The SC State Historical Collection & Archives is located on the 3rd floor of the Miller F. Whittaker Library.
Email: archives@scsu.edu
Tel: 803-536-8627
Research Hours: Mon-Thur 9am - 1pm All other times by appointment
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A brief history of SC State University
South Carolina State University, founded in 1896, is the only state assisted historically black college in South Carolina. The founding of the institution has its antecedents in the first Morrill Act passed by the United States Congress in 1862, authorizing the establishment of land-grant colleges. In 1872, the Senate and House of Representatives of South Carolina enacted legislation establishing a college and institute of Mechanical Arts at Orangeburg in connection with Claflin University, to be named the South Carolina Agricultural College and Mechanical Institute. In 1878, the State Legislature changed the governance of the South Carolina Agricultural College and Mechanical Institute and made it the Orangeburg Branch of the University of South Carolina.
On March 3, 1896, the General Assembly of South Carolina severed its connection between Claflin University by legislative act and enacted legislation establishing The Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina. The school’s first President, Thomas E. Miller was elected June 10, 1896 and the doors of the college were first opened to students on September 27th of the same year.
In 1954, under the administration of the school’s fourth President, Benner C. Turner, the General Assembly changed the institution’s name to South Carolina State College. During the tenure of interim president, Carl A. Carpenter, the institution was designated South Carolina State University on February 26, 1992.
South Carolina State University – Founded March 3, 1896
Name Presidency
Dr. Thomas E. Miller (1st) 1896-1911
Dr. Robert S. Wilkinson (2nd) 1911-1932
Dr. Miller F. Whittaker (Acting) 1932
Dr. Miller F. Whittaker (3rd) 1932-1949
An interim committee of five supervised the
administration of the College: K.W. Green,
Chairman J.I. Washington, F. Marcellus Staley,
Frank DeCosta and H.W. Crawford 1949-1950
Dr. Benner C. Turner (4th) 1950-1967
Dr. M. Maceo Nance, Jr. (Acting) 1967-1968
Dr. M. Maceo Nance, Jr. (5th) 1968-1986
Dr. Albert E. Smith (6th) 1986-1992
Dr. Carl A. Carpenter (Interim) 1992-1993
Dr. Barbara R. Hatton (7th) 1993-1995
Dr. Leroy Davis, Sr. (Interim) 1995-1996
Dr. Leroy Davis, Sr. (8th) 1996-2002
Judge Ernest A. Finney, Jr. (Interim) 2002-2003
Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr. (9th) 2003-2007
Dr. Leonard A. McIntyre (Interim) 2007-2008
Dr. George E. Cooper (10th) 2008-2012
Dr. Rita J. Teal (Acting) 2012
Dr. Cynthia Warrick (Interim) 2012-2013
Dr. W. Franklin Evans (Acting) 2013
Mr. Thomas J. Elzey (11th) 2013-2015
Dr. W. Franklin Evans (Acting/Interim) 2015-2016
Mr. James E. Clark (12th) 2016 – 2021
Col. (retired) Alexander Conyers (Acting/Interim) 2021 -
