Charleston County John L. Dart Public Library

Last night I was a good soldier and attended a musical tribute to the life and legacy of Rev. John Lewis Dart.  It was held at the Morris Street Baptist Church.  I was not especially excited about going to a program but once I got there I was glad I had attended.  I learned a great deal about a wonderful man and how he is a huge part of the Morris Street Baptist Church as well as the Charleston County Public Library.  The following has been taken from the CCPL site:

"Join us in 2012 for a year-long celebration commemorating the 85th anniversary of
Charleston’s first free public library for African-Americans. Help us celebrate the
legacy and groundbreaking spirit of the Rev. John L. Dart family, pioneers in the
Charleston community who dedicated their lives to improving the educational
opportunities for blacks. Realizing that local black children were being crowded
out of the city’s segregated schools, Rev. Dart founded the Charleston Normal
and Industrial School in 1894. And, in 1927, Dart’s daughter, Susan Dart Butler,
used her fathers’ extensive collection of books to establish the first free public
library for area blacks in the school’s Dart Hall."

The Morris Street Baptist Church was the perfect setting for this celebration.  They too are celebrating.  It is their 147th anniversary.

The following is taken from information provided by Morris Street Baptist Church at last evenings event:

Prior to 1865, Colored Baptists worshipped in the galleries of the White Baptists churches.  They were given two rooms downstairs in Cumberland Baptist.  The members wanted a place of their own and were given a 2-room building on Morris Street.  On May 9, 1865, members of three congregations got together and formed the Morris Street Baptist Church.

Rev. John L. Dart was born in Charleston as a free man of color.  He was an educated man and believed education was the path for economic strength as a means to empower area Blacks.  He was valedictorian of his class at Avery Institute, received a master's degree and was an ordained Baptist minister.  He served for 16 years as pastor of Morris Street Baptist Church and 10 years as pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church.  Among his many accomplishments was the founding of the Charleston Normal and Industrial School which evolved into what is now Burke High School.  His daughter, Susan Dart Butler worked to bring a new purpose to the old Dart building at Bogard and Kracke St.  It became Charleston's first, free public library for African Americans.  In 1968, Charleston County built a branch of the library at 1067 King Street which was named in honor of Rev. J. L. Dart.  His accomplishments live on through not only this branch of the library but in how he touched the lives of people in the Charleston community.

So, it is the 85th anniversary of the J.L. Dart Public Library and the 147th anniversary of Morris Street Baptist Church.  Last night was a wonderful, musical celebration of the life of the Rev. John Lewis Dart.  It was amazing.  Music was provided by the Morris Street Baptist Church Mass Choir, The Plantation Singers, Singing Eagels Concert Choir (Charleston Development Charter School) and Rosemary Roberson.

I applaud the Charleston County Public Library and Morris Street Baptist Church for putting on such as quality program.  Congratulations to both during their anniversary celebrations.

Michael Kaynard is a local photographer who lives in West Ashley.  His photos can be viewed at http://kaynardphotography.webs.com.  He can be reached at 843-412-2299 or mkaynard@gmail.com.