By PSA Newsroom Staff
MANNING, S.C. — The Clarendon County Archives is asking residents and families across the region to help preserve an important part of local history by sharing photographs, documents, and memories from schools that once served Black children in Clarendon County.
Archivists are specifically seeking materials connected to Jordan School, a former one-story brick school that educated Black students in grades 1–8 before closing in 1970. The school was located off S.C. Highway 260 on what is now King Road, less than a mile from the Clarendon County Airport. Today, remnants of the building remain in a privately owned wooded area on the left side of King Road, across from Union Cypress AME Church.
Family members of former students say few photographs or written records of Jordan School have survived, making community contributions critical to preserving its story for future generations.
In addition to Jordan School, the Clarendon County Archives is also requesting photos, class rosters, yearbooks, programs, report cards, or personal recollections related to other county schools that served Black children during segregation. Archivists say even small items, such as labeled photos or handwritten notes, can provide valuable historical context.
“These schools were central to community life and education during a difficult era,” the Archives noted.
“Every contribution helps ensure that these stories are not lost.”
Anyone with information, photographs, or documents related to Jordan School or other historic Black schools in Clarendon County is encouraged to contact the Archives:
• Phone: (803) 435-0328
• Email: ClarendonCountyArchives@clarendoncounty.gov
Materials can be digitized and returned to owners, allowing families to keep originals while contributing to the county’s permanent historical record.
