Hartsville native joins Orangeburg civil-rights museum
Jannie Harriot, a native of Hartsville and one of the leading voices for preserving African-American history and culture in the state, has joined the Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum in Orangeburg. Williams, founder and CEO of the museum, announced that Harriot will be Executive Director of Development and Programs. The museum — which began operating in 2019 and still in its initial start-up phase — is the first and only civil rights museum in the state. “For more than 28 years, Ms. Harriot, a founding member and former chairperson of the South Carolina African-American Heritage Commission, has worked consistently to identify and preserve the story of our people,” stated Williams. “She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this position. I have worked with her regularly over the years and have great admiration for her dedication and work ethic. Now is the perfect time to bring Ms. Harriot aboard.” Williams, author of four documentaries and former JET magazine photographer, has chronicled the civil rights movement in South Carolina for more than 60 years. The museum opened in late 2020, but because of COVID-19, it has operated by appointment only. Nonetheless, even under these limited conditions, more than 12,000 visitors have come to experience the museum. At its present location, the museum archives and displays the largest collection anywhere of South Carolina-related civil rights movement photographs and historical artifacts.
