Discovering Our Past is a digital history project that publishes peer-reviewed virtual tours of the College of Charleston and its surrounding areas to reinterpret our local history and center the experiences of people whose stories have often been marginalized. The virtual tours feature a short essay for each site on the tour route and are mapped out so that a person can also take an on-site, self-guided tour. For this reason, the platform is designed for handheld devices and computers, and essays are brief and written in accessible language but contain far more information than could be included on a physical sign. The essays are typically 800–1,000 words, include a “Related Resources” list in lieu of in-text citations, and often feature images and other media.
Author proposes an essay to the managing editor (or the managing editor solicits an essay from the author)
Managing editor and author agree upon review and production schedule
Author submits a draft of the essay, with citations and footnotes, and publishable images (4+) or other media to managing editor for review and feedback
Managing editor provides feedback
Author submits a revised essay to the managing editor based on managing editor feedback
Two Discovering Our Past reviewers provide feedback and may suggest additional images or sources to include
Author submits a revised essay (essay and images plus captions) based on reviewer feedback
Website manager formats essay, places it on a map and within an online tour, and generates a QR code needed for any physical signage
Author and reviewers view essay layout and complete final edits
Essay is published
These sites are some of the most helpful digital databases for materials related to Lowcountry history and African American history.
Discovering Our Past uses images ranging from photographs and maps to correspondence and newspaper clippings to enrich our tours and essays. However, we only publish images that are in the public domain. Remember to check an individual image’s copyright status, even for images in the public domain, to ensure it is available for reproduction without a licensing fee.
To search for images in the public domain:
Google Images (check for copyright info on the image page)
To obtain copyrighted images with permission:
Avery Research Center (images are available for reproduction with a fee)
College of Charleston Special Collections (some images are public domain, others are subject to copyright permissions – check each image) https://speccoll.cofc.edu/
South Carolina Historical Society (images are available for reproduction with a fee)
