Historic Columbia Foundation's "Connecting Communities Through History" project has earned national recognition from the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH). The project, which chronicled the history of six historic downtown Columbia neighborhoods, will receive an Award of Merit, given at a special banquet in Richmond, VA in September 2011. SC Humanities supported the "Connecting Communities Through History" project through a Major Grant in September 2009.
The six neighborhoods studied as part of "Connecting Communities Through History" are Arsenal Hill, Cottontown, Heathwood, Hollywood-Rose Hill, Lower Waverly, and Old Shandon. Representatives from each of these neighborhoods worked with staff from the Historic Columbia Foundation to collect historic images, memories, and oral histories documenting the local history. The project has resulted in interactive websites, historical wayside signage, and walking/driving tour brochures.
Funded through a variety of agencies, including the Institute for Museums and Library Services and SC Humanities, Connecting Communities Through History allowed Historic Columbia Foundation to move beyond the physical parameters of the historic sites under its stewardship and serve as a resource in facilitating the process of chronicling neighborhood history.
The project earned the attention of the American Association for State and Local History, which annually presents its Leadership in History Awards, the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. Representatives from Historic Columbia Foundation will receive the award at the AASLH annual meeting on September 16, 2011,
For more information about Historic Columbia Foundation, please visit the website: http://www.historiccolumbia.org/. For more information about the American Association for State and Local History, please visit the website: http://www.aaslh.org/.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. SC Humanities programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity, and are ethical in operations.
Image: Members of Columbia, South Carolina’s Cottontown community gather in December 2010 for the debut of their neighborhood’s wayside signage, website, and walking tour brochure, part of Historic Columbia Foundation’s Connecting Communities through History. This initiative was made possible through an IMLS Museums for America grant and support from SC Humanities.
