Southern Regional Office
National Trust for Historic Preservation Southern Office
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Southern Office serves Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Virgin Islands, and West Virginia.
John Hildreth, Director
William Aiken House, 456 King Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29403
Phone: 843-722-8552
Fax: 843-722-8652
Email: sro@nthp.org
The Southern Office has recently launched a multi-state Rosenwald School Initiative. Listed on the America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2002, Rosenwald Schools are the legacy of Sears, Roebuck and Company President Julius Rosenwald. Concerned with the status of African American education in the South, Rosenwald began in 1914 to assist with the construction of primary and secondary schools and underwrite instruction. By the end of the program in 1938, the Rosenwald fund had disbursed over $4.3 million and helped build over 5,300 schools throughout the region.
The Rosenwald School Initiative will establish a network for education and outreach and will produce resources to aid the preservation of the schools. The Southern Office has already hired staff to coordinate the Initiative's efforts, and a partnership between the Southern Office and Mississippi Heritage Trust has secured funding to create a website. Through the initiative, the Trust hopes to document the existing Rosenwald Schools, develop long term strategies for their rehabilitation and use, and develop funding sources for their protection.
The Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation is partnering with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to support the rehabilitation and restoration of Rosenwald Schools. Grant applications must be postmarked by November 30, 2007. Learn more.
