by April Akins
Members of the South Carolina Archival Association, stepped outdoors to enjoy the rays of sun that welcomed us to the Benjamin E. Mays Historic Preservation Site in Greenwood, South Carolina for our annual summer social. This year’s event raised money for the Darrick L. Hart Scholarship Fund which honors a SCAA charter member and Conservation Specialist at the University of South Carolina Conservation Lab who passed away in 2002. Funds raised from the Summer Social are designated for scholarships which are awarded to current SCAA members to help offset the costs associated with attending professional meetings and workshops.
Those in attendance enjoyed some amazing pizza options at The Mill House, before heading over to the site for a tour of Dr. Mays’ birth home, a one room school house, the gardens, and the museum. The tour was provided by Director Chris Thomas. The group learned about the life and legacy of a South Carolina native who was an amazing educator, civil rights pioneer, theologian, author and as quoted on the statue “last of the great schoolmasters.”
I have been to the site multiple times during my few years in Greenwood and I always seem to walk away with more knowledge and admiration for Dr. Mays. It was a great time of socializing and learning that got some of us outdoors for a change.
Photographs courtsey of Kimberly McClure
