AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORIC PLACES in SOUTH CAROLINA ////////////////////////////// September 2015
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AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORIC PLACES IN SOUTH CAROLINA ////////////////////////////// September 2015 State Historic Preservation Office South Carolina Department of Archives and History should be encouraged. The National Register program his publication provides information on properties in South Carolina is administered by the State Historic in South Carolina that are listed in the National Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Register of Historic Places or have been Archives and History. recognized with South Carolina Historical Markers This publication includes summary information about T as of May 2015 and have important associations National Register properties in South Carolina that are with African American history. More information on these significantly associated with African American history. More and other properties is available at the South Carolina extensive information about many of these properties is Archives and History Center. Many other places in South available in the National Register files at the South Carolina Carolina are important to our African American history and Archives and History Center. Many of the National Register heritage and are eligible for listing in the National Register nominations are also available online, accessible through or recognition with the South Carolina Historical Marker the agency’s website. program. The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History welcomes South Carolina Historical Marker Program (HM) questions regarding the listing or marking of other eligible South Carolina Historical Markers recognize and interpret sites. places important to an understanding of South Carolina’s past. The cast-aluminum markers can tell the stories of African Americans have made a vast contribution to buildings and structures that are still standing, or they can the history of South Carolina throughout its over-300-year- commemorate the sites of important historic events or history. The African American story lies at the very heart of buildings or structures that have been lost. Places of local, our heritage. From the first English settlements African slaves state, or national historical importance are eligible for provided the primary workforce, and by 1708 they formed markers. The markers are erected as close to the historic a majority of the non-native population in the colony. By places as possible, either on state highways or on other 1720 the black population of South Carolina was twice that public streets or roads. of the white population. Except for a period between 1790 The South Carolina Department of Archives and History and the 1820s, African Americans made up the largest must approve the text for all South Carolina Historical segment of the population in South Carolina until 1922. It is Markers. Because no state funding is available for the believed that half of today’s African American population erection of markers, they must be sponsored and paid in the United States has ties to South Carolina. for by historical, patriotic, civic, or other organizations A wealth of historic buildings, structures, and sites such as church congregations or schools and colleges. document the state’s African American heritage from More information about historical markers is available on slavery to freedom and from segregation and political and the agency’s website. The complete text of the markers economic disenfranchisement to the struggle for equal is printed in this booklet as it appears on the markers rights. Slave houses, archaeological sites, and rice fields themselves. remind us of the legacy of slavery. Buildings in Charleston, Camden, and Columbia attest to the contributions of National Historical Landmark Program (NHL) free African Americans during the antebellum period. The National Historic Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, years of Civil War and Reconstruction are remembered in objects, and districts that have been determined by places as diverse as campgrounds associated with African the National Park Service to be nationally significant in American soldiers fighting for the Union, the site where American history and culture. National Historic Landmarks the Emancipation Proclamation was first celebrated, and (NHLs) must possess exceptional value in representing or the homes of African American legislators. Buildings that illustrating an important theme in the history of the United housed African American schools, businesses, professional States. Many of the most renowned historic properties in the offices, and social and fraternal organizations are reminders nation are National Historic Landmarks. of the years of Jim Crow segregation. The struggle for The National Historic Landmark program is administered equal rights is commemorated in places such as the homes by the National Park Service. Most Landmarks are identified of Civil Rights leaders, meeting places, and the sites of through theme studies undertaken by the Park Service, protests. which examine related places linked by a theme such as As a group these historic places remind us of the women’s history or World War II. To find out more about the courage, endurance, and achievements of black South National Historic Landmark program visit the National Park Carolinians. Through their documentation and preservation Service’s website. all South Carolinians can begin to more fully understand A number of South Carolina’s National Historic and appreciate the contributions of African Americans to Landmarks highlight the state’s African American heritage. the rich history of our state. In this booklet, the designation NHL has been added to the summary descriptions for these properties. The National Register of Historic Places (NR) The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s Important note honor roll of historic properties, which is maintained by the Most of these historic places are PRIVATE PROPERTY and are National Park Service. The National Register recognizes not open to the public. Please respect the property rights places that are important to our local, state, and national of their owners. heritage and are worthy of preservation. Buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts significant in American Acknowledgements history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture The listing of African American sites in the National Register can be listed in the National Register. It helps federal, state, was originally compiled by students from South Carolina and local governments identify those placers that should State University who interned with the Department of be considered in planning and those whose preservation Archives and History and with cooperation and assistance 2 from the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission. The Department of Archives and History The South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) gratefully acknowledges their contributions. helps the state’s citizens preserve their heritage. The SHPO Most of the information in the summary descriptions in was established in 1969 to implement the goals of the this booklet came from the National Register and Statewide National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which extended Survey of Historic Properties files at the Department of federal support to state and local preservation efforts. The Archives and History Center. The following publications also SHPO is a program of the South Carolina Department of provided valuable information: Archives and History. From the beginning, the SHPO has identified, recorded, and helped to preserve historic and Drayton, David. “Gullah Roots: A Tour of African prehistoric resources throughout the state. American Georgetown.” n.d. The activity that is the subject of this booklet has been Foner, Eric. Freedom’s Lawmakers: A Directory of Black financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Officeholders During Reconstruction. New York: Oxford Services, U.S. Department of the Interior, and administered University Press, 1993. by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily Huff, Archie Vernon Jr. Greenville: The History of the City reflect the views or policies of the Department of the and County in the South Carolina Piedmont. Columbia: Interior. University of South Carolina Press, 1995. This program receives Federal financial assistance for _________________. “A History of South Carolina United identification and protection of historic properties. Under Methodism.” In United Methodist Ministers in South Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Carolina: Bicentennial Edition, 1985. Columbia, S.C.: Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act S.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church, 1984. of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national Poston, Jonathan H. The Buildings of Charleston: A origin, disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If Guide to the City’s Architecture. Columbia: University of you believe you have been discriminated against in any South Carolina Press, 1997. program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office for Equal Powers, Bernard E. Jr. Black Charlestonians: A Social Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., History, 1822-1885. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Washington, D.C. 20240. Press, 1994. Preservation Society