This is a draft of an expanded history of the University of South Carolina. We recognize that there is a dearth of information regarding most historically marginalized communities’ contributions to the University. This is meant to be a place to start from.
Each of the following should be a link to further information.
African Americans
Slavery at South Carolina College
- Slavery at South Carolina College old version | newer version
A project by University of South Carolina history graduate students - History Unveiled
Coverage of the historical marker to enslaved workers on campus - "Jack at South Carolina College: Remembering Enslaved People in Columbia"
An article featuring history graduate student Jill Found’s work on Jack, an enslaved scientist on campus - "Looking For Jack: Remembering the Days podcast"
UofSC’s podcast episode featuring Jill Found’s research on Jack, enslaved by South Carolina College
Reconstruction and African American Advancement
- Reconstruction Era Symposium
Information about the university’s 2016 symposium “Reconstruction Era: History and Public Memory Symposium,” featuring historian Eric Foner - Normal Schools
Encyclopedia article on institutions that trained teachers - "African American presence at USC"
History of African Americans at the university, compiled by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs - Richard T. Greener
Richard T. Greener Memorial
UofSC webpage about Greener and his monument on campus
"Larger than life, Richard T. Greener"
Episode of university podcast Remembering the Days on Richard Greener, including comments from Katherine Chaddock, professor emerita of the College of Education
“What should replace Confederate statues?”
Background on the Greener statue by Christian K. Anderson, Associate Professor of Higher Education
Desegregation
- “1963-2013: Desegregation—Integration Reflections”
Remembrances of desegregation in Columbia and SC by the Museum of Education - “Raised for Activism: Henrie Monteith and the Desegregation of the University of South
Carolina”
Article in the South Carolina Historical Magazine by Rebecca L. Miller detailing Monteith’s role in desegregating the university - UofSC’s desegregation commemorative garden
Entry on Green Book of South Carolina website
University website on desegregation
Civil Rights Movement
- Justice for All Exhibit
Description of the Justice For All: South Carolina and the American Civil Rights Movement Exhibit on the UofSC campus - Carving a Path Through Justice: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Three-part series with Dr. Bobby Donaldson, detailing the Civil Rights Movement in Columbia and South Carolina
Post-Civil Rights Achievements
Town and Gown Relations from a Historical Standpoint
- Ward One
A historically black neighborhood marked as blight, is now site of several university buildings
Ward One Application and Project
Ward One Organization website
Narrative: Remembering Ward One in Columbia
StoryCorps interview with Mattie Anderson-Roberson and Richard Caughman, former Ward One residents, via SC Public Radio
And Lest We Forget: Remembering Ward One
Exhibit curated by Ashley N. Bouknight, formerly on display in South Caroliniana Library - Redlining in Columbia
Interactive map detailing the “redlining” of Columbia, or the refusal to give loans to “poor financial risk” neighborhoods - Booker T. Washington
- Waverly Community
1989 National Register Information for Waverly Historic District
Faculty
- Nikky Finney
Poet Nikky Finney embraces outspoken candor to inform, educate, motivate
University of South Carolina piece on professor and poet Nikky Finney - Willie Lloyd Harriford Jr. and Wendy Harriford Platt
An educator’s legacy: Daughter of pioneering Carolina administrator earns doctorate and fulfills lifelong dream
University of South Carolina piece on Willie Lloyd Harriford Jr.’s legacy as our first African American administrator and Civil Rights activist, and his daughter Wendy Harriford Platt’s doctorate - Dr. Grace Jordan McFadden
First Black female professor in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Began work at the University of South Carolina in 1971 at the SC School Desegregation Center
Chaired the African American studies department from 1988-1994
The African American Studies Department gives out an award in her honor every year - Dr. Johnnie McFadden
First Black full professor at UofSC
Hired after completing his doctorate as a part of the SC School Desegregation Center’s program of creating more diverse doctoral candidates
Hired as an Assistant Professor in 1973
In 1988, he became the first African American to have an endowed chair
Staff
- Curtis Frye, first Black head coach and brought the university its first team NCAA
championship
Frye was also the first African American to serve as president of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)
Curtis Frye assumes role as USTFCCCA President
Coach Curtis Frye; Legendary USC Track Coach - Harold White, first Black coach
“Scholarship honors legacy of UofSC’s first African American football coach”
UofSC coverage of a scholarship in Harold White’s name
Students
- Carlton Haywood, first African American recruit
“Football pioneer Carlton Haywood reflects on his place in Gamecock history” - Jackie Brown, first Black starter in football and first African American to earn a
varsity letter
“Gamecocks Celebrate First African American Student Athletes” - Gail Ransome, first Black Homecoming Queen
Garnet and Black yearbook (1974) detailing Ransome’s crowning - Harry Walker, first Black Student Body President
“Harry Walker: Black President chosen”
Coverage in the Daily Gamecock (1971)
“Black Elected Student President at South Carolina U”
New York Times (1971) coverage of Walker’s election
“50 Years Later, Harry Walker Reflects Back on His Time as USC’s First Black Student Body President”
Organizations
- National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Fraternities and Sororities
- Kappa Alpha Psi, first Black Greek-letter org
“‘The lineage is strong’: Kappa Alpha Psi fosters leaders, builds community over last 50 years”
Daily Gamecock Coverage Kappa Alpha Psi’s 50th Anniversary
Oral Histories
LGBTQIA+
History
- 1973 USC Gay Liberation Front’s charter was vetoed by the vice president for student affairs. (The Gamecock July 12, 1973 pp 3, 7)
- Robin Waites (Historic Columbia) and UofSC Graduate Student (Travis Wagner) are working on the Queer Cola: Oral History and Digital Archive Project
Faculty
Staff
Students
Organizations
Oral Histories
Women (Including Faculty Wives)
General history of women on campus
- 100 Years of Suffrage Series
UofSC coverage of women’s history nationwide, in South Carolina, and on campus, featuring History faculty
Reconstruction through ratification
After the vote, comes an era of 'firsts'
From ERA to new millennium
The 21st century and beyond - “Co-ed campus”
Remembering the Days podcast on women’s history on campus - A Woman’s Right exhibit: Part 1 | Part 2
Exhibit on the History of Women at South Carolina, curated by Jennifer Gunter shown at the McKissick Museum
Students
- Frances Guignard Gibbes, first woman to enroll at UofSC
“This month in SC history: Frances Gibbes is first woman to enroll at USC”
Article in the Greenwood Index-Journal (2019) on Gibbes - Claudia James Sullivan, first female graduate of UofSC Law School
- Vickie Eslinger, women’s rights activist
‘I was probably there to protect the student union offices so they wouldn’t get trashed:’ Vickie Eslinger recalls her role in UofSC student protest in May 1970
UofSC interview with Eslinger on the Antiwar Protests of May 1970 - Victoria L. Eslinger
Eslinger’s entry as an honoree in Historic Columbia’s City of Women - “South Carolina Athletics: The First 18” overview video
University of South Carolina Athletics’ 6-part series on South Carolina’s first female scholarship student athletes (2015)
Faculty
Staff
Admin
Native Americans
Organizations
- Native American Association
“Native Americans create USC group”
Daily Gamecock coverage of the group’s founding in 1988
Latinos
Organizations
- Student Alliance for Latin Americas (SALA)
Students promote Latin American culture
The Gamecock coverage of the group’s founding in 1996
Involvement possibilities at organizational fair
The Gamecockcoverage of the group making its first appearance at the Student Organizational fair in 1996
Asian Americans
Pacific Islanders
Students
- Lisa Misipeka, Former All-American and Olympian
“Catching Up with Former All-American and Olympian Lisa Misipeka”
Gamecock Athletics interview with Misipeka (2017)
“‘Throwin Samoan’ shines at home”
Coverage of Misipeka in The Gamecock (1997)
Jewish/Muslim/and Other Marginalized Religions
African
Custodial and Maintenance Workers
Other Staff
International Faculty and Students
Student Research
Town and Gown Relations From a Historical Standpoint
- Black House (part of Inn at UofSC)
- Ferguson Mill Town
“Memories of a drowned town: Honors senior’s thesis project explores history of a former SC mill town”
UofSC coverage of Caldwell Loftis and his senior thesis on now-flooded mill town Ferguson, SC - Mill Houses
Olympia Mills Museum
Museum presents the history of Olympia and Granby Mills, now apartment complexes