Briggs v. Elliott at Sixty by Rebekah Dobrasko

Sixty years ago, the United States District Court in Charleston handed down a ruling in Briggs v. Elliott. On June 17, 1951, the court ruled against the plaintiffs in the case, stating that segregation was allowed in public schools as long as the school facilities between the races were equal. Briggs v. Elliott was appealed to the Supreme Court as the first primary and secondary public school case suing for desegregation and the District Court’s ruling was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court in their decision of Brown v. Board of Education on May 17, 1954.

The Briggs v. Elliott case originated out of Summerton in Clarendon County. African American parents were frustrated with the lack of transportation, the poor school facilities, and the lack of trained teachers in their local schools. After working with the South Carolina National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Summerton pastor J.A. De Laine began organizing local community members to appeal for school equalization. African American parents first attempted to force the school district to provide transportation for their students, but the lawsuit eventually progressed to calling for the equalization of school facilities and teacher salaries and then to suing for the desegregation of schools. The Archives and History Center has a copy of the first Briggs v. Elliott petition that called for school equalization: http://www.palmettohistory.org/exhibits/briggs/index.htm.

Briggs v. Elliott is a nationally significant case, as it was the NAACP’s first lawsuit calling for the desegregation of primary and secondary schools. The commitment of the Clarendon County African American parents impressed the NAACP, as the organization was at first reluctant to support a desegregation case in a Deep South state. Briggs v. Elliott also caused the State of South Carolina to pass its first sales tax of 3% to raise money to build new black schools. South Carolina was intent on providing “separate but equal” schools to prove to the Supreme Court that the state was committed to African American education. Although the Supreme Court overturned Briggs and four other school desegregation cases in their landmark 1954 decision Brown v. Board of Education, schools were not desegregated in Summerton (or in the rest of South Carolina) until after 1963.

The Archives and History Center has a wide variety of documents and sources related to the Briggs v. Elliott case. In addition to one of the petitions filed in the case, which can be found in the Clarendon County Superintendant of Education files, the governors papers of James F. Byrnes has a wealth of letters, correspondence, and other documentation about Briggs. Byrnes was elected governor in 1951 and served until 1955 and was the leader of South Carolina for the majority of the Briggs lawsuit. Byrnes’ papers also hold records of the State Educational Finance Commission, the state commission in charge of building new black schools for equalization purposes. Two of these schools are also listed in the National Register of Historic Places: Mary Wright Elementary School in Spartanburg, SC: http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/spartanburg/S10817742060/index.htm and Florence Benson Elementary School in Columbia, SC: http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/richland/S10817740148/index.htm. The South Carolina Department of Education papers are also held at the Archives and History Center and contain information related to the Briggs case.

Some of the places associated with the case are also part of the Archives and History Center records. Summerton High School, the white high school that was significantly better constructed and equipped than the black Scott’s Branch High School, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places: http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/clarendon/S10817714006/index.htm. Churches associated with African American organizational meetings, such as Liberty Hill A.M.E. Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, all have state historical markers honoring their role in Briggs: http://www.scaet.org/markers/.

Teachers working with the Teaching American History program here at the Archives and History Center have used our documents and other historical sites to develop a multitude of lesson plans for use in the classroom. See:
1. Separate but Equal? A Lesson on Briggs v. Elliott (Grade 3) http://www.teachingushistory.org/lessons/separatebutequal.html
2. “Bus”ting Down the Doors of Segregation (Grade 3) http://www.teachingushistory.org/lessons/BustingDowntheDoorsofSegregation.html
3. Civil Rights Through Photographs (Grades 5 and 8) http://www.teachingushistory.org/lessons/civilrightsphotographs.html
4. School Desegregation in South Carolina (Grade 11) http://www.teachingushistory.org/lessons/schooldesegregation.html

Memorial Day By Caleb Miller

Next week on Monday we will celebrate Memorial Day. This holiday commemorates US soldiers who have died in military service. It was first created to honor Civil War soldiers who had died fighting. After World War 1, it extended to include all American soldiers who lost their lives. To honor them, American flags are flown at half-staff from dawn until noon. Many people observe the event by visiting cemeteries and memorials. Relatives and friends of the deceased visit their graves to pay their respects. The National Memorial Day Concert is held on the West Lawn of the US Capitol. It is celebrated on the last Monday of May every year. Originally, it was celebrated on May 30. In 1971 the holiday was moved to its current date. It also marks the start of summer vacation. Honor our fallen soldiers by observing Memorial Day, for they gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country.

Putting Order to Chaos: Treasure Discovered in Miscellaneous Collection

By Craig Glass

Walking into the Department of Archives & History research area
reveals a room filled with indexed cabinets of film in perfect order
and reference desk aides who can point you to just about any official
records that the state has ever kept since it was a Province (not even
a Colony yet!) in 1671. But things weren't always so organized.

In the 1880's and 1890's, the official South Carolina Confederate
Historian attempted to collect and compile service records of all
South Carolina units. Large sheets of paper with standardized rows
and columns were included with letters sent to veterans of the "late
unpleasantness" all across the country, especially to unit Captains
and other officers. These letters asked anyone who had original
Muster Rolls, which were detailed unit rosters, to compile information about his unit and return the large papers, filled-in of course. When
the documents came back, there were some surprises, including several original Rolls from the battlefields, some personal recollections of war stories, and other State and Confederate records. At some point, these documents and others relating to the Civil War period were packed up into fourteen boxes, unorganized and possibly done in a rush, personal letters mixed with compiled Muster Rolls mixed with
General Assembly Resolutions from the era, and more.

Of particular note was a compiled Roll of "Brooks' Battalion of
Foreigners". Inside were listed the officers of the Battalion and a
handwritten letter from one of them, describing the amazing story:


Genl M. L. Bonham, Jr.,
Adjt + Insp. General of So. Ca.
Sir, During the Summer, or Fall, of 1864 when the Confederate forces had been reduced almost to an army of cripples and there were no more old men or boys from whom to get recruits, and when the Federal authorities, after having arrayed against us men from nearly every race of Europe, had armed the negroes and placed them in their ranks, the Confederate authorities conceived the idea of forming battalions from federal prisoners of war of foreign birth who would take the oath of allegiance and join our ranks. On the 16th May 1864 at Drewry’s Bluff, Capt. J. H. Brooks had been wounded in three places and lost nearly all of his Co. “H”, Nelson’s (7th) S.C. Battalion and had been mentioned by Genl Hagood (who regarded him as one of his best officers) in his report of the battle for “Conspicuous gallantry”. After his recovery from his wounds Capt. Brooks was selected to command one of the foreign battalions authorized to be raised and about the 10th October 1864 proceeded to organize the same at Summerville S.C. under the name of “Brooks’ Battalion of Regulars”. The Battalion was composed of men of nearly all European Nations (including an Italian who could not speak English) but the Irish and Germans predominated. A large number of men from the Northern States (some pretending to be Englishmen) escaped the vigilance of Maj. Black, of Genl. Hardee’s Staff, who enlisted them and became, unfortunately, members of the command. During Dec. 1864 Companies A, B, C and D, were ordered to Honey Hill but arriving too late to take part in that fight, were sent to Savannah where, most injudiciously, they were placed on most important outposts.
On, or about, the night of Dec. 16th 1864 this command was stationed on one side of a Rice Field with the Federal troops on the other side, a dam on each side of the Encampment connecting the two. On each of these dams were two militia pickets and at the head of one of the dams there were two field pieces commanded by Captain Simkins. About 7¼ O’clock p.m. a Sergeant of Co. “A” called Capt. Martin into a tent and told him that there would be a mutiny at Eight O’clock p.m., that the men had received a message from Genl. Sherman threatening that they would all be killed if he captured Savannah and found them in arms. Consequently they had planned to go over to the enemy in a body and to buck and gag the officers and take them with them. If the officers resisted (which they expected them to do) they were to be killed and taken anyhow. Capt. Brooks, Capt. Minott and Lieut. Goodwin went for assistance with which to capture the men. Capt. Martin, being officer of the day and Second in Command, for an hour and a half, or more, was left in was left in command of the camp, assisted by Captains Wardlaw and Simkins. Lieut Teuten was sent away as being a useless sacrifice. The men became very insubordinate, one company “B” going so far as to buck the stacks of arms in order to commence the mutiny and desertion. By the coolness and address of the officers, however, the rising was delayed until Col. Brooks and Capt. Minott arrived with militia troops and captured the command. The ringleaders were punished in accordance with the provisions of the army regulations and the men were taken to Savannah but the former officers of the Battalion were given a Guard and put in charge of them. Through the kindness of Maj. Black, of Genl Hardee’s Staff, who knew the danger to which these officers were exposed, on the night that Savannah was evacuated this Body of men was the first who crossed the pontoon bridge and the men formerly composing companies A, B, C and D, of Brooks’ Battalion were taken by captains Martin and Wardlaw back to the prison at Florence.
This will explain why the names of the men are not given but as a this battalion has often been alluded to and was in active service for a short time, in the interest of truth and in justice to the officers who were only providentially prevented from meeting a most tragic end, I hope that you will place the names of the officers above mentioned and the battalion to which they belonged (to-gether with this explanatory note) amont the records of Confederate Organizations now being filed in your offices.
Respectfully,
Vincent F. Martin
Charleston S.C.
Feby 22d 1889

For more information about the Civil War in South Carolina, visit the Sesquicentennial Facebook Page for news, notes, and events.

American Bike Month By Caleb Miller

In the month of May, Americans celebrate Bike Month and bike-riding is encouraged. This vehicle is an alternate form of transportation. The first bicycle made its debut in 1817. During the 1870s the first bike to actually be called a bicycle, the high-bicycle, was used. The safety bicycle, the start of our modern bicycles, was successfully created in 1885. Ever since that invention, the bicycle has been used widely. In Portland, Oregon, more people bike to work than just about any other city in the US. Today is bike-to-work day, would you ever consider biking instead of driving? The League of American Bicyclists is the official sponsor of the event. Go out and enjoy this basic two-wheeled vehicle. It is good for exercise and is fun to ride. You can work out your legs, lungs, and heart to a huge degree. There are bike trails all throughout the state. Some trails are hard-core, such as the Swamp Fox Passage of Palmetto Trail in Charleston or others are for leisure enjoyment.

Photos courtesy of the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/

May is Preservation Month

Many good causes have a day, a week, or even a month, to raise awareness and celebrate accomplishments. Those who love old buildings, neighborhoods, and downtowns, and work to save the places that matter to them have Preservation Month in May. What a fitting time, with new growth and life all around us during spring, to celebrate the new life and rejuvenation that historic preservation projects can bring to communities. (May is also Mental Health Month....maybe you sometimes need to be a little crazy to try and save historic places.) Preservation is about the past, but first and foremost it is about the present and future, providing folks today with creative and unique places to live, work, worship, and relax, and giving future generations those same opportunities.

The theme for Preservation Month this year is Celebrating America’s Treasures. Here in South Carolina, the State Historic Preservation Office created a poster that features some of South Carolina’s very own treasures that have been recognized as National Historic Landmarks. The poster can be viewed online at http://shpo.sc.gov/. (For more information about NHLs see http://www.nps.gov/history/nhl/.)

So during this most beautiful of months, remember Preservation Month. Take a moment to look around your community to see its historic treasures…both the diamonds in the rough that may need some repairs, and those that are sparkling and well-cared for. Thank those owners and leaders who are dedicated to the good stewardship of these treasures. We are all the richer for their presence…the buildings and the people who care for them.

Civil War Era Currency Auction

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History is auctioning, in sealed bid format, 317 lots of obsolete currency during the month of May. The Archives had 40 boxes worth of currency (now down to about 36 boxes) dating from the 1820's through the 1860's, all of which was issued by The Bank of the State of South Carlina; the bundles were sealed in 1880 when people redeemed the notes for state bonds, and we have recently started opening the bundles and selling many of the notes at public auction. This auction includes fractionals and whole-dollar notes of every denomination, as well as plate sets, similar note sets, and even uncut sheets, on the back of which are whole railroad bond notes. One $1 note is signed by Confederate General and SC Governor Wade Hampton, and some notes were previously unknown to the numismatic community. All of the proceeds will go to preservation efforts (storage and equipment, non-acidic document folders, etc.); it's a great gift for the agency to have during a budget crisis.

You can check out all the auction details on our website http://www.palmettohistory.org/currencyauction/index.html which includes a PDF file of the entire catalog with color images of every lot being sold. Anyone planning to be in the Columbia area on May 3 and/or May 26 should stop by the SCDAH to actually see the notes live (more details in the catalog), but most bidders will likely use the catalog as their only guide.


Happy Bidding!!!


Written by Craig Glass, SCDAH volunteer and currency auction project team member

Fort Sumter Remembered by Caleb Miller

On April 12th, the battle of Fort Sumter started. This 34-hour battle was the first battle of the Civil War. This fort was a valuable asset, due to its location in the Charleston Harbor. A group of Union soldiers, led by Major Robert Anderson, were stationed at the fort. Confederate forces fired on the fort from all around the harbor, with Union troops returning the fire as best as they could. Surprisingly, there were no fatalities during this huge bombardment. After the long fight, Anderson finally surrendered the fort. The North was enraged at the attack and the country went into all out war. Thus, the attack was not only the first battle but also a catalyst for creating a war. There had been tensions mounting before this but the Fort Sumter attack sent everyone into battle mode. Fort Sumter serves as a monument to the valor of soldiers on both sides of the Civil War and remains a major tourist attraction today.

Editor's Note: April 12, 2011 is the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War and the nation is engaged in commemoration events until 2015. I encourage you all to visit exhibits, tours, and lectures to soak up history! Come visit the Archives and see documents leading up to the war including the Ordinance of Secession and research South Carolina's role in the war.