Vivian Glover
Commission Chair | Chair of Public Relations Committee
Vivian Glover is also on the board of Preservation South Carolina and on the Advisory Board of the South Carolina Civil Rights Museum. Her interest in history included co-producing the film “Shared History,” which documented the experiences of descendants of slaves and slave owners as they explore their centuries-old connection at Woodlands Plantation in Bamberg County. She was a consultant on the documentary “The Marines of Montfort Point: America’s First Black Marines;” both aired on PBS stations with Shared History being shown throughout Europe.
Glover is the author of Men of Vision: Claflin College and Her Presidents, (1995), which chronicles the history of Claflin University from its founding in 1869 to the institution’s 125th anniversary in 1994 and A Tapestry of Their Times, a series chronicling the lives of senior women growing up Southern in the first half of the 20th century.
She is also the author of the novel, The First Fig Tree, (Methuen, UK and St. Martins’s Press, NY). Her articles have been published online at nbcnews.com, The News Journal, The Grio, The State, and The Times and Democrat newspapers.
In addition to her work as a journalist and writer, Glover worked for many years as a news producer for NBC News Network, covering breaking news stories and producing features for The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and Dateline. Glover recently retired as Director of Community Arts & Development from the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center. Prior to retirement, she served for several years, on its board. She also served on the boards of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce and the Regional Medical Center Foundation—now part of MUSC Health.
“Uplifting the history and culture of African Americans in South Carolina by supporting and participating in community achievements; these have been inspirational and educational for our 15-member commission. Convening our annual conference in February, under the auspices of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, was equally uplifting for us, our audiences and the scholars and historians whose presentations enriched our history and celebrated our culture.
Historical research and personal stories are valued equally through our mission. We are increasing our capacity and commitment to bring attention to both by going to see and hear what others have to offer and add to the narrative of our past.
The 25 African American historical markers we recently enabled will give us that opportunity. Attending the first two of the dedication ceremonies, we shared with communities the pride and celebration of a permanent place in South Carolina’s history. As the dedications and unveilings continue, we commissioners will be witnesses again and again.
We are inviting you to invite us to attend your commemorative events so that, through us, our state and beyond recognizes what, as African Americans, we have achieved. We hope you will offer your contributions as we continue to make known who and what was unknown, appreciate who and what was under-appreciated, and uplift those lesser-known men and women whose stories are worthy to be told and entered in history.”