Alumni of Levister Elementary School, Aynor, Horry County, at the marker dedication
There are two ways to officially recognize the historic significance of your school in South Carolina: listing the school in the National Register of Historic Places or obtaining a South Carolina Historical Marker. Each program has its pros and cons.
The National Register program is geared toward places that currently exist and exist in their historic form. So, if your school looks similar to its historic appearance (e.g. no large additions, retains its historic windows and doors, has not been demolished), the National Register program may apply to your school. The benefits of listing in the National Register include eligibility for grants or for tax credits, national recognition, and consideration of your school in federal planning or construction projects. Listing in the National Register requires permission from the property owner and can be a long and involved process. From start to finish, it usually takes at least 12 months to list a property in the National Register.
The first step to listing your school in the National Register is to contact the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The SHPO will ask for basic information on the history of the school, a physical description of the school, current photographs, and a map, as described in the Preliminary Information Form (PIF). This will require some
research on your part (see Researching the History of Your School for tips on how to get started). Once the SHPO reviews the PIF, the staff will contact you with their opinion on whether or not the school meets the National Register criteria. If it does, then the real work begins.
The National Register nomination form consists of two main sections: the Statement of Significance and the Description. The Statement of Significance is the detailed history of the school building itself. While information about teachers, principals, and students can be informative, the National Register is interested in the building itself: Who built it? When? Why? Why is your school significant to your community, city, or county? Is it still used as a school? This information will be gathered from your research. Take careful note of your sources to include in the bibliography. SHPO staff can help you think about this statement, but they are unable to complete this information for you.
The Description is a detailed written description of the school building and the site. How many stories is the school? What are the construction materials? Roof materials? How many classrooms does it have? Does it have an auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria? What changes have been made to the school over the years? Are there sports fields associated with the school? Playground? How do people approach the school? What is the surrounding neighborhood like? Is the school rural or urban? The Description should paint a picture of your school with words. Photographs only supplement the description.
If you would like to see other schools listed in the National Register to understand the information needed, search the SHPO’s National Register database. There are history consultants willing to research and write National Register nominations if you so choose. Start here if you are interested in hiring a consultant.
South Carolina’s Historical Marker program is also administered by the SHPO. Markers can be erected for places that no longer exist or that have been changed beyond their historic character. Markers tell the story of the school to anyone passing by the site but are limited in character length to the amount of the story they can tell. Non-profit organizations must sponsor and pay for the marker, as no state money is available for marker purchase.
The first step to getting a historical marker for your school is to contact the SHPO. You can discuss your school with the historical marker coordinator, who can also help you with collecting the information to attach to the marker application. Keep in mind that the SHPO collects $250 with the marker application, and the sponsor is responsible for paying for the casting of the marker and erecting the marker.
The National Register program is geared toward places that currently exist and exist in their historic form. So, if your school looks similar to its historic appearance (e.g. no large additions, retains its historic windows and doors, has not been demolished), the National Register program may apply to your school. The benefits of listing in the National Register include eligibility for grants or for tax credits, national recognition, and consideration of your school in federal planning or construction projects. Listing in the National Register requires permission from the property owner and can be a long and involved process. From start to finish, it usually takes at least 12 months to list a property in the National Register.
The first step to listing your school in the National Register is to contact the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The SHPO will ask for basic information on the history of the school, a physical description of the school, current photographs, and a map, as described in the Preliminary Information Form (PIF). This will require some
research on your part (see Researching the History of Your School for tips on how to get started). Once the SHPO reviews the PIF, the staff will contact you with their opinion on whether or not the school meets the National Register criteria. If it does, then the real work begins.
The National Register nomination form consists of two main sections: the Statement of Significance and the Description. The Statement of Significance is the detailed history of the school building itself. While information about teachers, principals, and students can be informative, the National Register is interested in the building itself: Who built it? When? Why? Why is your school significant to your community, city, or county? Is it still used as a school? This information will be gathered from your research. Take careful note of your sources to include in the bibliography. SHPO staff can help you think about this statement, but they are unable to complete this information for you.
The Description is a detailed written description of the school building and the site. How many stories is the school? What are the construction materials? Roof materials? How many classrooms does it have? Does it have an auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria? What changes have been made to the school over the years? Are there sports fields associated with the school? Playground? How do people approach the school? What is the surrounding neighborhood like? Is the school rural or urban? The Description should paint a picture of your school with words. Photographs only supplement the description.
If you would like to see other schools listed in the National Register to understand the information needed, search the SHPO’s National Register database. There are history consultants willing to research and write National Register nominations if you so choose. Start here if you are interested in hiring a consultant.
South Carolina’s Historical Marker program is also administered by the SHPO. Markers can be erected for places that no longer exist or that have been changed beyond their historic character. Markers tell the story of the school to anyone passing by the site but are limited in character length to the amount of the story they can tell. Non-profit organizations must sponsor and pay for the marker, as no state money is available for marker purchase.
The first step to getting a historical marker for your school is to contact the SHPO. You can discuss your school with the historical marker coordinator, who can also help you with collecting the information to attach to the marker application. Keep in mind that the SHPO collects $250 with the marker application, and the sponsor is responsible for paying for the casting of the marker and erecting the marker.