USCB Helps Protect and Celebrate the Legacy of the Mather School
USCB students and faculty have dedicated time and academic efforts to preserving and
promoting the legacy of the Mather School and Interpretive Center, a place with deep roots in the Beaufort, South Carolina community.
From an audio tour to academic research, a TV segment and art, these projects strengthen ties between the past and present for the benefit of The Mather Museum and the broader community. These recent collaborative projects focus on engagement, education, and historical preservation to showcase the school’s historical significance and enduring impact on the Lowcountry.
The Mather School was founded in 1868 by Rachel Crane Mather to educate formerly enslaved African-American girls and women. As the Reconstruction era progressed and evolved, the school expanded its reach, eventually becoming coeducational. In 1968, it was integrated into the South Carolina Technical College System. Today, housed in the Mather School building on the Technical College of the Lowcountry's Beaufort Mather Campus, the museum is part of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. It honors the vision of Rachel Crane Mather and includes stories from alumni, staff, and community members, ensuring that the history of Mather School remains accessible to future generations.
Recent projects by USCB faculty and students include:
• The “Voices of Mather” initiative: History majors Elizabeth Peck and Samantha Mischke (now a park ranger at the Reconstruction Era Historical National Park) worked in collaboration with the Mather Museum and Interpretive Center and the National Park Service to develop a self-guided walking tour available on the National Park Service app. This interactive tour allows visitors to explore the Mather School building and grounds using their smartphones or tablets. The tour features the voices of former Mather students, who share firsthand experiences and reflections that bring the institution’s history to life. Dr. Caroline Sawyer, USCB Associate Professor of Communication Studies, set up a podcasting station where alumni recorded their messages for the tour. In 2024, she won the Akers Prize from South Carolina Humanities, in part for this community project.
• Dr. James Shinn’s History and Culture of the Lowcountry class conducted in-depth research about the Mather School, both onsite and through digital resources. This provided valuable insights into its role in Reconstruction-era education and its lasting influence on the community.
• Communication Studies major Tyler Johnson, working as an intern for SCETV, recorded an interview with Rufus Pinckney, Chairman of the Mather Museum and Interpretive Center and a former Mather School student. Pinckney studied at Mather during its transition to the technical college system. He shared his experiences and discussed the ongoing work to preserve the school’s legacy. Johnson edited and produced the segment, which will be shown on SCETV.
• USCB art instructor Amiri Farris was one of the featured artists in "She Speaks.” This exhibition presented by the Technical College of the Lowcountry at the Mather Museum and Interpretive Center paid tribute to the generations of Black women who have shaped history as educators, activists, mothers, artists and spiritual leaders. Through contemporary paintings, mixed media works and photography, this exhibition highlighted their resilience, wisdom and artistic expressions.
The Mather Museum and Interpretive Center is open to the public by appointment. It is housed in the original Mather School library at TCL's Beaufort Mather Campus, 921 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29901.
- USCB -
LM • 2/10/2025