Booker T. Washington High School Foundation

The Booker T. Washington High School Foundation is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to perpetuate the heritage and history of BTW, maintain relationships with alumni, the Alumni Association, and The Millennium Society, develop and build partnerships with community supporters, and keep the traditions of BTW in the forefront.

Booker T. Washington High School was the second Black High School in the state of South Carolina. From the beginning in 1916 until its closing in 1974, Booker T. Washington High School was a center for the education and training of young African Americans of Columbia, South Carolina. The school was integrated in 1969.

Recognizing the exigency to preserve Booker T. Washington High School's tradition of academic, vocational, athletic, and cultural excellence, Doris Glymph Greene, envisioned a foundation to keep the memory of the school alive. She drafted a concept proposal which the Columbia Pan-Hellenic Council unanimously adopted. The Council immediately set about establishing the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation.

Our Vision

We will strive to maintain the heritage and history of Booker T. Washington High School.

Our Values

We value the history of Booker T. Washington High School.

We value the teachers, staff, and alumni of Booker T. Washington High School.

We value the descendants of Booker T. Washington High School alumni.

We value The Millennium Society of the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation.

We value community and corporate supporters.

We value our relationship with Richland School District One.

We value our relationship with the University of South Carolina.

We value the opportunity to educate the Midlands community about the history of Booker T. Washington High School and its impact globally, nationally, regionally and locally.

Our Focus Areas

Scholarship. There are three designated scholarships for the Foundation. Fannie Phelps Adams, Beverly Garrick, and Susan Brown Freeman. These scholarships and other honors bestowed upon scholars are funded by contributions donated by individuals and Alumni Classes of Booker T. Washington High School, Columbia, South Carolina.

Service and Mission. The Foundation identifies areas of focus that impact the Midlands communities. Through the years, using volunteers and contributions, the Foundation has made a difference in the areas of service and mission.

Cultural Awareness. Using its resources, the Foundation sponsors an annual Heritage Celebration, John Work Chorus Concert and will work with the BTW Alumni Association in June 2023 to begin celebrating during the full month of June each year, BTW Month in Columbia. The month declaration was made by the City of Columbia in June 2022. These events allow the Foundation to share its service and mission opportunities.

Testimonials

Since the closing of Booker T. Washington High School in 1974, and the organization of the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation, the legacy of the school has been perpetuated through the years with annual Heritage Celebrations to include a full year Centennial Celebration in 2016. We are preparing for the 50th Commemorative Celebration of the school's closing in 2024.

The persons included here provide highlights of the accomplishments of a few BTW alumni or offspring of BTW alumni.

Fannie Phelps Adams (1934). A living legend, beloved and admired educator of Richland County Schools, Columbia, SC. She taught at Booker T, Washington High School as well as served as Assistant Principal and Acting Principal from 1973 until the school closed in 1974. She was the considered the "backbone of the school". After the formation of the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation in 1974, of which she served until her departure in 2016. Three scholarships are presently awarded in her honor annually. Mrs. Adams was inducted into the Richland District One Hall of Fame and the SC Black Hall of Fame, 2008.

Edna Charity Adams Earley (1930 -Educator, soldier, psychologist). Mrs. Earley paved the way for African American women in the military, in education and in her community. Her most prominent role was leading the first African American women's unit of the army on a tour of duty overseas during WW l. For her exceptional work in the WAC, Earley was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1945, the highest possible promotion for any in the WAC. Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia was formerly known as Fort Lee, but was renamed in April 2023 to honor Lt. Colonel Charity Adams and Lt. General Arthur J. Gregg.

Doris Glymph Greene (1959). Through the initial efforts of Mrs. Greene, along with the Pan-Hellenic Council, the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation was established in 1974. Mrs. Greene, subsequently served as the first President for a tenure of 10 years. A longtime time and outstanding English educator at the High School, Technical and College levels, she achieved many firsts professionally...