Unit Title:
Civilian Conservation Corps files (photographs), ca. 1934-1942
Accumulation:
ca. 1934-1942
Created:
ca. 1934-1942
Creator:
South Carolina. Forestry Commission.
Physical Description:
0.50 cubic ft. (1 an, 3 fb, 1 ns)
Language:
English
Biography or History:
South Carolina had no system of state parks until the federal government created the Emergency Conservation Work program (later the Civilian Conservation Corps, a.k.a. CCC) with the authority to use CCC workers on state, county, and municipal lands to encourage and assist the development of state and county park systems throughout the nation. South Carolina's state park system was created in response to this legislation. The parks system was placed under the authority of the State Forestry Commission which in 1935 was authorized to "acquire property for state forests and state parks." In 1937 the Division of State Parks officially became a separate unit of the Forestry Commission. An assistant state forester was hired to supervise the development, planning, and operations of all state parks and a landscape architect was hired to assist the assistant state forester in "designing recreational developments and plantings."
Biography or History:
Between 1934 and 1941, the CCC, in cooperation with the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service, constructed sixteen state parks in South Carolina. Additionally the federal government developed two recreation demonstration areas with the cooperation of the State Forest Service and with the help of the CCC, Works Progress Administration (WPA), and the Emergency Relief Administration (ERA). These areas were similar to the state parks except that their main purpose was to provide camps for organized groups like the Boy and Girl Scouts. These areas were adjacent to the Cheraw State Park and the Kings Mountain National Military Park. The former area eventually became a part of the Cheraw State Park and the latter eventually became the Kings Mountain State Park. The National Park Service, in cooperation with the State Forest Service, also supervised the development of wayside parks-recreational areas adjacent to major roadways. Upon completion, these were turned over to the state for maintenance and operation. The Division of State Parks was also responsible for the administration and maintenance of state historical sites which had been acquired by the state.
Custodial History:
unspecified
Acquisition Information:
South Carolina. Forestry Commission.
Scope and Content:
This series consists of photographs removed from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) files pertaining to CCC projects at South Carolina state parks, wayside parks, and recreational demonstration areas. Included are photographs of roads, bridges, and trails; facilities such as cabins, lodges, dining halls, shelters, bath houses, latrines, picnic areas, docks and piers, etc.; electrical, water, utility, and sewage systems; structural improvements, plants and landscaping, etc. CCC workers and park staff are also sometimes pictured. Represented are Cheraw State Park, Cheraw Recreational Demonstration Area, Givhan's Ferry State Park, Poinsett State Park, Myrtle Beach State Park, Table Rock State Park, Kings Mountain State Park, Edisto Beach State Park, Chester State Park, Hunting Island State Park, Greenwood State Park, Fort Moultrie, and Ophir Plantation.
Appraisal Information:
unspecified
Accruals:
no
Arrangement:
Series arranged by subject.
Conditions Governing Access:
none
Conditions Governing Use:
none
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements:
none
Other Finding Aid:
A list of photographs is available in the repository.
Location of Originals:
South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223
Alternative Form Available:
The entire series has been digitized and is available through the South Carolina Electronic Records Archive (SCERA), which is maintained by the Archives.
Related Material:
Additional Civilian Conservation Corps photographs, including photographs of an African-American Company, can be found in the department's Picture File. These photographs were donated to the Department of Archives and History in conjunction with a 1999 exhibit. For other records relating to CCC projects in South Carolina, see series S162004, Civilian Conservation Corps files, ca. 1934-1942.
Bibliography:
none
Other Descriptive Data:
none
Processing Information:
None
