Learn about a National Historic Landmark and its journey towards being listed as a World Heritage Site.

1. Dorchester Academy
A HISTORY OF SERVICE
National Historic Landmark

2. In the Beginning:
• Freed slaves led William Golden requested
assistances from the American Missionary
Association
• . The American Missionary Association,
founded in September 1848, was formed when
four organizations: The Amistad Committee,
the Union Missionary Society, Committee for
West India Missions, and the Western
Evangelical Missionary Society combined.
After the Emancipation of Slaves in 1865 Freed
Slaves hungered for an education

4. In the Beginning:
A School for the Education of African Americans In liberty
County: The AMA responded to Golden’s plan by sending Elisa Ann
Ward, who stayed for two years followed by Rev. Floyd Snelson

5. Quest for Knowledge
The AMA was a constant and committed
supporter

6. School Principal and Teachers
By 1892, Dorchester was enjoying prosperity with eight
teachers

7. Christian Endeavor
Hall
Boys Dormitory
Build :1890

8. Teachers, Girl Home & Dining Hall
Boarding began in 1889-90
1892 : the school had 367 students
As many as 119 students we being taught in one room

9. Vocational Training
The initial goal of the academy was to provide a liberal
education to the community. Soon after the academy was
established, the need for industrial education became
apparent and the curriculum was expanded to meet the
this need.
By 1897 the African American community was competing in
the workforce for jobs in the vocational trades

10. Vocational Training Class
Vocational training
focused on the
immediate trade
needs for:
blacksmiths
bricklayers
carpenters
plasterers
and
wheelwrights.

11. Vocational Training Building

12. “Self helpfulness makes for selfhood”
Girls were also instructed in:
Cooking
Sewing
Dressmaking
and related industries

13. Breaking News: A new era
1896: The first high school graduates in
Liberty County, Black or White were;
Sarah Morrison and Frank C. Daniels
Liberty County

14. Twosister,LouiseandEdith
Goldingwalkedupto16
milesdailytoattendclasses
atDorchester.
During1918-1919 school
year,hadperfectattendance
andcompletedtwoyrsclass
workinoneandahalf years

15. Began her six year tenure as
Dorchester Academy’s sole
female African American
principal in 1925. Secured
accreditation for Dorchester,
expanded athletic program,
adding swimming, tennis,
and Football. Improved
Baseball, Basketball and
Track. Created an alumni
assoc. Revitalized the
parent teacher association.
Installed new electrical and
water pumping system, and
a septic system
Elizabeth Moore

16. Sports

17. file://localhost/.file/id
=6571367.731882

18. Dorchester Academy
exceeded Georgia’s
suggested curriculum
for African American
students.
In 1933 it earned the
coveted “A” rating
from the Southern
Association of
Colleges and
Secondary Schools.
In 1934 the entire
graduating class was
admitted to college.

19. Commencement
Program
1940

20. The End of an era:
• The school served the community well until
1940 when it was closed as funding from
County Board of Education was finally
released for the education of African
Americans
• Many graduates of Dorchester would go on the
teach grades 1 through 8th in many of the
Rosenwald schools across the south
The College of Liberty County:

21. :
• Although the school was closed, Dorchester
Academy provided a multitude of services for the
community including a credit union, two
farmer’s cooperatives, a medical clinic, and a
political council
• A community center full of community activities;
concerts, ball games,
• Dances, festivals
• Voter education
Still Serving;

22. The Dorchester Farmer’s
Cooperative Inc. (DFCI)
purchased a 1943 Model H
Farm All International
Harvester Tractor for
$1455.00 on August 14, 1943.
The risky investment paid off
when farmers outside the
union rented it on a regular
basis.

23. Medical Services
 Dr. Westly J. Ball
 B.S.: Morehouse Graduate
 M.S.: Atl University
 MD: MeHarry Medical College

 Practiced In Savannah and in
 Boys Dorm at Dorchester
 On Monday and Wednesday
 Practiced Surgery in Savannah
for 30 years
 He was installed as
Chief of Staff at
Candler General
Hospital in
Savannah in 1987

24. Rev. DR. Matrin Luther King, Jr.
1961- 1970

25. Justice & Equity

26. Justice & Equity
Andrew Young
Martin Luther King

27. Legendary visitors to
Dorchester during the CEP
 Ralph Abernathy
 Andy Young
 Wyatt T. Walker
 Fred Shuttlesworth
 Fannie L. Hammer
James Bevel
Rep. Tyrone Brooks
 Hosea Williams
 Jessie Jackson

30. Septima
Clark

31. Dorchester Academy
Museum of African American History
S. C. L. C. AND THE VOTER EDUCATION PROGRAM 1962 - 1970
CITIZENSHIP SCHOOLS
Dorchester Cooperative Center played a key role in the
struggle for civil rights and the vote.
In 1954, Septima Clarke, a school teacher from Charleston,
SC and Esau Jenkins, a farmer and school bus driver from
Johns Island, SC, were on the forefront of grassroots efforts
to make voter registration a reality. With the support from
the Highlander Folk School, they devised a plan to help rural
adults to pass literacy and citizenship tests.
The first Citizenship School, known as the Progressive Club,
was established on Johns Island, SC. But in 1961 control of
the Citizenship School Program was transferred from
Highlander Folk School to the American Missionary
Association who acted on the behalf of the Southern Christian
Leadership Council. The Citizenship School moved its
headquarters to the Dorchester Community Center.
The Citizenship Education Program operated at Dorchester
from 1961 to 1970. During that period, 897 Citizenship
Schools were established, SCLC leadership planned their
Birmingham demonstrations.
LEADERSHIP
Septima Clark supervised instruction at Dorchester; Andrew Young
administered the program; and Dorothy Cotton served as a “cultural
emissary” and used music and folklore to generate interest in the
program. During their tenure at Dorchester, Clarke, Young and
Cotton drove all over the South recruiting prospective students.
Students were bused to Dorchester for a week-long training program
that began on Monday morning and ended after a Saturday night
banquet. The program was designed to get participants home in
time for church so that they could then share what they had learned
at Dorchester with others, and hopefully, establish citizenship
classes in their own communities.
Septima Clarke with Rosa Parks at Highlander in the late 1950s.
First night of a week-long
training session at
Dorchester (September
1961).
Pictured standing is Bernice
Robertson and to her right ,
Septima Clarke

32. Top:JamesBevelandhisFamily
DorothyCottontrainsasMLK andAndy lookson.

33. “THEY WALK, TALK, AND ACT LIKE NEW PEOPLE”:
BLACK WOMEN AND THE CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION PROGRAM, 1957-1970
BY
DEANNA M. GILLESPIE
BA, Mount Holyoke College, 1990
MA, State University of New York – Binghamton, 2003
DISSERTATION
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History
in the Graduate School of
Binghamton University
State University of New York
2008

34. CitizenshipSchool: Whatthey learned:
“They wanted to read the newspaper, read the Bible , how to fill
out an application, a money order, order things from a catalog,
write their names in cursive, keep a bank account. What it
means to be a citizen, discuss community problem and develop
solutions. How to overcome issues in getting registered to vote.
The schools also taught students to memorize parts of the state
constitution.

35. A Resounding Success!!!!
5 months before President Johnson signed the
Voting Rights Act in 1964, CEP classes since July
1961; 1,413 Local leaders had attended CEP classes
at Dorchester returning to teach 947 classes in
communities across the south. Over 23,500
students had attended CEP in this four year period .

36. The Heritage Room

37. We invite you to tour the campus

38. 2006------------------A New Museum

39. Museum wall- in the beginning

40. Museum bookstore

41. Museum wall – Foundations for living

42. Museum wall
The Glory Years…….

43. Condition assessment :2002

44. Condition Acessment:2002
.

45. Before Renovations:

46. After Renovations:

47. file://localhost/.file/id=6571367.727901

48. World Heritage Site
List includes : 1073 Properties World Wide
Only Properties of Outstanding Universal Value that meet at least one
of ten strict Criteria as vetted by The World Heritage Committee are
inscribed on the World Heritage List.
1. Authenticity 2. Integrity. 3. Comparative Value 4. Appropriate
boundaries. 5. Adequate buffer zone 6. Protection.
7.Management plans 8. Must be a national landmark

49. United States World Heritage sites
Everglades, Great smoky Mountains, Mammoth Caves
University of Virginia, Independence Hall
Statue of Liberty, Cahokia
Poverty Point, San Antonio Missions
Carlsbad Caverns, Taos Pueblo
Chaco Culture, Masa Verdes
Waterton Glacier, Grand Canyon,
Yosemite, Redwood
Olympic

50. I-95, Exit 76 Midway