August 21, 2026
Founded by nationally renowned photographer Cecil Williams and educator Barbara Johnson-Williams, the South Carolina Civil Rights Museum is dedicated to sharing South Carolina’s pivotal role in the civil rights movement. Through documentary-style photography, educational resources, historical collections, community engagement, and innovative storytelling, the Museum connects people with the events and individuals that helped shape the state and nation. Its work includes the Civil Rights Academy, which provides educational materials used statewide, as well as digital preservation experiences that make the Museum’s collections and stories accessible to broader audiences.
In 2025, the South Carolina Civil Rights Museum was named the recipient of Central Carolina Community Foundation’s David W. Robinson Catalyst Award, which honors organizations sparking transformative change in their communities. The award came at an important time as the Museum was building a new, expanded space at the Railroad Corner site in downtown Orangeburg.
As the Museum continues to grow, its work is allowing more people to connect with the stories that shaped South Carolina while ensuring those stories remain accessible for generations to come.
Read more about the organizations, community members, and donors strengthening the Midlands, including those making an impact in the Black community. Support nonprofits making an impact in the Midlands, including over 100 Black-Led Black-Benefitting organizations, by giving through MidlandsGives.org.
