South Carolina African Americans – Historically Black Schools and Libraries

SC Historically Black Schools, Libraries

SC Historically Black Schools

Early Publicly Funded SC Black Schools

Many K12 schools evolved out of South Carolina's "separate but equal" building spree of the 1950s. (See more information on "SC Equalization Schools.") Some however, like the ones listed below, predate that era. If you know of a link for a school that should be added to this list, please write service@sciway.net. The school can be active or no longer in service.


School Near Summerville, South Carolina 1938 Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division © FSA-OWI Collection, LC-USF34-050522-D	Sketch of 1866 African American Classroom in Charleston Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division © FSA-OWI Collection, LC-USZ62-117666

Historic pictures of SC public schools - 1935-1950 - includes African-American and white schools
Elisha School - Newberry
Hampton Colored School
Joseph E. Beck High School - Greenville
Liberty Colored High School - Pickens County
Marlboro County Training High School - Bennettsville
Myrtle Beach Colored School
Ridgewood School - Columbia
Sterling High School - Greenville
Wilson High School - Florence

SC Historically Black Colleges, Universities

South Carolina has seven historically black colleges and universities.

SC historically black colleges, universities

SC Rosenwald Schools

Between 1917 and 1932, over 5,000 schools were built in the rural South to educate African-American children. They were called Rosenwald Schools in honor of Julius Rosenwald, then president of Sears and Roebuck, who provided the majority of funds for their construction.


Hopewell Rosenwald School - McCormick County National Register of Historic Places ©	Hannah Rosenwald School - Newberry County National Register of Historic Places ©

Rosenwald Schools in South Carolina
– Learn more - includes history and current preservation efforts
– Search SC database - National Register of Historic Places nomination forms (PDF) plus links to historic insurance photos
– National Register of Historic Places Rosenwald School Building Program Report - PDF - large file - includes summary of history of program, philanthropic contributions, and schools by county
– Search national database - photos of many of the schools plus detailed funding info
– Black Schools Restored as Landmarks - 2010 New York Times article encapsulates the history of the Pine Grove School in Richland County and the community it was the heart of

– Fountain Inn Colored High School - Greenville County
– Hope Rosenwald School - Pomaria
– Mt Zion School - Florence

Hope Rosenwald School © Ann Helms

SC Equalization Schools

Hundreds of "separate but equal" schools – also called "equalization" schools – were built in South Carolina during the 1950s in an effort to forestall integration.


Sweet Home - Horry County © scequalizationschools.org	Central Elementary - Lancaster County © scequalizationschools.org

South Carolina's Equalization Schools
– Learn more - an excellent guide!
– Listing of schools by county - click on blue school names to view photos

SC Agricultural, Industrial, and Normalization Schools

After the Civil War and throughout the first half of the 20th Century, normal, agricultural, and industrial schools were popular for African Americans.


Penn Center Historical Marker © SCIWAY	Brick Church - Second Location of Penn School © SCIWAY

Avery Normal Institute - Charleston - building is now home to College of Charleston's Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture
– Picture - scroll down to bottom picture
Brewer Normal School - Greenwood
Charleston Normal and Industrial Institute - see article on left
Laing Normal and Industrial School - Mt. Pleasant - plus picture
Lancaster Normal and Industrial Institute - see top pictures
Mather Industrial School for Girls - Beaufort - see top pictures
– Historical marker
Mayesville Educational and Industrial Institute - Mayesville - includes pictures
Penn Center - St Helena Island
Port Royal Agricultural School - see second article on left
Providence Normal Academy and Industrial School - Cowpens - see bottom article on right
Schofield Normal and Industrial School - Aiken
– Brief history and picture - see bottom article

SC Black Boarding and Private Schools

Beginning after the Civil War and continuing for several decades, private high schools for African Americans were established in response to the lack of public education opportunities.


Bettis Academy - Edgefield County National Register of Historic Places ©	Boylan-Haven-Mather Academy - Kershaw County BHMA National Alumni Association ©

Bailey View Academy - Greer - see article on right
Bettis Academy - Trenton
– Brief history - see second article on left
– Records held at South Caroliniana Library
Boylan-Haven-Mather Academy - Camden
Brainerd Institute - Chester
– Brief history and picture - see bottom article
– Historical marker
Clinton Institute - Rock Hill
Coulter Memorial Academy - Cheraw
Fairfield Institute - Winnsboro
Flegler High School - Marion - see top article on right
Hardin Institute - Allendale - see article on left
Kendall Institute - Sumter - plus pictures
Mather Academy and Browning Industrial Home - Camden - see top article on right
McCormick Industrial Graded School - see second article on right
America's "Other" Private Schools - PDF - article appeared in the January/February 2000 issue of The New Crisis

SC Historically Black Libraries

History of Library Services for SC Blacks - great site! - includes information about historic libraries with documents and photographs
Avery Research Center - College of Charleston
Charles H. Houston Center for the Study of the Black Experience in Education - Clemson University - examines and addresses educational issues that impact African Americans in SC and throughout the US