Presentation for African American Studies Conference, October 2006

South Carolina Department of Archives & History Teaching American History in South Carolina www.state.sc.us/scdah
Teaching American History in South Carolina l U.S. Dept. of Education Grant Initiative, Office of Innovation and Improvement l 663 TAH Grants Awarded Nationwide Since 2001 (about 6 in South Carolina currently) l TAHSC Awarded $953,361 in October 2001 and $999,558 in July 2004 (awarded to Richland 2)
TAHSC Summer Institutes l Lowcountry, Midlands, and Pee Dee l Content Instruction l Master Teacher Workshops l Class takes place at local historic sites, museums, libraries, and repositories l Teachers receive stipends, graduate history credit, free food & goodies!
TAHSC Portfolio Assignment l Teachers each create original lessons that utilize local primary sources l Teachers assigned to specific cultural institutions l Research support in the Fall l Assignments due the following February l Lessons at www.teachingUShistory.org
African American Heritage Programs l Program of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) begun in 2005 l Purpose – Identify, record, recognize, and encourage the preservation of African American historic places – Help all South Carolinians to more fully understand and appreciate the contributions of African Americans to the state l Initiatives – Website – Rosenwald School Survey (Database) – Technical Assistance & Outreach (National Register/SHM)
African American Historic Places in South Carolina l Published annually in print and on­line l Contains African American historic sites recognized by either listing in the National Register or the erection of a state historical marker l Organized by county, locale, and name of site
Purpose of TAHSC and AAHP Collaboration To educate teachers and the general public about history through the use of primary sources. Primary sources are first­hand accounts of events and experiences, both public and personal. They include: •original manuscripts or reprints of original manuscripts •letters, diaries, documents, books •posters, play scripts, speeches, songs, sheet music •films, photographs, drawings •objects, structures, and landscapes •first­person accounts and newspaper articles that are created at the time an event occurred
“Effects of the Stono Rebellion” Lesson by Lisa Bevans, Drayton Hall Elementary l Historical Background Essay Provided narrative on story of Stono Rebellion and the reaction in the establishment of the 1740 Slave Code l Primary and Secondary Sources Cited only firsthand account of the rebellion (letter from William Bull), 1740 Slave Code, & Peter Wood’s Black Majority l Procedures Students worked in groups reading Bull letter and analyzing selected section of the 1740 Slave Code Social Studies Indicator: 4­2.7 Explain how conflicts and cooperation among Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans influenced colonial events including the French and Indian Wars, slave revolts, Native American Wars, and trade. See Social Studies Indicators 3­2.7 and 8­1.4.
“Effects of the Stono Rebellion” Lesson by Lisa Bevans, Drayton Hall Elementary l Primary Sources Used in this Lesson
1. Bull, William, Governor of South Carolina, to the Royal Council, 5 October 1739. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina. 2. 1740 South Carolina Slave Code. Acts of the South Carolina General Assembly, 1740 # 670. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina. Historic Places relating to the Stono Rebellion l Stono River Rebellion Site, Rantowles Vicinity, Charleston County (September 9­10,1739) l AAHP Booklet page 17 – Listed in the National Register July 1974 – Historical Marker Re­dedication September 2006
“African American Life in the Pee Dee Before the Civil War” Lesson by Sharon Byram, St. John’s Elementary l Historic Background Essay Provided narrative on life of Alex Gregg and other enslaved Africans living in coastal plain of South Carolina l Primary and Secondary Sources Cited a ledger book (c.1849) and day book (c.1856) from J. Eli Gregg Papers, Vernon’s African Americans at Mars Bluff, and National Register Nomination for the Slave Houses l Lesson Procedures Read story about how Africans came to SC, gave PowerPoint presentation on the cabins, compare these families to those described in Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. Students constructed quilts to describe their lives. Social Studies Indicator: 3.4­2 Summarize the institution of slavery prior to the Civil War; include reference to conditions in SC, the invention of the cotton gin, subsequent expansion of slavery, and economic dependence on slavery.
“African American Life in the Pee Dee Before the Civil War” Lesson by Sharon Byram, St. John’s Elementary l Primary and Secondary Sources Used in this Lesson 1. Gregg, J. Eli. Day Book, 1856­1857. "J. Eli Gregg papers." South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. 2. Vernon, Amelia W. African Americans at Mars Bluff South Carolina. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1993.
Historic Places relating to African Americans in the Pee Dee l Slave Houses, Gregg Plantation (Hewn­Timber Cabins), Mars Bluff, Florence County l AAHP Booklet page 25 – Listed in the National Register July 1974 – Historical Marker Dedication 2002
“Robert Smalls: Warrior and Peacemaker” Lesson by Lynn Moseley, Lakeview Education Center l Historical Background Essay Provided narrative on Smalls’ life, especially the daring feat that made him a Civil War hero and his rise to position of U.S. Congressman l Primary and Secondary Sources Cited photographs of Smalls, sketches of The Planter, letter from Smalls to Governor Chamberlain, and Edward Miller’s Gullah Statesman l Lesson Procedures Students reenacted Smalls’ escape to Union lines and read a transcript (with glossary) of letter from Smalls to Chamberlain Social Studies Indicator: 4­6.4 Summarize significant key battles, strategies, and turning points of the Civil War…and the role of African Americans during the War. Social Studies Indicator: 5­1.2 Summarize the provisions of the 13 th , 14 th , and 15 th Amendments to the Constitution, including how the amendments protected the rights of African Americans and sought to enhance their political, social, and economic opportunities.
“Robert Smalls: Warrior and Peacemaker” Lesson by Lynn Moseley, Lakeview Education Center l Primary Sources Used in this Lesson 1. Smalls, Robert to Governor Daniel Chamberlain, 24 August 1876. Papers of Governor Daniel Chamberlain. S518024 Box 14. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, SC. 2. Typed transcription of letter cited above.
Historic Places relating to Robert Smalls l Robert Smalls House, Beaufort, Beaufort County l AAHP Booklet page 4 – Listed in the National Register July 1974
Briggs v. Elliott Petition, 1949 l This Clarendon County petition argued that separate schools for African Americans were “inadequate and unhealthy,” “overcrowded,” and “dilapidated.” l Signed by Thurgood Marshall, attorney for the case, as well as other concerned parents in the community l Original at SC Dept. of Archives and History Social Studies Indicators: 3­5.6: Summarize the key events and effects of the civil rights movement in SC, including the desegregation of schools (Briggs v. Elliott) and other public facilities and the acceptance of African Americans’ right to vote. See also Social Studies Indicator 5­5.3, 8­7.4, and USHC­9.5.
Briggs v. Elliott Petition, 1949 l First and Last Pages of the Petition 1. Petition of Harry Briggs, et al., to the Board of Trustees for School District No. 22. 11 November 1949. Clarendon County Board of Education, L14167. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina.
Historic Places relating to Briggs v. Elliott l Summerton High School, Summerton & Liberty Hill A.M.E. Church, St. Paul Vicinity, Clarendon County l AAHP Booklet page 19 – Summerton HS: Listed in the National Register July 1974 – Liberty A.M.E. Church: Historical Marker Dedication 1985
CD­ROM for TAHSC.AAHP
This CD contains over 300 files of primary sources intended for use by teachers of American history and Social Studies. The CD is divided into two main parts: “TAHSC Treasure Trove” and “African American Historic Places.” Teaching American History In South Carolina African American Historic Places in South Carolina Contacts l Don Stewart, TAH Project Director [email protected] 803­896­6224 l Leah Brown, African American Programs Coordinator [email protected] 803­896­8121
South Carolina Department of Archives & History Teaching American History in South Carolina www.state.sc.us/scdah