Awakening African-American History... MTC produces documentary on historic Harbison Institute
Contributed by Midlands Technical College

The 1937 graduating class of Harbison Institute, a historic African- American school that is now the site of Midlands Technical College's Harbison Campus.

Harbison Institute, a historic African- American school that is now the site of Midlands Technical College's Harbison Campus, played a major role in the history of South Carolina.

To celebrate the legacy of the school, Midlands Technical College produced a documentary on the history of Harbison Institute and the impact its alumni had on the state and the nation. The 33-minute documentary, "In Their Own Words: A History of Harbison Institute," aired on MTC's Airport, Beltline and Harbison campuses in February.

Richland County Public Library also will air the film at their main branch on Assembly Street on Juneteenth, June 19, 2008. Juneteenth is a nationally celebrated holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the US.

Harbison Institute, which had its beginnings in Abbeville, SC, around 1882, served students in its final Irmo-area location from approximately 1911-1958. Harbison Institute was one of the only places African Americans in the area could receive an education during those times.

The school graduated many professional and influential community members. One of the more famous Harbison graduates was Harold Boulware, the chief attorney who worked on the case Briggs vs. Elliott. The case later merged into the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education, which ended desegregation in the US. Boulware later became a Richland County judge. He died in 1983.

MTC's documentary on the school, which was over two years in the making, started with an invitation for Harbison graduates Rubie Nixon Schumpert and Ruth Myers to speak to MTC instructor Randy Lee's history class.

Elena Martinez- Vidal, MTC Humanities Department Chair, was observing Lee's class that day, and was fascinated by the stories she heard from Schumpert and Myers.

Martinez- Vidal recounted the stories to MTC staff members Helen Kingkade and Barbara Mooneyhan. The three agreed the topic would be a great idea for a documentary. The college then applied for and received a grant for the project through the Humanities Council SC.

Director of the film was Helen Kingkade. The film script was co- written by Helen and her husband, Howard Kingkade.

Henry Pearson, MTC production specialist, filmed and edited the documentary. Pearson, as it was discovered during the making of the film, had close ties with many of the graduates featured in the film.

Primary researchers for the project were Howard Kingkade and MTC faculty Randy Lee. Kingkade did much of the background research in Columbia, and Lee traveled to the Presbyterian Historical Society in Pennsylvania to conduct research and obtain photos.

Photos and video for the film were provided in part by the MTC Library, the Presbyterian Historical Society, Richland County Public Library (RCPL), the South Caroliniana Library, and the USC Film Library. Music for the documentary was written by MTC student Ben Cantrell.

DVDs of "In Their Own Words: A History of Harbison Institute," will soon be available for check-out at the MTC libraries. Members of the public may register as an MTC library patron to check out the DVD.

Note: In Harbison Institute's history, its name was changed several times. When the school was located in Abbeville, SC, it was called Ferguson Academy. Later names included Harbison College and Harbison Junior College, its final name.

This program is funded by The Humanities Council SC; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with literature, history, culture and heritage. Visit our Web site, www.schumanities.org.

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