Our Collaborators

Welcome to "The Second Founding of America," an initiative of Reconstruction Beaufort, Inc., both of which seek to carry out the intent of President Obama's Proclamation of 2017 creating the Reconstruction Era National Monument. By Congressional action this year, this project will become a National Historical Park.

This is an enormous achievement for our State, Region, and Nation, starting 18 years ago with the Secretary of the Interior, major national scholars and local organizations seeking to learn and teach the long untold and mistold period of American history that brought us the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the U. S. Constitution.

The power of this national and local collaboration has moved research and conversation about the era, inspiring new and exciting interpretations of events, places, and people that are embedded in this colorful and dramatic history of our nation.

Through our impressive National Advisory Board built over the past year, we offer support to the National Park Service and fuel our local Reconstruction Beaufort initiative, which includes every Reconstruction-era organization in the region. We are working with our collaborators to create a national repository of narratives both digitally and in a national museum. You can view their particular missions and projects by visiting their web sites provided below.

Message from the Chairman of the Advisory Board

I am honored to serve as the chairperson of the Reconstruction Beaufort Advisory Board. As the chairman, I am committed to supporting the efforts and activities of Reconstruction Beaufort, to bring a broader awareness of its historic significance. I am keenly aware that Reconstruction was a challenging time in our American history that has been overlooked by some and marginalized by others. It is my objective to shine a positive light on the Era of Reconstruction and bring a greater appreciation of how it is knitted in the fabric of our American story.

Michael Allen, Retired NPS Ranger

Message from Mayor Billy Keyserling, Founder of Reconstruction Beaufort

Our Partners

Reconstruction Era National Monument (National Historical Park)

Current and Future Collaborating Organizations

Reconstruction Beaufort Childrens Choir (Link TBA)

Reconstruction Era National Monument (National Historical Park)
Santa Elena History Foundation
Smithsonian Museum of African American History

and Culture

Sons of Confederate Veterans - Beaufort, SC
South Carolina Commission African American History

and Culture
South Carolina Confederate Relic Room
South Carolina Department of Archives and History
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
South Carolina Historical Society

Tabernacle Baptist Church - Harriet Tubman Memorial Project

Town of Bluffton
Town of Hilton Head Island
Town of Port Royal
University of South Carolina Beaufort, Historic Campus

University of South Carolina Beaufort, Center for the Arts
University of South Carolina Beaufort, Reconstruction Institute
US Naval Hospital, Beaufort (in Town of Port Royal)

In January 2020, Reconstruction Beaufort had its first Advisory Board Meeting at the Tabernacle Church in Beaufort, SC.

Reconstruction Beaufort's Advisory Board meeting allowed our board members to connect in person and collaborate with each other about the future of the non-profit while also brainstorming about community-based initiatives. While these board members were engaged in group activities, some great ideas were brought to the surface such as:

strengthening and enhancing the organizational and leadership structure
continuing to develop a cohesive relationship with the National Park Service
furthering outreach to communities and schools on a local, state, and national level.

While these were only a few suggestions, we have many more that we would like to implement into Reconstruction Beaufort.

Acknowledgements

Please click on a logo below to find out more information on any of our collaborators.

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