On April 26, 2024, at the South Carolina Historic Preservation Conference held at the SC Department of Archives and History in Columbia, SC, speakers Dawn Dawson-House, Dr. Valinda Littlefield, Tripp Muldrow, Holley Owings, and Zach Bjur presented the rich history of the Rosenwald Schools in South Carolina. This presentation built upon the one delivered earlier this year at the Landmark Conference, aiming to educate the audience about the ongoing South Carolina Rosenwald Schools Trail Study. The study seeks to evaluate the potential for a group of existing Rosenwald School sites to become South Carolina’s first state park focused on African American and Jewish history. This effort is a collaboration between the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, the WeGOJA Foundation, SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, SC Department of Archives and History, and local preservation groups. It will focus on six key sites: Great Branch Rosenwald School and Teacherage, Lincolnville, Hope School, St. George, Mt. Zion, and Pine Grove. The project involves working closely with school alumni and community members to assess the current state of these schools and to craft narratives that emphasize their historical and cultural significance. Over the next 18 months, the team will produce a comprehensive report that will guide the development of both a physical and virtual trail, highlighting the successes of the Rosenwald Schools and the communities they served. During the conference, participants raised important questions, including how additional schools could be integrated into the trail, what to do if a Rosenwald School site is known but not included in the study, and ways to support these preservation efforts. For more information or to get involved, visit [https://scrosenwaldtrail.org](https://scrosenwaldtrail.org) or contact us at info@wegoja.org.
Dawn Dawson-House, WeGOJA Foundation Executive Director, presents why the RSTS Study is so important in helping to develop a statewide trail of Rosenwald Schools that will showcase this important aspect of African American history in SC.
From Vision to State Park: A study of Rosenwald Schools will help determine the viability of a new historic trail.
Speakers, Timika Wilson, Dr. Larry Watson, Dr. Valinda Littlefield, Tripp Muldrow, Holley Springs, and Zach Bjur presented the rich history of the Rosenwald Schools in South Carolina at the 2024 Landmark Conference at SC State University. These early-20th century schools were built to serve rural African American children. Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald helped to ensure that the Black community could have a sustainable network of schools focused on community and education based on a cost shared model with funding from the Rosenwald Fund, the community, and the state. With over 500 schools built in SC, this network has regrettably been lost over time. At least 44 schools remain in some shape or form across SC. The Rosenwald Schools Trail Study seeks to determine whether a set of extant sites could become South Carolina’s first state park focused on African American and Jewish history. The study is a collaborative effort of the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, the WeGOJA Foundation, the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, the SC Department of Archives and History, and Rosenwald preservation organizations across the state. The study will focus on six sites: Great Branch Rosenwald School and Teacherage. Lincolnville, Hope School, St. George, Mt. Zion, and Pine Grove.
During the study, the Master Planners and Oral Historian will engage with alumni and community stakeholders to assess site integrity and build a descriptive narrative to design a plan that shares this important history with the public. This 18-month initiative will provide a report that any school and stakeholder could utilize to develop an interconnected trail both virtually and physically highlighting the success of the students and surrounding communities.
Key concerns from participants at the conference included: how other schools may be incorporated and included in a wider trail, what to do if you know a Rosenwald School isn’t depicted, but should be, and how best to assist in this important work. Join our community of volunteers, stakeholders, and advocates at our website for project updates and inquiries.
On March 20, 2024, we conducted our second visit to St. George as part of our ongoing study of the Rosenwald School and its impact on the community. Rotary Club Breakfast: Tripp Muldrow from the design team attended the St. George Rotary Club breakfast, where he introduced our study to the local business community. This event served as a vital platform for raising awareness and fostering connections among stakeholders. Community Engagement Meeting: In the afternoon, we held a community engagement meeting attended by key stakeholders, including board members from the Rosenwald School, county council representatives, Senator Stevens, and representatives from the Low Country Children’s Museum, along with engaged community members. The meeting was vibrant and productive, featuring lively discussions about the school’s upcoming programs, including a summer program for youth and the exciting opening of a satellite location for the Low Country Children’s Museum. Key Takeaways: The design team gained valuable insights into the community’s needs and the current utilization of the center. The input received during these discussions will play a crucial role in shaping our ongoing efforts and ensuring that our project aligns with the community’s vision and priorities. We appreciate the warm welcome from the St. George community and look forward to continuing our collaboration as we move forward with this important initiative. Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their perspectives!
The Conservation Voters of SC coordinated with legislators to recognize the work of the Rosenwald Schools Trail Study on Rosenwald Schools Day on Feb 28, 2024. Rosenwald Schools were recognized for their contribution to the education of African American students in South Carolina. Several Rosenwald Schools still stand today due to the dedication of the local community to provide community service in renovated spaces that pay homage to the contributions of the original students and educators.
A post from the CVSC Instagram page noted that “CVSC and the Rosenwald Schools Trail Study Steering Committee celebrated SC Rosenwald Schools Day at the Statehouse. We celebrated by dropping booklets off on legislators’ desks to highlight the urgent and necessary work that is being done to protect these schools and their stories.
A special thank you to Sen. Mike Fanning and Rep. Pat Henegan who recognized the steering committee and allowed them to give an update on the study that began in January.”
To flip through the RSTS Bulletin, click on RSTS Bulletin.
Seated is Pine Grove Rosenwald School student, Iris Taylor Simpkins. She conveyed her memories of going to a Rosenwald school, how education was valued in the community and how that education produced many outstanding students who became educators themselves. Brenda McGriff, volunteer curator and member of the SC Rosenwald Schools Trail Study Steering Committee, detailed the unique role of the school to the community to the Conservation Voters of South Carolina Board of Directors and the WeGOJA Foundation Project Leader. While the Rosenwald Fund helped to pay for the initial school in 1923, it was the Black community that came together to fund the remaining requirements to build and staff the school.
Iris will be featured in the upcoming February 28th SC Rosenwald Schools Trail Study Bulletin. This hard copy booklet features information on the contributors to the study and how the final product will include a master plan and oral histories that highlights both Jewish and African American stories. Pine Grove is one of the six schools initially included in this study.
