National Council on Public History

WILL HIOTT, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Proposal Type

Traditional Panel

Seeking

• Seeking Additional Presenters

Related Topics

• Reflections on the Field

Abstract

Plantation History in the 21st Century: Dialogues of Rediscovering the Enslaved Voices in Historic House Museums

Seeking additional presenters to share their experiences in researching and re-interpreting other historic house museums with plantation histories and their case studies sharing their experiences and successes.

As a dialogue on diversity, the session seeks to share opportunities and methods of sharing voices of the voiceless with clients of various ages and interests. Methods such as oral histories, historical archaeology and comparative literature are encouraged. Training methods for staff and interpreters along with communicating methods via. social media platforms are welcomed.

Description

Clemson University, founded on the antebellum plantation of Vice-President John C. Calhoun through the visionary, philanthropic bequest of his son-in-law, Thomas G. Clemson, included a substantial portion of that bequest to ensure the preservation of the Fort Hill dwelling house, similarly to Mount Vernon, stating that Fort Hill shall never be torn down or altered but be open for the inspection of visitors. Thus, portions of Fort Hill were opened to the public when Clemson College’s first students enrolled in 1893, and the first restoration took place during the 1930’s under the tutelage of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Fort Hill, called the Calhoun Mansion, contained relics of the extended Calhoun family and was referred to as a shrine. Fort Hill, a Colonial revival mansion, had rooms painted white, industrial carpeting, and steam heat. Little was done to examine the population of some 70-80 enslaved persons other than reconstructing a kitchen.

Beginning a little over a quarter of a century ago, the University took greater control of the operations, installing professional museum and preservation staffing and beginning a long phase of updating the structure both in its preservation but also in its interpretation. A greater emphasis was made on reinterpreting the enslaved African-Americans and, within the last decade, the academic arena has sought to embrace the telling of a fuller account of the plantation experience.

The larger context of the research currently underway, under the direction of the Board of Trustee’s Task Force on History’s Implementation Team, coincides with the broader reexamination of Universities and their histories. However, no other public university was built on the plantation home of the enigmatic Calhoun who proclaimed the “peculiar institution” of human slavery as a “positive good.” Clemson University seeks a greater discovery and understanding of the plantation, both white and black occupants, telling a complete story of the 19th century.

The process to date has uncovered interesting documentation, shedding light on some contrasts of Sen. Calhoun’s rhetoric to his actual interactions with his human chattel. Letters provide insight into a complex narrative of a symbiotic relationship, assertions of resistance, and the model plantation Calhoun sought to project. The house museum is providing dialogue on the topic of race, perceptions of history, and how applied to discourse in and beyond the classroom.

If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly: Will Hiott, [email protected]

All feedback and offers of assistance should be submitted by July 1, 2019. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.

Discussion