Note Regarding COVID-19: This NEH Landmarks program is designed and funded as a residential project.  Depending on public health guidelines related to COVID-19, plans for a residential offering are subject to change.

Photo credited to the Spartanburg County Public Library.

“Fabric of the Past: Weaving the Twentieth Century at the Beaumont Mill and Village in South Carolina” explores the rich history of the former Beaumont Textile Mill and adjacent village through the themes of race, industrialization, class and gender.

During this week-long summer workshop, middle and high school social studies educators for grades 6 through 12 will deepen their understanding of the textile industry and mill life in Spartanburg during the 20th century while learning inquiry-based methodologies that will prepare them to teach the unique history of their own communities.

Participants will visit the Beaumont Mill and Village to gain a deeper understanding of the central role the mill played in community life and the upstate South Carolina region as a whole. Other nearby mill communities will offer additional opportunities to explore the daily life of mill workers and their families. Participants will also learn how to incorporate primary sources, oral histories, and local landmarks in their teaching.

Throughout the workshop, participants will hear from historians about key topics in textile and mill history while developing an inquiry-based teaching blueprint they can use to engage students in learning and telling the story of their communities.

Applications are being accepted now through March 1, 2022.