Home / Education / Civil Rights Records Donated to Aiken Museum
Civil Rights Records Donated to Aiken Museum
4 Jun
Summary
- Documents from Aiken County Council on Human Relations donated.
- Parents faced harassment for their civil rights activism.
- Donated materials include scrapbooks and NPR recordings.
Historical documents and clippings detailing the Aiken County Council on Human Relations have been donated to the Aiken County Historical Museum. This community group was established in the early 1960s to champion civil rights and ensure the peaceful integration of schools and public facilities.
Marsha Rial Davis presented the materials on May 29, preserving the legacy of her parents, Thomas and Marilyn Rial. They were instrumental in the council's formation, motivated by a love for the South and a commitment to social justice. Their activism, however, exposed them to harassment and threats.
Davis aims to honor her parents' bravery in standing against suppression, noting that Aiken, while avoiding the violence seen elsewhere, often preferred to ignore these issues. The donated items include her father's scrapbook of news clippings and recordings of historical interviews, significantly enriching the museum's modern history collection.
