Schofield Normal and Industrial School

Schofield Normal and Industrial School was a school for African Americans in Aiken, South Carolina.^[1] It is now a public middle school. It is part of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.^[2] Alumni ncoude Matilda Evans who became the first female African American doctor licensed in South Carolina. It became the public Martha Schofield High School before integration and later a middle school that remains open was also named for Martha Schofield.^[2][3]

The school was founded by the Freedmen's Bureau in 1866.^[4] Martha Schofield, a Quaker from Pennsylvania became its superintendent. It became a boarding school and taught trades and trained teachers. It was merged into the public school system in 1952.^[5] It was integrated in the 1960s and became a middle school.^[6]

Isaac Fisher taught at the school.^[7] Nick Aaron Ford taught at the school.

Martha Schofield was also a political activist.^[8] She wrote to her sister on school stationery.^[9]

Sanford P. Brady, an alumnus of the school, became its first African American superintendent. A belltower from the school that topped its Carter Hall is extant. A historical marker commemorates the school's history.^[4] Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College has a collection of papers from the school.^[5] The school is part of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.^[10]