During the month of March 2022 and beyond, Aiken Center for the Arts connects students at Schofield Middle School with local author Dr. Walter Curry through an Author in Residence Program to enrich the study of South Carolina and African American history as it is depicted in his books. Dr. Curry’s work brings Aiken County’s African American history to life through the narratives of his own family. Discussions of the narratives in his books initiate conversation about the past to help students shape the narratives of their future. Combining education, creativity, and passion into student engagements, Dr. Curry shares real life ancestral stories in his books, “The Thompson Family: Untold Stories from The Past (1830-1960)” and “The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol. 1, A Narrative History,” which connect to the 8^th grade South Carolina Social Studies Standards.

Students at Schofield Middle School are reading his second book “The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol. 1, A Narrative History,” and discussions focus on the sharecropping experiences of Dr. Curry’s ancestors who lived in Barnwell and Aiken Counties. Dr. Curry points out that “this book is pertinent to Schofield students as it also incorporates Schofield Normal and Industrial Institute history with the story of Schofield graduate Floster L. Ellison Jr. who was a World War II veteran and co-founded the Palmetto State Barbers Association during the Civil Rights Movement in 1960.” Dr. Curry talks about these narratives that are in the book and engages students by leading them through an exhibition of artifacts and images exploring sharecropping life of his ancestors in the book, showing that history is alive and an important source of connection to our communities.

When asked what this program means for students, Dr. Floyd, Schofield Middle School principal replied: “Martha Scofield is our founder, she moved to Aiken in 1871 six years after the emancipation proclamation and opened this school for emancipated peoples. A part of our vision that has really developed from the vision that Martha set over 150 years ago is cultural awareness, positive relationships, and global perspectives. To be able to bring history to life, especially a period in American History that our students really need to know and connect with is absolutely a wonderful experience for them. Dr. Curry fits into the school’s vision and as Dr. Floyd continues to say, “we have integrated Dr. Curry’s book “The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol. 1, A Narrative History, “perfectly into our South Carolina History classroom. It just so happens that we are studying the Reconstruction, and Dr. Curry can come in and present artifacts to talk about the actual stories and records he has written about in his books which are connected not just to our community but to actual students who attend Schofield Middle School. His book is a remarkable way for students to engage with the content. Relevance is also a big part of what we do so I have challenged teachers to find relevance in the curriculum so that students are able to engage with it. What a wonderful way to bring learning to life in this very situation. “Mrs. Whetstone, who teaches South Carolina History and African American History to 8^th graders at Schofield Middle School, answers Dr. Floyd’s challenge for relevance. “When you teach history, you teach a lot of dates and sometimes we don’t make the connections. Dr. Curry’s work is the connection.  It shows that this happened to Dr. Curry’s family it happened to your family. It happened to all of us. We study the diaspora of African American Culture starting from slavery. When you get to reconstruction you understand that we already had those civil rights but had to work through it. Society is not going to be able to move ahead unless we can have these kinds of discussions.”

Aiken Center for the Arts believes in the importance of this Author in Residence Program because it uniquely delivers our mission by sharing a local voice of untold stories from Aiken county’s African American history, by inspiring area youth through the personal story Dr. Curry shares of his journey to authorship alongside the educational enrichment Dr. Curry’s books provide as those narratives give real life examples of the concepts taught in the standards. Supporting local artists and authors through the Author in Residence Program celebrates rich human resources that are among us while opening opportunities for deeper understanding of the human experience.

This project is funded in part by SC Humanities, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The South Carolina Cotton Museum, and Mr. Jerry Morris author of the book “Barnwell County” have also contributed to this engagement.

For more information contact Caroline Gwinn, executive director of Aiken Center for the Arts, execdir@aikencenterforthearts.org or call the Arts Center at (803) 641-9094.