The South Carolina African American Heritage Commission works to identify and promote the preservation of South Carolina’s African American culture and history – including historic sites, structures, and buildings. Capturing and sharing these stories helps secure them in South Carolina history. 

Beam & Hinge is proud to have partnered with the Commission on the creation and launch of SCAAHC.org, which will exponentially expand access to their work – and we are doubly proud to announce that the site has been recognized with a Notable Document Award from the South Carolina State Library (SCSL).  

SCSL established the Notable State Documents Awards to recognize exceptional state agency publications, including websites, videos, and apps. Nominees in the Websites category were judged on content, writing style, and design. 

“South Carolina state documents provide a wealth of information, statistics, and share a broad range of knowledge about our state,” said SCSL Director Leesa Aiken. “I am pleased that we are able to publicly recognize these important publications and websites as notable documents, and it is my hope that all South Carolina state agencies continue to produce high-quality documents such as these.” 

SCAAHC.org is an interactive platform chronicling the untold and under-told histories of Black communities across South Carolina. The site details current Commission projects and exhibits, with a calendar that displays upcoming workshops and conferences to educate the public. The site also promotes and highlights community milestones, preservation efforts, and the work of researchers and historians across the state. 

The Commission’s work is ongoing, and their next collection will focus on the involvement of Black people during the American Revolution. The flexibility of SCAAHC.org will facilitate sharing this project to a broader audience. 

“This honor motivates the Commission to continue adding beneficial information and resources to the website,” reads the Commission’s press release regarding the recognition. “[We are] grateful to the staff at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and to Beam & Hinge for their passionate work and dedication.”