Three dormitory buildings at the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum/Palmer Memorial Institute are included in the 2022 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The list is compiled annually by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to raise awareness of the threats faced by some of our country’s greatest treasures.
Founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Palmer Memorial Institute transformed the lives of nearly 2,000 African American students. Today, the campus is a museum and State Historic Site that allows visitors to explore this unique environment where African American youth lived and learned during the greater part of the 20th century. The museum links Dr. Brown and Palmer Memorial Institute to the larger themes of African American history, women's history, social history, and education, emphasizing the contributions African Americans made in North Carolina.
At its height, the campus encompassed more than 300 acres and 14 buildings. Three of those buildings, former dormitories for the school’s students, are currently unsafe to enter following severe storm damage and years of disuse.
“Inclusion on the National Trust’s 11 Most Endangered List is a compelling recognition of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum and its importance to the story of North Carolina and the nation,” said Michelle Lanier, director of the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites. “It is a call to action for all of us to ensure a more inclusive history be preserved for future generations. We are grateful to have the ongoing support of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, legislators, and the school’s alumni network, as we revitalize the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum for a vibrant future as a community anchor.”
“Restoring these neglected buildings to usefulness will help to further position the museum as an anchor in the historically Black community of Sedalia,” said André D. Vann, president of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Historical Foundation, Inc. “This national recognition is an opportunity to revitalize Palmer Memorial Institute and reinvigorate support for this unique, special place.”
“Palmer Memorial Institute is a powerful testament to African American self-determination and the importance of education as a powerful tool for social and economic transformation,” said Katherine Malone-France, Chief Preservation Officer, National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Restoring Palmer Memorial Institute’s former dormitories to active community use would honor the vision of groundbreaking educator Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, the accomplishments and legacies of the thousands of students who were shaped by Palmer Memorial Institute, and the citizens of Sedalia.”
To join the growing list of supporters of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, and to learn more, please visit our website at https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/charlotte-hawkins-brown-museum/palmer-memorial-institute-dormitory-revitalization.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development. NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, three science museums, three aquariums and Jennette's Pier, 41 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the N.C. Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, and the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.