Confederation
of South Carolina
Local Historical Societies
In the early 1960s, South Carolina realized it had a pleasant kind of challenge to meet. All over the state, almost 100 enthusiastic organizations existed to encourage the study of "nearby history." They included roundtables and study circles; museum and preservation commissions; local research, archival and genealogical societies; and various combinations thereof. How could everyone work together at the state level to promote the study and preservation of our rich community histories?
An important part of
the answer to that question was the creation of the Confederation of South
Carolina Local Historical Societies. On April 4, 1964, representatives of
fourteen historical societies met at Batesburg-Leesville and officially
organized the Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies.
The Lexington County Historical Society sponsored the meeting, and Dr.
Charles E. Lee, then director of the South Carolina Department of Archives
and History, supported its creation. The Confederation’s first annual
“Landmark Conference” was held in 1965 in Hilton Head and Savannah, with the
South Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs and the National Trust for
Historic Preservation as co-sponsors.
The Confederation's mission is to
encourage and strengthen local organizations involved in the preservation and
study of historical documents, sites, buildings, and artifacts through the
exchange of information and cooperative activities. Today, the Confederation
has about fifty member organizations. Members include historical societies,
commissions, foundations, preservation groups, museums, archives, and
patriotic organizations. The Confederation is governed by an executive
council, made up of statewide officers and regional representatives from ten
county clusters or districts.
Please join us for our annual Landmark Conference, which will be held this year at the Marriot in Spartanburg, SC on April 18, 19 and 20, 2013. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Sparkle City: A Diverse Legacy.” For more information please contact Becky Slayton, Treasurer, at (864) 431-1571 or reslayton@gmail.com.
Conference Information (PDF) Conference Registration Form (PDF)
Silent Auction Form (PDF) Application for Vendor Table (PDF)
What the Confederation Does for You and South Carolina
Awards and Recognition
An annual
Confederation awards program recognizes historical organizations for
outstanding achievements in local history. The Confederation also sponsors
several awards for individuals including the Alexander S. Salley Professional
Service Award, the Robert N. Pryor Volunteer Service Award, and the Margaret
Watson Award for an outstanding research paper on South Carolina history
written by an undergraduate student at one of South Carolina's colleges.
2012 Awards Winners (PDF)
2011 Awards Winners (PDF)
Confederation
Awards Criteria (PDF)
Awards Nomination
Form (PDF)
Margaret Watson
Undergraduate History Award Criteria (PDF)
Margaret Watson Undergraduate History Award Winners:
2011, “The
Orangeburg Massacre,” by Amy Pulaski (PDF)
2012, “United
Ministries’ Changing Methods of Compassion,” by Tim Anglea (PDF)
Networking
The Confederation offers educational programs with topics of interest to local historical organizations and opportunities to come together with people from similar organizations around the state to share ideas and experiences. The Confederation also assists the Department of Archives and History in maintaining the Directory of South Carolina's Local History, Historic Preservation, and Cultural Organizations (PDF).
Advocacy
The Confederation educates the South Carolina General Assembly about issues of interest to local historical organizations. For example, the Confederation recently advocated the approval of state tax incentives for historic preservation projects and funding to allow the Research Room at the Department of Archives and History to open on Saturdays.
South Carolina Hall of Fame
The Confederation is
the official nominating body for the South Carolina Hall of Fame. Each year
member organizations of the Confederation submit names of candidates to the
Confederation's Executive Council, which selects ten nominees for each of the
two categories---contemporary and deceased. The list of nominees is sent to
the Hall of Fame's Board of Trustees, which elects one inductee from each
category.
Hall of Fame
Nomination Form (PDF)
South Carolina Hall of
Fame Inductees For 2013
Deceased category: William Glover Farrow
Contemporary
category: Cale Yarborough
Membership
Membership in the Confederation is open to all historical, genealogical,
cultural and heritage organizations based in South Carolina, both
non-profit and for-profit. Membership dues are based on organization
size and are currently $30 per annum for organizations with less than
100 members, and $50 per annum for organizations with 100 or more
members.
Membership Application and Renewal Form (PDF)
Confederation of South
Carolina Local Historical Societies
Officers and
Members of the Executive Council, 2013
Officers:
President
Mr. J.R. Fennell
Director Lexington County Museum
P.O. Box 637
Lexington, SC 29071
(803) 359-8369
Vice-President
Mr. Bob Barrett
3903 W. Eagle Street
Florence, SC 29501
(843)
617-0050 (c)
barr1947@bellsouth.net
Ms. Gina White
Winthrop
University
145 Saluda Street
Chester, SC 29706
(803) 581-2452 (h)
(803) 323-2334 (w)
Ms. Becky Slayton
Spartanburg County Historical Association
P.O. Box 887
Spartanburg, SC 29304
(864) 278-9664
Mr. Mike Scoggins
Historic Brattonsville
212 East Jefferson Street
York, SC 29745
(803) 684-3948
micscoggins@chmuseums.org
Council Members:
District 1: Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg Counties
Ms. Anne Sheriff
988 Old Shirley Road
Central, SC 29630
(864) 888-7387
District 2: Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Saluda, and Edgefield Counties
Ms. Meade Hendrix
Saluda County Historical Society
116 Sardis Road
Saluda, SC 29139
(864) 445-2686 (w)
(864) 445-8410 (h)
Ms. Ann Evans
The
Springs Close Family Archives
P.O. Box 2091
Fort Mill, SC 29716
(803) 547-4557
ann@2bowles.com
Ms. Brenda Baratto
Aiken County Historical Museum
805 River Bluff Road
North Augusta, SC 29803
(803) 613-1178 (h)
(803) 270-9400 (cell)
District 6: Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter Counties
Mr.
Charles Broadwell
2804 Girard Drive
Sumter, SC 29150
(803) 409-2127
District 7: Chesterfield, Dillon, Darlington, Florence, Marlboro, and Marion Counties
Mr.
Randy McAllister
3902 Cherry Johnson Road
Effingham, SC 29541
(843) 662-5317
District 8: Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg Counties
Mr. Ron Daise
Vice President for Creative Education
Brookgreen Gardens
P.0. Box 2092
Pawleys Island, SC 29585
(843) 235-6011
District 9: Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties
Ms. Georgette Mayo
Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture
College of Charleston
125 Bull Street
Charleston, SC 29424
(843) 953-7627
(843) 953.7612 (Fax)
(843) 813-6511 (c)
District 10: Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties
Ms. Sherry Cawley
Walterboro Historic Preservation Commission
116 Charles Street
Walterboro, SC 29488
(843) 549-5757 (h)
(843) 549-3317 (Fax)
(843) 908-0746 (c)
The Confederation of South Carolina Local
Historical Societies encourages South Carolinians to use our rich history in an
inclusive way to build goodwill and better communities. We urge your
organization:
"Don't just celebrate the past---use it."