In The Beginning...

The following is a brief historical account of the founding of the South Carolina
Independent Colleges and Universities, Inc. by Dr. Gordon W. Blackwell in his
document entitled Looking to the Future. Dr. Blackwell served as President of
Furman University from 1965 to 1976.

On April 26, 1952, a group of private college presidents met in Charleston to consider the advisability of organizing and developing a plan for solicitation of funds to provide operating expenses for the private colleges in the state. President E.M. Gwathmey of Converse College was named chairman.

On July 24 representatives of ten private colleges met at Converse College. Those represented were Coker, Columbia, Converse, Erskine, Furman, Limestone, Newberry, Presbyterian, Wofford and the College of Charleston.

Originally the name suggested for the organization was the South Carolina Foundation of Independent and Church-Related Colleges, Inc. This was changed to South Carolina Foundation of Independent Colleges when a constitution and by-laws were drafted by December 2, 1952. Charter members of the group were those listed above with the exception of the College of Charleston. The purposes of the Foundation were to: (1) interpret the aims, functions and needs of the member colleges to the public with a view to better mutual understanding and cooperation; (2) solicit funds for the benefit of member colleges; (3) distribute funds secured to the member colleges on a formula basis. In order to join the Foundation a college had to be a private, four-year liberal arts college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The fiscal year was set as February 1 – January 31.

The original Board of Trustees of the Foundation was composed of the president or other chief executive officer of the member colleges and as many members at large as the Board of Trustees chose to elect but not to exceed the number of member colleges. An Executive Committee was established which would have the power to act for the Board in line with policies set by the Board and subject to review by the Board. An amount not to exceed $2,000 was assessed against each college for the expenses of the organization.

On January 27, 1953, the constitution and by-laws were approved and the nine college presidents officially became members of the Board of Trustees with the following officers: Chairman, Dr. R.C. Grier of Erskine; Vice Chairman, Dr. James C. Kinard of Newberry; Secretary, Dr. John L. Plyler of Furman; and Treasurer, Dr. Pendleton Gaines of Wofford.

The South Carolina Foundation of Independent Colleges, Inc. was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation on January 30, 1953.

In August of that year Governor James F. Brynes became a trustee of the Foundation. In November the following lay trustees were added: Charles E. Daniel, B.M. Edwards, Walter S. Montgomery, Sr., Roger C. Peace, James C. Self, and Samuel Swint.

The first trustee meeting was held on November 17, 1953, in the office of Governor Brynes. Mr. J. Lacy McLean was employed to fill the position of Executive Secretary with offices on the old Furman University campus. Hugh C. Lane, Sr., was added to the Board. The assessment was set at $9,000 for fiscal year 1954.