep Black history in Union tangible and visible. Very few historic Black schools still stand in Union County, making Sims High School a precious resource.
What motivated you/your community/your team to begin this project?
The motivation for this project came primarily from alumni who wanted to see their former school preserved. They care deeply about Sims High School. The building contains their memories and is the foundation for their legacies. It’s where they formed lifelong friendships, gained an education, and built a community. Alumni of Sims High School graduated between 1956 and 1970. They want to see something happen with this building in their lifetime.
What challenges have you faced in this project?
One challenge was to move quickly. The nomination process is long and a building as large as Sims High School is complex to document. My wife and I did the nomination as volunteers, so finding time to give proper attention to the project could be hard. Preservation projects are a race against time. The Sims High School building has not been used since 2009, so its condition is worsening as each year passes. One of the reasons that alumni and supporters wanted to get the building listed in the National Register of Historic Places was to make it eligible for historic tax credits. This could support investment in the building’s rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive reuse, or even its continued use as an educational facility.
How have you solved problems and found solutions? What advice would you give to others doing this kind of work?
If you’re having trouble documenting the history of a place/building, find the local experts. Talk to people. Let them guide you and tell you why this place is important. Curtiss Hunter organized multiple community meetings where alumni discussed the significance and history of Sims High School. These meetings were indispensable sources of information. Various people shared their perspectives, stories, knowledge, and memories. Dr. Tom Crosby had already gathered and organized historic photos, articles, programs, and other records establishing facts, timelines, and a narrative for the school’s history.
By: McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life Gail Wilson Awan, President and CEO of Urban League of the Upstate
Apr 5, 2024
The Featured Projects series focuses on historic preservation projects focused on preserving Black history throughout SC. Each project is asked to respond to four prompts. We hope this series helps bring awareness to the stunning number and variety of preservation projects being undertaken across the state, highlights the dedication of our community leaders, and inspires future generations of projects.
Want to feature your preservation project? Send us an email here.
Provide a brief summary of your project, making sure to include why it’s important for African American historic preservation.
The Urban League of the Upstate’s McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life is focusing on addressing healthcare and wellness disparities for Black people and the underserved living in the Upstate of South Carolina by emphasizing programs around the five social determinants of health: economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, social and community context. The physical location in the renovated, historic McClaren Medical shelter in downtown Greenville, SC will serve as a hub for services, education, and outreach efforts (and is receiving its Historical Marker status). The McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life is currently developing core programming (five programs are confirmed) and completing renovations on the facility in early 2025. The physical space will include a multimedia Cultural and Historical Literacy Center displaying historic contributions of Black citizens to the Upstate’s growth and development on the lower floor. This interactive center will educate, inspire, and motivate aspiring leaders towards building a better quality of life for the underserved communities in our region. The upper floor is a hub for ULUS and its partners to address Upstate health disparities—by offering programming on site and as a resource center for initiatives happening throughout the region.
The upper floor maintains its original design of “patient rooms” but is being renovated to provide multiple functions. Four spaces will be activated for specific health and wellness related services, bolstered by a reception/waiting area and the ULUS office.
What motivated you/your community/your team to begin this project?
The building where the Institute will be headquartered was built by Dr. Edward E. McClaren in 1949 and served as the only clinic for Black people in the area during the Jim Crow era. As part of the McClaren Apartments’ development project in that block of downtown Greenville, the building was moved to accommodate construction and then donated to the Urban League of the Upstate. After being given the McClaren Medical Shelter, this historically significant property to the cultural history of Black citizens in Greenville County, the moment was right to respond to the health and cultural literacy needs and requests of the communities we serve. It became an ideal moment to put into motion a plan to fight the health inequity epidemic as we experience it here in the Upstate. The Urban League of the Upstate (ULUS) has reorganized its work so that it is both nationally aligned and locally relevant, focusing on the National Urban League’s signature programs to enhance health and quality of life for the underserved.
The mission of the ULUS is to advance equity by empowering the Black community and underserved individuals throughout the region. The National Urban League is laser-focused on Health Equity as a key initiative, supporting local efforts through funding, advocacy, andprogramming. The McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life is fighting for change and equity, one partnership at a time. This new facility and programmatic hub will tackle health inequity head-on.
What challenges have you faced in this project?
Initially, the multi-faceted nature of the project with multiple partners and interests made it challenging to condense messaging in a way that was meaningful for potential donors and supporters. Now that we have coalesced our messaging, we are moving into a heavy fundraising phase with major needs to facilitate the physical renovation and construction efforts. We are hopeful the mission and goals of the project will attract the right funding bodies swiftly.
How have you solved problems and found solutions? What advice would you give to others doing this kind of work?
On a project like this with so many stakeholders, it is crucial to have the right leadership in place and we have that with our campaign committee. We also worked to find the right partners to help us with the specific messaging and fundraising challenges addressed. Communication and clarity are essential in a project with so many elements and interests.
The Featured Projects series focuses on historic preservation projects focused on preserving Black history throughout SC. Each project is asked to respond to four prompts. We hope this series helps bring awareness to the stunning number and variety of preservation projects being undertaken across the state, highlights the dedication of our community leaders, and inspires future generations of projects.
Want to feature your preservation project? Send us an email here.
Provide a brief summary of your project, making sure to include why it’s important for African American historic preservation.
Restoring Black Cemeteries is a passion project and another way to explore not only my genealogy but also assist others in learning about their family lineage. We focus on recovering headstones and emplacing missing headstones.
What motivated you/your community/your team to begin this project?
We have seen individuals that cannot afford headstones/gravestones or afford to maintain them once they are emplaced. This is one way we can assist a family and ensure their family member is honored. My involvement in this project is ongoing in an advisory capacity and hands on when required. Key factors in preserving gravestones include:Explaining how to safely clean and preserve gravestones both granite and marble. Make sure to use certain chemicals that are environmentally friendly.Making sure that gravesites are marked with names, dates, location are preserved and kept in some type of ledger.I can’t stress enough how important it is to make sure names and dates are correct.
What challenges have you faced in this project?
The challenges faced are getting others to step up if we are to continue to preserve our history, legacy…etc. So much history has gotten away from us by not paying attention to detail.
How have you solved problems and found solutions? What advice would you give to others doing this kind of work?
Make sure to do your research – ensuring that names and dates are correct, verifying information in multiple ways (family history, documents, etc), and knowing information about the specific cemeteries and graveyards themselves (for eg, are they connected to an active church or a no longer existing church, etc). Use FindaGrave.com to help find people you are looking for and for cemeteries that might be neglected or forgotten about. Create a volunteer group that has regular meetings and “work days” who go out to the cemetery to maintain the plots, markers, and landscapes. Apply for a State Historical Marker to document the site of the cemetery.
The Featured Projects series focuses on historic preservation projects focused on preserving Black history throughout SC. Each project is asked to respond to four prompts. We hope this series helps bring awareness to the stunning number and variety of preservation projects being undertaken across the state, highlights the dedication of our community leaders, and inspires future generations of projects.
Want to feature your preservation project? Send us an email here.
Provide a brief summary of your project, making sure to include why it’s important for African American historic preservation.
Hope School is dear to me because my parents John & Willie M. Flemon chaired a nine member committee to buy Hope school back from the Newberry School District in 1958 for $500.00. They sold hot dogs, hamburgers and sodas to raise the funds. I was young, but I remember walking up to the Hope School with my mom to build the fire so it would be warm when the crowd gathered. Also, nine of my siblings attended Hope School. I was the youngest living, but I didn’t attend Hope School. I started school in Pomaria, at Garmany Elementary in 1955. Later, my sister Lillie and J. Louis Flemon started a fundraiser to help put windows in the Hope School because they learned that building had great history where they had attended school. Their health failed and God gave me a vision to carry on. In 2004, I wrote a grant and was awarded $150,000 to restore the Hope School.
What motivated you/your community/your team to begin this project?
I was motivated to begin the preservation project by my family’s love for the Hope School. I saw them put forth effort for that building since I was very young and l am so thankful to have firsthand (history) information about the Hope School.
What challenges have you faced in this project?
I faced challenges during the restoration project in getting faithful and honest workers to do a good job. Make sure you read the contractor’s quote carefully.Read carefully the start time frame from beginning to end.Visit the project regularly to see what is going on.Always do a walk down before paying the contractor their final payment.Time was a factor also. Make sure you check on the contractors work during the week
How have you solved problems and found solutions? What advice would you give to others doing this kind of work?
I solved problems by letting go of workers. I called them, and sent them pictures of their unsatisfactory work. I would ask them to come back and correct their work in five days. Try hiring contractors with a good rating, with a license. Make sure the contractor has a written contract. The best way to solve problems is not to get the cheapest person to do your work.
By Jannie Harriot and Cecil Williams, Civil Rights Museum
April 2, 2024
The Featured Projects series focuses on African American historic preservation projects and sites. We hope this series helps bring awareness to the stunning number and variety of places in South Carolina that share this rich history. We also hope it highlights the dedication of our community leaders, and inspires future generations to participate in preservation.
How did the museum develop? How does the museum play a role in African American historic preservation?
Until the Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum was developed, there was no museum in the state that told the stories of the people who actually started the national civil rights movement. Inside our galleries, visitors may journey through the unique and rich history of South Carolinians who experienced the hardships and triumphs, valor and determination, and the influence and monumental change that affected all Americans. The reclaimed history displayed in the museum represents core events that created the “big bang” of the national civil rights movement.WeGOJA and the Toolkit team feel it is important to include museums as part of African American preservation efforts. Museums are part of the broader picture of African American historic preservation because they are a place to preserve the objects, artifacts, and media that tell the story of Black people and culture. These things are an important part of the fabric of preservation that extends beyond physical structures or sites.
What motivated you to develop the museum?
Having first-hand eyewitness experiences, I was compelled to share the rich and diverse history of people who endured the 1950-1970 era of racial change.Within the museum, we compiled the history that shows how South Carolinians’ early activism influenced our nation through numerous ideological, political, and economic developments—much of which pre-date the bravery and pioneering by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and the people who engaged in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. South Carolina’s role in the Civil Rights movement is an undertold story, despite South Carolinians paving the way in Civil Rights activism (such as the Briggs vs. Elliot case, which was the first court case to challenge the constitutionality of segregated education and later became part of the landmark desegregation case Brown vs. Board of Education.) The story of Civil Rights in South Carolina needed to be told by those who experienced and fought for it. The museum provides an opportunity to showcase the photography and media that influenced and changed the course of the Civil Rights movement, while also preserving it for generations to come.
How have you solved problems and found solutions? What advice would you give to others doing this kind of work?
Besides our own archives, through inclusion and sharing, we discovered vast amounts of rare and story-telling artifacts, documents and photographs.I would advise anyone taking on the task of operating or starting a museum to fully explore if it duplicates the mission of already existing museums.If there is a void, then fully engage in the project until it reaches fruition.
Future plans for the museum? Also include how people can find the museum and plan visits today.
Our future involves building and creating story-telling galleries and exhibits that will go into a new and larger building we hope to break ground for in June. Our present museum is located at 1865 Lake Drive, a subdivision right off U.S. Highway 301 north of Orangeburg. We advise visitors traveling along Interstate 26 to take exit 156, which would place them within four miles of our location.
Any additional information?
Visit the museum virtually by clicking this link! This will allow you to experience the museum through a virtual reality tour, taking a closer look at the exhibits, photography, and artifacts.
