Fairfield Institute Explained

Fairfield Institute should not be confused with Fairfield Institute of Management and Technology.

Fairfield Institute was a school for African Americans in Winnsboro, South Carolina in Fairfield County, South Carolina. Kelly Miller attended the school.^[1] It opened in 1869. Rev. Willard Richardson served as principal. It was closed and sold as part of a consolidation with nearby Brainerd Institute in Chester, South Carolina in 1888.^[2] Joseph Winthrop Holley attended the school, originally known as Willard Richardson School, until Richardson and his family returned to New Jersey.^[3] The school’s enrollment reached about 100.^[4]

Supported by the Presbyterian Church,^{[5] [6]} the school was succeeded by a school established by Rev. J. C. Watkins.^[3]

Enrollment reached 354 students.^[7] Brainerd Institute was within 20 miles.^[8]

The school trained teachers and "workers for Africa"^[6] to go on missions.^[9] Richardson was also in charge of several churches.^[10] It was a religious school and agricultural pursuits were taught.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Book: Schafer, Virginia. Legendary Locals of Fairfield County, South Carolina. May 31, 2013. Arcadia Publishing. 9781467100380 . Google Books.
2. Book: A Guidebook to South Carolina Historical Markers. February 19, 2021. Univ of South Carolina Press. 9781643361574 . Google Books.
3. Book: Holley, Joseph Winthrop. You Can't Build a Chimney from the Top. May 31, 1992. University Press of America. 9780819184832 . Google Books.
4. Book: Edgar, Walter. The South Carolina Encyclopedia Guide to the Counties of South Carolina. November 2, 2012. Univ of South Carolina Press. 9781611171518 . Google Books.
5. Book: Presbyterians in South Carolina, 1925–1985: Mid-Century Change in Historic Denominations. Nancy Snell. Griffith. Charles E.. Raynal. September 12, 2016. Wipf and Stock Publishers. 9781498237727 . Google Books.
6. Web site: The Presbyterian Monthly Record of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America: Being the Organ of the Boards of Home Missions, Education, Foreign Missions, Publication, Church Erection, Relief for Disables Ministers, Missions for Freedmen, and Aid for Colleges and Academies. May 31, 1882. Presbyterian Board of Publication. Google Books.
7. Web site: Reports of the Boards. Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. General. Assembly. May 31, 1881. Google Books.
8. Web site: Reports of the Missionary and Benevolent Boards and Committees to the General Assembly .... Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. General. Assembly. May 31, 1888. Google Books.
9. Web site: The Annual Report of the Presbyterian Committee of Missions for Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. Committee of Missions for. Freedmen. May 31, 1881. The Committee. Google Books.
10. Web site: Minutes. United Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. General. Assembly. May 31, 1878. Google Books.
11. Book: The Annual Report of the Presbyterian Board of Missions for Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America . 1864 . The Board .