This section provides additional information, sources, and a bibliography on educational and equalization school history. Read the FAQs, learn how to research the history of your school, and learn about listing your school in the National Register. Also visit our collection of resources for teachers!
Online Resources:
Equalization Schools: South Carolina's History of Unequal Education, College of Charleston's Lowcountry Digital History Initiative, 2022.
"Equalization Schools," African Americans in South Carolina: History, Politics, and Culture. University of South Carolina, Aiken, 2011
Historic Resources of Equalization Schools in South Carolina, 1951-1960 (pdf)
South Carolina's Equalization Schools, Historic Context (pdf)
Equalization Schools in Charleston County, South Carolina (pdf)
Journey to Equal Education, Charleston County Oral History project on W. Gresham Meggett Elementary and High School
Equalization Schools in Horry County, South Carolina (pdf)
SC Equalization Schools, Flickr page
Somebody Had To Do It: First Children in School Desegregation, Lowcountry Digital History Initiative
How Did We Get to Now?, volume 1, South Carolina African American Heritage Commission research project
How Did We Get to Now?, volume 2, South Carolina African American Heritage Commission research project
"Equalization Schools," African Americans in South Carolina: History, Politics, and Culture. University of South Carolina, Aiken, 2011
Historic Resources of Equalization Schools in South Carolina, 1951-1960 (pdf)
South Carolina's Equalization Schools, Historic Context (pdf)
Equalization Schools in Charleston County, South Carolina (pdf)
Journey to Equal Education, Charleston County Oral History project on W. Gresham Meggett Elementary and High School
Equalization Schools in Horry County, South Carolina (pdf)
SC Equalization Schools, Flickr page
Somebody Had To Do It: First Children in School Desegregation, Lowcountry Digital History Initiative
How Did We Get to Now?, volume 1, South Carolina African American Heritage Commission research project
How Did We Get to Now?, volume 2, South Carolina African American Heritage Commission research project
South Carolina Equalization Schools in the National Register:
Port Royal Elementary School (white), Beaufort County, South Carolina (pdf)
W. Gresham Meggett Elementary and High School (black), Charleston County, South Carolina (pdf)
Robert Smalls Elementary School, Chesterfield County, South Carolina (pdf)
Dennis High School, Lee County, South Carolina
Florence C. Benson Elementary School, Richland County, South Carolina
Mary H. Wright Elementary School, Spartanburg County, South Carolina
Lincoln High School, Sumter County, South Carolina (pdf)
W. Gresham Meggett Elementary and High School (black), Charleston County, South Carolina (pdf)
Robert Smalls Elementary School, Chesterfield County, South Carolina (pdf)
Dennis High School, Lee County, South Carolina
Florence C. Benson Elementary School, Richland County, South Carolina
Mary H. Wright Elementary School, Spartanburg County, South Carolina
Lincoln High School, Sumter County, South Carolina (pdf)
Other States:
Beacon Elementary and Trinity High School, DeKalb County, Georgia
J.D. Dickerson Elementary School, Toombs County, Georgia
Martin Elementary School, Terrell County, Georgia
Vienna High and Industrial School, Dooley County, Georgia
L.C. Anderson High School, Travis County, Texas
Armstrong Elementary School, Lynchburg County, Virginia
Booker T. Washington Elementary School, Franklin County, Virginia
Hayden High School, Independent City County, Virginia
J.D. Dickerson Elementary School, Toombs County, Georgia
Martin Elementary School, Terrell County, Georgia
Vienna High and Industrial School, Dooley County, Georgia
L.C. Anderson High School, Travis County, Texas
Armstrong Elementary School, Lynchburg County, Virginia
Booker T. Washington Elementary School, Franklin County, Virginia
Hayden High School, Independent City County, Virginia
Press/Outreach:
"Students, Teacher of Former Equalization School Reconnect After 54 Years," North Augusta Post and Courier, 8 July 2022
"Spartanburg Resident's Year-Long Fight to Preserve Mary H. Wright School Makes History," Spartanburg Herald-Journal, 25 February 2021
"Robert Smalls Elementary School," Society of Architectural Historian's Archipedia, July 2019
"Old School Knowledge for New School Families: A Refresher Course," Mount Pleasant Magazine, July/August 2017
"Equalization Schools: A Lesson in Education and Civil Rights," National Trust for Historic Preservation's blog, September 2015
"Modernism and Segregation," Recent Past Preservation Network's Connections, Winter 2015
"Equalization Schools Reminder of State's Path to Integration," Greenville Online, July 2013
"Lincoln Elementary and High School, McClellanville, SC: A Standing Artifact of Desegregation in South Carolina," History Engine, November 2012
"Project Showcase: South Carolina's Equalization Schools," Public History Commons, November 2012
"Teenage School Bus Drivers, Black and White, Crash on South Carolina Highway," History Engine, October 2012
"Robert Smalls School," in The Cheraw African American Heritage History Guide, August 2012
"Photographing South Carolina's Forgotten Schools," Irmo Patch, 2 August 2012
"Equalization Schools Story to be Told with Exhibit," Call and Response, Spring/Summer 2012
"Recognizing and Preserving Racial Segregation Sites in South Carolina," Heritage Matters, Spring 2010
"SC "Separate but Equal" Schools," SCIway.net, February 2010
"Segregation Spurred S.C. School Building Spree," The State, February 2010
"South Carolina's School Equalization Program," South Carolina Black News, February 2010
"Spartanburg Resident's Year-Long Fight to Preserve Mary H. Wright School Makes History," Spartanburg Herald-Journal, 25 February 2021
"Robert Smalls Elementary School," Society of Architectural Historian's Archipedia, July 2019
"Old School Knowledge for New School Families: A Refresher Course," Mount Pleasant Magazine, July/August 2017
"Equalization Schools: A Lesson in Education and Civil Rights," National Trust for Historic Preservation's blog, September 2015
"Modernism and Segregation," Recent Past Preservation Network's Connections, Winter 2015
"Equalization Schools Reminder of State's Path to Integration," Greenville Online, July 2013
"Lincoln Elementary and High School, McClellanville, SC: A Standing Artifact of Desegregation in South Carolina," History Engine, November 2012
"Project Showcase: South Carolina's Equalization Schools," Public History Commons, November 2012
"Teenage School Bus Drivers, Black and White, Crash on South Carolina Highway," History Engine, October 2012
"Robert Smalls School," in The Cheraw African American Heritage History Guide, August 2012
"Photographing South Carolina's Forgotten Schools," Irmo Patch, 2 August 2012
"Equalization Schools Story to be Told with Exhibit," Call and Response, Spring/Summer 2012
"Recognizing and Preserving Racial Segregation Sites in South Carolina," Heritage Matters, Spring 2010
"SC "Separate but Equal" Schools," SCIway.net, February 2010
"Segregation Spurred S.C. School Building Spree," The State, February 2010
"South Carolina's School Equalization Program," South Carolina Black News, February 2010