Sources
Documentation and information about equalization schools can be found in a wide variety of public and private information sources. The majority of the information will be found in local repositories and from local sources, although some information can be found at regional and state repositories:
Rebekah Dobrasko's master thesis: "Upholding 'Separate but Equal:' South Carolina's School Equalization Program, 1951-1955," 2005.
South Carolina School Directories are now scanned and searchable online through the South Carolina State Library. These directories date from 1912-2010 and are a great resource in identifying school construction dates, administration, and enrollment numbers of schools.
The South Carolina State Archives has limited information on the state equalization program. The Educational Finance Commission was a separate entity until 1966 when it was absorbed into the Department of Education. The Department’s records from the 1950s were in poor condition when transferred to the Archives, so few records remain of the Educational Finance Commission. The State Archives did microfilm several rolls of blueprints from schools constructed during the equalization period. Governor James F. Byrnes’ papers and the papers of Governor George Bell Timmerman, Jr. have lists of schools constructed as part of the equalization program and also have lists of money spent for new school construction.
The South Carolina State Library has copies of the few publications made by the State Educational Finance Commission.
County educational records can be found either at the State Archives or with the local school boards. Charleston County School District has an archive and records office with copies of architectural plans and drawings, school board meeting minutes, and historic photographs. The financial office of school districts may retain records related to school buildings. Other school districts, like the Greenville County School District, relied on individual schools to maintain building records and blueprints. Individual school libraries may have information in yearbooks. Clemson University's collections include a number of architectural and engineering firms' records. The Leland Engineering Firm has a number of plans related to equalization school construction, mostly in the Lowcountry.
Local newspapers covered the school construction campaigns and are one of the more reliable sources of information on equalization schools. Local newspapers often have photographs of the new schools constructed in the 1950s, and can provide dates of construction. In addition, newspapers often reported on the struggles to equalize black school facilities in the local community. Historic maps, such as highway maps or topographic maps, can show locations and footprints of historic schools. Other local, private sources could have information on equalization schools such as historical societies and local history rooms in libraries. The Richland County Public Library has an online collection of photographs of equalization schools in central South Carolina (Russell Maxey Photograph Collection).
The equalization program required all school districts to survey their existing schools and make recommendations for consolidation. These school surveys can be found at local libraries or at local university archives. Local organizations may have published histories on local education or of local schools. The Greenville County School District published a book in 2000 on all its current schools. Many of the schools were constructed as part of the 1950s equalization program, and this book identifies the schools and provides a history of the school and any changes to its physical plant. The alumni of Brewer High School published a book on the school that discusses the impact of school consolidation and the equalization program to African Americans in Greenwood County. Oral histories and interviews with members of the community can identify equalization schools and can be useful in determining the location of schools that no longer exist.
Rebekah Dobrasko's master thesis: "Upholding 'Separate but Equal:' South Carolina's School Equalization Program, 1951-1955," 2005.
South Carolina School Directories are now scanned and searchable online through the South Carolina State Library. These directories date from 1912-2010 and are a great resource in identifying school construction dates, administration, and enrollment numbers of schools.
The South Carolina State Archives has limited information on the state equalization program. The Educational Finance Commission was a separate entity until 1966 when it was absorbed into the Department of Education. The Department’s records from the 1950s were in poor condition when transferred to the Archives, so few records remain of the Educational Finance Commission. The State Archives did microfilm several rolls of blueprints from schools constructed during the equalization period. Governor James F. Byrnes’ papers and the papers of Governor George Bell Timmerman, Jr. have lists of schools constructed as part of the equalization program and also have lists of money spent for new school construction.
The South Carolina State Library has copies of the few publications made by the State Educational Finance Commission.
County educational records can be found either at the State Archives or with the local school boards. Charleston County School District has an archive and records office with copies of architectural plans and drawings, school board meeting minutes, and historic photographs. The financial office of school districts may retain records related to school buildings. Other school districts, like the Greenville County School District, relied on individual schools to maintain building records and blueprints. Individual school libraries may have information in yearbooks. Clemson University's collections include a number of architectural and engineering firms' records. The Leland Engineering Firm has a number of plans related to equalization school construction, mostly in the Lowcountry.
Local newspapers covered the school construction campaigns and are one of the more reliable sources of information on equalization schools. Local newspapers often have photographs of the new schools constructed in the 1950s, and can provide dates of construction. In addition, newspapers often reported on the struggles to equalize black school facilities in the local community. Historic maps, such as highway maps or topographic maps, can show locations and footprints of historic schools. Other local, private sources could have information on equalization schools such as historical societies and local history rooms in libraries. The Richland County Public Library has an online collection of photographs of equalization schools in central South Carolina (Russell Maxey Photograph Collection).
The equalization program required all school districts to survey their existing schools and make recommendations for consolidation. These school surveys can be found at local libraries or at local university archives. Local organizations may have published histories on local education or of local schools. The Greenville County School District published a book in 2000 on all its current schools. Many of the schools were constructed as part of the 1950s equalization program, and this book identifies the schools and provides a history of the school and any changes to its physical plant. The alumni of Brewer High School published a book on the school that discusses the impact of school consolidation and the equalization program to African Americans in Greenwood County. Oral histories and interviews with members of the community can identify equalization schools and can be useful in determining the location of schools that no longer exist.