The Committee on Commemoration and Landscapes has undertaken several projects to tell a fuller history of the College of Charleston. The committee has involved students, faculty, and staff in this work, which has included creating new courses, developing virtual and in-person tours, installing historical markers and historical and art exhibitions.
The following signs were approved by the College Board of Trustees at their December 2023 meeting.
Benjamin Lucas House, 24 Bull
William Aiken House, 10 College Way
Guenveur House, 57 Coming
President's House, 6 Glebe
The Cameron House, 12 Bull Street
William James Rivers House, 40 Coming Street
Barnard Elliott House, 58 George Street
Thompson-Muller House, 20 Glebe Street
Knox-Lesesne (A.O. Jones House), 14 Green Way
Riggs Tenement
Sottile House, 11 College Way
Farr House, 69 Coming Street
Discovering Our Past was launched in honor of the College’s 250th anniversary and its twenty-first-century mission of inclusion. It places the College within a more complex landscape, showing us who we were and who we have become. This in-depth, academically rigorous exploration of our past will be continually expanded and updated as we conduct new research, fill in gaps, and correct errors in the historical record. The project is now managed by the Committee on Commemoration and Landscapes with support from the Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston and the Office of the President. Other class projects, independent studies, and teams of researchers are contributing to this endeavor.
Discovering Our Past is a peer-reviewed public history publication managed by the College of Charleston's Committee on Commemoration and Landscapes.
Architectural History and Historic Preservation in the Holy City (LC2) (CofC 250th Anniversary)
ARTH 105: Intro to Architecture and HPCP 199: Intro to Historic Preservation and FYSS 101
Brigit Ferguson and Ashton Finley
Art History and Historic Preservation
6 Humanities credits
CRNS: 13396 and 13397 and 13398
Course Times: MWF 9:00-9:50 and MWF 11:00-11:50 and W 8:00-8:50am
Using Charleston as a living laboratory, this LC will introduce students to architectural history and historic preservation. Introduction to Architectural History explores Western architecture from ancient Mesopotamia to the 21st century in terms of function, structure, form, and historical context. The historic preservation portion introduces students to economic, environmental and cultural benefits of preserving our built environment while also addressing issues in heritage management using Charleston examples and studying buildings in situ. Students will write stylistic analyses, learn basic architectural terminology and research architectural and historic significance using primary sources. The LC will include site visits to Charleston buildings. To celebrate the college’s 250th anniversary, students will research buildings related to the college’s diverse history and present this research publicly.
Slavery and Racism Throughout History (LC12) (CofC 250th Anniversary)
CLAS 203: Special Topics - Slavery and Racism throughout History and HIST 116: Modern History and FYSS 101
Samuel Flores and Adam Domby
Classics and History
3 Humanities and 3 History credits
CRNs: 13254 and 13412 and 13534
Course times: TR 1:40-2:55 and TR 3:05-4:20 (ONLINE SYNC) and T 5:05-5:55
This learning community will study racism and the institution of slavery from two perspectives: its place in American history and its origins in ancient Greece and Rome. CLAS 203 will study the institution of slavery in ancient Greece and Rome as well and its impacts on modernity. HIST 116 will study a history of racism in modern history. A central theme will be North and South American slavery and its continued impact today. The learning community will tie together the two courses so students see how the legacy of Greek and Roman slavery impacted American history. In honor of the College’s 250th Anniversary and its history, special attention will be paid to the history of slavery in Charleston and the Lowcountry and its connection with the neoclassical history of the city and the College of Charleston.
Are you interested in working on these projects with the CCL? If you wish to join other faculty, staff, and students in our ongoing work, please contact one of the co-chairs: eichelbergerj@cofc.edu or frazierv@cofc.edu.
