About the Website Developer/Historian/Author:
Rebekah Dobrasko is a supervisor with the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. I developed my interest in these schools as part of my research as a Public history masters' student at the University of South Carolina. Researching these schools led to a comprehensive survey of Charleston County's equalization schools, a thesis, and ultimately a Multiple Property Submission on the schools for the National Register of Historic Places. My position in the SHPO has lead to an opportunity for me to increase awareness of these schools and their history on a statewide scale. Now, these schools are being listed in the National Register of Historic Places,
recognized with historical markers, and visited by history tours.
I am continually looking for more schools to add to the database. I am also interested in the condition of many of the schools listed on this webpage. If you have any
information, fill out the form below or send me an e-mail!
Presentations on Equalization Schools:
"Digital Media and South Carolina's Equalization Schools," for Charles Towne Landing Archaeology Conference, Charleston, SC, 16 February 2013.
"Separate but not Equal: Public Schools in South Carolina History," for Seneca Middle School, Blue Ridge Elementary School, and Northside Elementary School,
Seneca, SC, 7-8 February 2013.
"Separate but Equal? South Carolina's Fight over School Segregation," for Black History Month Luncheon, Seneca, SC, 7 February 2013.
"Charleston County's Equalization Schools," for Between the Tracks at Twenty-Five, Charleston, SC, 23 October 2012.
"Institutional Discrimination and the History of School Equalization," for Sociology Class, Dutch Fork High School, Irmo, SC, 10 October 2012.
"Equalization Schools," for the National Council on History Education South Carolina and the Civil Rights Struggle Conference, Orangeburg, SC, 23-24 February 2012.
"South Carolina's Equalization School Program," for Separate is not Always Equal: The Other Side of Segregation at Nashville Public Library, Nashville, TN, 11 February
2012.
"The Intersection of Segregation and Modernism: South Carolina’s Equalization Schools,” for the Southeastern Society of Architectural Historians 2011 Conference,
Charleston, SC, 27 October 2011.
"South Carolina's Equalization Schools," for the Current Issues class at Dutch Fork High School, Irmo, SC, 22 September 2011.
"Searching for South Carolina's 'Separate but Equal' Schools," for the Lake Murray Rotary Club, Irmo, SC, 6 April 2011.
"The History of Benson Elementary School," for the University of South Carolina Center for Child and Family Studies, Columbia, SC, 19 February 2011 .
"Tracing the History of South Carolina's 'Separate but Equal' Schools," for the South Carolina Archives and History Foundation's Lunch and Learn series, Columbia,
SC, 15 February 2011.
"South Carolina's Equalization Schools," for the Current Issues class at Dutch Fork High School, Irmo, SC, 8 November 2010.
"Searching for South Carolina's 'Separate but Equal' Schools," for the Archaeological Society of South Carolina's Fall Field Day, Charleston, SC, 9 October 2010.
"South Carolina's Equalization Schools Project" for the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission Annual Meeting, Columbia, SC, 29 January 2010.
“What if the Past Wasn't Harmonious?" for the National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, 14 October 2009.
"Equalization Schools in South Carolina and the Florence C. Benson Elementary School,” for the South Carolina State Review Board, Columbia, SC, 3 April 2009.
“Learning Your Three R’s:Reuse, Rehabilitation, and Recycling Historic Schools” and “The Fourth R:Resources,” sessions organized for the 2009 Landmark and
Preservation Conference, Columbia, SC, 27 March 2009.
“Beyond Rosenwald Schools:Assessing the History and Preservation of South Carolina’s African American Schools,” poster presented to the National Council on Public
History 2008 Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY, 11 April 2008.
“Beyond Rosenwald Schools:South Carolina’s Equalization Schools,” delivered to the 2008 Landmark and Preservation Conference, Greenville, SC, 28 March 2008.
“Upholding ‘Separate but Equal:’ South Carolina’s School Equalization Program, 1951-1955,” delivered to the Southeastern Society of Architectural Historians Annual
Conference, Ft. Worth, TX, 13 October 2005.
I love to share the story of the schools! I am happy to talk to local organizations, education groups, meetings, or classes about the equalization school program and efforts to recognize and preserve these schools. Please fill out the form below or e-mail me if you would like to learn more!
Rebekah Dobrasko is a supervisor with the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. I developed my interest in these schools as part of my research as a Public history masters' student at the University of South Carolina. Researching these schools led to a comprehensive survey of Charleston County's equalization schools, a thesis, and ultimately a Multiple Property Submission on the schools for the National Register of Historic Places. My position in the SHPO has lead to an opportunity for me to increase awareness of these schools and their history on a statewide scale. Now, these schools are being listed in the National Register of Historic Places,
recognized with historical markers, and visited by history tours.
I am continually looking for more schools to add to the database. I am also interested in the condition of many of the schools listed on this webpage. If you have any
information, fill out the form below or send me an e-mail!
Presentations on Equalization Schools:
"Digital Media and South Carolina's Equalization Schools," for Charles Towne Landing Archaeology Conference, Charleston, SC, 16 February 2013.
"Separate but not Equal: Public Schools in South Carolina History," for Seneca Middle School, Blue Ridge Elementary School, and Northside Elementary School,
Seneca, SC, 7-8 February 2013.
"Separate but Equal? South Carolina's Fight over School Segregation," for Black History Month Luncheon, Seneca, SC, 7 February 2013.
"Charleston County's Equalization Schools," for Between the Tracks at Twenty-Five, Charleston, SC, 23 October 2012.
"Institutional Discrimination and the History of School Equalization," for Sociology Class, Dutch Fork High School, Irmo, SC, 10 October 2012.
"Equalization Schools," for the National Council on History Education South Carolina and the Civil Rights Struggle Conference, Orangeburg, SC, 23-24 February 2012.
"South Carolina's Equalization School Program," for Separate is not Always Equal: The Other Side of Segregation at Nashville Public Library, Nashville, TN, 11 February
2012.
"The Intersection of Segregation and Modernism: South Carolina’s Equalization Schools,” for the Southeastern Society of Architectural Historians 2011 Conference,
Charleston, SC, 27 October 2011.
"South Carolina's Equalization Schools," for the Current Issues class at Dutch Fork High School, Irmo, SC, 22 September 2011.
"Searching for South Carolina's 'Separate but Equal' Schools," for the Lake Murray Rotary Club, Irmo, SC, 6 April 2011.
"The History of Benson Elementary School," for the University of South Carolina Center for Child and Family Studies, Columbia, SC, 19 February 2011 .
"Tracing the History of South Carolina's 'Separate but Equal' Schools," for the South Carolina Archives and History Foundation's Lunch and Learn series, Columbia,
SC, 15 February 2011.
"South Carolina's Equalization Schools," for the Current Issues class at Dutch Fork High School, Irmo, SC, 8 November 2010.
"Searching for South Carolina's 'Separate but Equal' Schools," for the Archaeological Society of South Carolina's Fall Field Day, Charleston, SC, 9 October 2010.
"South Carolina's Equalization Schools Project" for the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission Annual Meeting, Columbia, SC, 29 January 2010.
“What if the Past Wasn't Harmonious?" for the National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, 14 October 2009.
"Equalization Schools in South Carolina and the Florence C. Benson Elementary School,” for the South Carolina State Review Board, Columbia, SC, 3 April 2009.
“Learning Your Three R’s:Reuse, Rehabilitation, and Recycling Historic Schools” and “The Fourth R:Resources,” sessions organized for the 2009 Landmark and
Preservation Conference, Columbia, SC, 27 March 2009.
“Beyond Rosenwald Schools:Assessing the History and Preservation of South Carolina’s African American Schools,” poster presented to the National Council on Public
History 2008 Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY, 11 April 2008.
“Beyond Rosenwald Schools:South Carolina’s Equalization Schools,” delivered to the 2008 Landmark and Preservation Conference, Greenville, SC, 28 March 2008.
“Upholding ‘Separate but Equal:’ South Carolina’s School Equalization Program, 1951-1955,” delivered to the Southeastern Society of Architectural Historians Annual
Conference, Ft. Worth, TX, 13 October 2005.
I love to share the story of the schools! I am happy to talk to local organizations, education groups, meetings, or classes about the equalization school program and efforts to recognize and preserve these schools. Please fill out the form below or e-mail me if you would like to learn more!
All material on this website is copyright Rebekah Dobrasko, 2009-2012. All rights reserved.
