Our Mission
Second Founding of America: Reconstruction Era, is an expansive national collaboration of scholars, educators, public officials, visual and performing artists and community leaders whose common purpose is to uncover and teach the untold stories, and correct the mis-told stories, of the Reconstruction Era during and the following the Civil War.
Through collaborative efforts with the National Park Service and other Reconstruction-related initiatives, it is a work of extraordinary scale but one that promises fresh insights into American history that can give us a greater understanding of our past and our present so we can create a better future by fulfilling the yet to be achieved promises of freedom, equality and justice for all.
Ongoing Initiatives 2020-2021
I. "Friend of the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park & Network” - - soliciting funds for specific projects, restoring additional physical sites to be included, organizing events, public forums, recruiting volunteers, establishing virtual tours and generating other means of support.
II. “The Reconstruction Educators Network” -- recruiting, providing professional development training, networking opportunities for teachers, creating and sustaining a resource center (“Teaching Reconstruction” website) for featuring primary and secondary resources, lesson plans, student projects, scholarly works and other resources helpful to classroom teachers.
III. “Finding and Sharing Common Ground” – Grassroots campaign, that identifies untold stories, leverages stories of Reconstruction and the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park & Network into community conversations about diversity, equality and justice and an end to racism in America while encouraging policy makers to integrate Reconstruction History history taught in our schools.
Our Advisors
Dr. Faye Jensen | Executive Director, SC Historical Society
Mr. Juan Johnson | Consultant, Riley Diversity Leadership Institute, Furman University
Mr. Nathan Johnson | Park Manager, South Carolina Department of Parks Recreation and Tourism
Hon. Billy Keyserling | Former Mayor, City of Beaufort, South Carolina
Ms. Elisabeth Laney | Park Interpreter, South Carolina Department of Parks Recreation and tourism
Dr. Bob Lefavi | University of South Carolina-Beaufort
Dr. Dan Littlefield | Professor of History, University of South Carolina; Author of Publications on Reconstruction Era and Slavery
Dr. Valinda Littlefield | Professor, History and African American Studies, University of South Carolina
Ms. Maxine Lutz | Former Executive Director, Historic Beaufort Foundation
Dr. Kate Masur | Associate Professor of History, Northwestern University; Co-Author of “NPS Theme Study on Reconstruction;” Published works on Civil War Black Politics
Dr. John McCardell | Vice Chancellor, University of the South, Sewanee
Mr. Joseph McGill Jr. | Founder, Slave Dwelling Project
Dr. Mae Mendoza | Former President, Beaufort County Historical Society
Dr. Page Putnam-Miller | Retired Professor of History, University of South Carolina
Gen. Mitch Mitchell | Retired, General United States Air Force, Beaufort City Councilman
Mr. Richard Moe | Former President, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Mr. Michael Bouleware Moore | Great grandson Congressman Robert Smalls
Dr. J. Brent Morris | Clemson University
Hon. Samuel Murray | Former Mayor, Town of Port Royal, South Carolina
Rev. Abraham Murray | Pastor, Brick Baptist Church
Mr. Jeremy Nesoff | Associate Director, Facing History and Ourselves
Mr. Brian O'Donnell | Former Director, Conservation Lands Foundation
Mr. John Parsons | Retired, National Park Service
Dr. Bernard Powers | Professor Emeritus, Center for the Study of Slavery, College of Charleston, Interim CEO and President IAAM
Ms. Anita Singleton-Prather | CEO and Executive Director at Gullah Travelling Theatre, Inc
Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine | Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation
Ms. Alvesta W. Robertson | Vice President and Librarian, Mather School Alumni Association
Councilman Stu Rodman | Beaufort County Council
Dr. Lawrence Rowland | Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina-Beaufort
Mr. Bakari Sellers | Attorney and Political Commentator
Dr. Cleveland Sellers | Professor, Department of History, University of South Carolina
Dr. Marlena Smalls | Founder and Director Hallelujah Singers; Educator
Ms. Denise Spencer | Former President and CEO, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry
Hon. Lisa Sulka | Mayor, Town of Bluffton, South Carolina
Dr. Althea Sumpter | Independent Scholar
Ms. Lise Sundrla | Historic Beaufort Foundation
Hon. John Tecklenburg | Mayor, City of Charleston, South Carolina
Mr. Dalton Tresvant | Regional Director, Office of Jim Clyburn
Mr. John Wallin | Deputy Director, Conservation Lands Foundation
Mr. Ahmad Ward | Executive Director, Mitchelville Preservation Project
Rev. Elijah Washington | Director, Grand Army Hall of the Republic
Mr. Robb Wells | President and CEO, Beaufort-Port Royal Visitors and Convention Bureau
Mr. Donald West | Director, 54 Massachusetts Colored Troops Reenactors, Trident College
Dr. Eric C. Williams | Curator of Religion, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Dr. Stephen Wise | Museum Curator, Parris island Museum, History Professor
Dr. Jim Wooten | Ret. Pastor, Baptist Church of Beaufort
Community Council
Mr. Carson Banks | Business Owner
Mrs. Ezhan Joyce-Bush | Community Advocate
Mr. Mannie Byas | Community Advocate
Pastor Michael Coxwell | Pastor, Meadowbrook Church
Mrs. Laraine Fess | Director of Theatre, Beaufort High School
Mr. Artrell Horne | Environmental Crimes Officer for Beaufort County Government
Ms. Latoshia Middleton | Director, School Counselors (BCSD)
Ms. Margo Middleton | Community Advocate
Mr. Jason Wilson | Investigator