South Carolina State Could Get More Than $1 Million
By James T. Hammond, The State, Columbia, S.C.
Dec. 1–U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn and his wife, Emily, will establish a privately funded endowment at South Carolina State University to support the collection and study of the African-American experience in South Carolina.
The gift could top $1.2 million, Clyburn said Wednesday. That would make it the largest single gift in the institution’s 109-year history.
It also will be one of the few endowments among the state’s historically black colleges and universities.
“This will bring us visibility,” said S.C. State president Andrew Hugine. “The congressman has used his visibility, his good will. Now others will be willing to come to the table as well.”
Clyburn, a graduate of the land grant college in Orangeburg, said he wanted to help put the institution on a more competitive footing with other schools that historically have had millions of dollars in annual gifts.
The S.C. State Foundation manages approximately $5 million in previous gifts to the university.
For comparison, the University of South Carolina had endowments totaling $329.7 million in 2004.
Clyburn expects the holiday gala climax of the campaign to become an annual event. On Friday, Clyburn will host a banquet at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center to celebrate the new endowment. The Mistress of Ceremonies will be actress Phylicia Rashad.
The 6th District Democrat said he has already discussed with alumni another such event to be held next year in Greenville. And he said the organizers of next year’s event hope to exceed this year’s contribution to the James E. and Emily E. Clyburn Endowment for Archives and History.
Clyburn began his career as a history teacher in Charleston County Schools. His wife worked as a librarian. Their aim in starting the endowment is to provide the financial support for a comprehensive archive and history program at S.C. State.
The congressman said the endowment will spend 20 percent of its income on need-based scholarships. The remaining 80 percent will be devoted to the archive, to programs and seminars, to faculty exchanges and to paying for visits to campus by leaders, academics and other people who may inspire and instruct the students.
“The five hours I spent with Martin Luther King Jr. changed my life,” said Clyburn, who explained he wants to make it possible for future S.C. students to have similar encounters.
“It’s important to provide scholarships so that students can attend South Carolina State, but it’s also important that they have a memorable experience once they get here.”
Clyburn already has donated his papers to S.C. State. He would like to see the documents of other black leaders housed there as well.
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