18 Feb Celebrating history: Lecture series explores the American Revolution in South Carolina A new program, including a lecture series at local libraries and exhibits at local museums, provides many answers to questions about America’s fight for independence 250 years ago. The Georgetown County Library has announced a series of upcoming public educational programs as part of “A Glorious Cause: South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Public History Initiative of the Georgetown County Library.” The programs, which will be free and open to the public, will take place at each of the library system’s five facilities across Georgetown County from March 2026 through June 2026. “A Glorious Cause” will illustrate the Palmetto State’s exceptional role in securing American independence while exploring the colonial society that shaped the rising nation’s thinkers and fighters. A Revolutionary War re-enactor fires a musket during last years Francis Marion Living History Day in Georgetown. The event was put on by Georgetown County 250. (Photo by Jackie Broach/Georgetown County) Significant local historical figures to be featured “A Glorious Cause” programs will elucidate not only significant historical figures and events of the American Revolution—including those with local ties like Francis Marion, Thomas Lynch Jr., and the Marquis de Lafayette—but also the rich intellectual and social life of the era, including the literature, art, music, dance, and cuisine that defined the spirit of the new nation. The series of 18 free public educational presentations will begin on Wednesday, March 11, at 10 a.m. at Georgetown Library, 405 Cleland St., Georgetown, with programs in subsequent months held at each of GCL’s four remaining library sites: Andrews Library, Carvers Bay Library, Southern Georgetown Library, and Waccamaw Library. In connection with ongoing 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States, of South Carolina, and of Georgetown County, “A Glorious Cause” programs will feature experts from far and near who will expand the understanding of the Revolution and South Carolina’s central role in forging the new nation. Notable presenters, to name but a few, include renowned Oxford professor Dr. Nicholas Cole, director of the Quill Project, on new research into America’s founding documents; Keith Gourdin, great-great-great nephew of Gen. Francis Marion, on family connections and history involving his famous military ancestor; national award-winning storyteller Tim Lowr, demonstrating colonial parlor games and dances; historian and fiddler Zachary Lemhouse explaining and performing popular Revolutionary songs; Clemson professor Dr. Lee Wilson on how treason was exploited as a political weapon during the Revolution; and famed chef and author Sallie Ann Robinson on historic Gullah foodways of the period. Presentations will be filmed and made available for national audiences on the Georgetown County Library YouTube channel. To complement the series, the Georgetown Library will host two free public exhibits from the South Carolina State Museum in conjunction with “Glorious Cause” programs: “Resilience & Revolution: Native Peoples in 18th Century South Carolina” in April and May 2026 and “The American Revolutionary War in South Carolina” in June and July 2026. Joe and Sherry Robey of Pawleys Island are enthusiastic members of the Georgetown County 250 Committee. (Photo by Clayton Stairs/Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce) In addition, a grant will enable the purchase of hundreds of carefully selected adult nonfiction books—distributed throughout the library system—on the Revolution, on South Carolina’s contributions, and on colonial society. Moreover, through this grant funding, the library system will become the first public library in South Carolina—and one of the earliest in the United States—to employ Reduct, a cutting-edge AI-powered tool that enables rapid and highly accurate transcriptions of archived video holdings into texts. These transcriptions will be hosted on the Georgetown County Digital Library, founded in 2010 with major support from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation. This digital archive now encompasses nearly 60,000 items and is accessed internationally by over 7,000 patrons monthly. It also feeds directly into the Digital Public Library of America. The project is made possible by a $39,300 Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the South Carolina State Library. This federal funding will cover 66 percent of the total costs of the project, while $22,100 (or 34 percent) of the total costs will be financed by non-government sources. Together, these materials, activities, and services will highlight—in an ongoing and widespread manner—a vital story of revolutionary courage, creativity, and community that continues to resonate today. In addition to IMLS and SCSL grants, “A Glorious Cause” has enthusiastic support from community partners, including Coastal Carolina University’s HTC Honors College, Georgetown 250, the Georgetown County Museum, GCL’s Friends groups, and the South Carolina Maritime Museum. Below is a schedule of dates, locations, and presenters for “A Glorious Cause: South Carolina and the American Revolution” programs: “A Glorious Cause”: South Carolina and the American Revolution Here’s a look at the all the individual programs: March 2026 Wednesday, March 11, at 10 a.m., Georgetown Library, 405 Cleland St., Georgetown: Tim Lowry, Award-winning Storyteller, “Food, Fashion, & Frivolity: Inside a Revolutionary Parlor” Tim Lowry Thursday, March 12, at 10 a.m., Georgetown Library, 405 Cleland St., Georgetown: Zachary Lemhouse, Historian/Violinist, “Songs of the American Revolution: A Historical Presentation & Performance” Zachary Lemhouse Wednesday, March 18, at 10 a.m., Georgetown Library, 405 Cleland St., Georgetown: Dr. Sara A. Rich, Maritime Archaeologist/Rhode Island School of Design, “A Revolutionary War Shipwreck in the Cooper River” *In partnership with the South Carolina Maritime Museum Dr. Sara A. Rich Wednesday, March 25, at 10 a.m., Georgetown Library, 405 Cleland St., Georgetown: Christopher Judge, Native American Studies Center/USC Lancaster, “Native Life in Revolutionary South Carolina” Christopher Judge April-May 2026: “Resilience & Revolution: Native Peoples in 18th-Century South Carolina” exhibit at Georgetown Library —- April 2026 Thursday, April 2, at 10 a.m., Waccamaw Library 41 St. Paul’s Place, Pawleys Island: Steven D. Smith, South Carolina Institute for Archaeology & Anthropology, “Francis Marion & the Snow’s Island Community: Myth, History, & Archaeology” Steven Smith Tuesday, April 7, at 6 p.m., Waccamaw Library 41 St. Paul’s Place, Pawleys Island: Dr. Nicholas Cole, Quill Project/University of Oxford, “Re-examining Founding Documents of the Revolution” (In partnership with Coastal Carolina University HTC Honors College) Dr. Nicholas Cole Thursday, April 23, at 10 a.m., Waccamaw Library 41 St. Paul’s Place, Pawleys Island: Beth Yarbrough, Author, “Preserving Colonial South Carolina’s Historic Buildings” Thursday, April 30, at 10 a.m., Waccamaw Library 41 St. Paul’s Place, Pawleys Island: Dr. Elizabeth Chew, CEO/South Carolina Historical Society, “Art & the American Revolution” Dr. Elizabeth Chew —– May 2026. Wednesday, May 6, at 10 a.m., Andrews Library 105 N. Morgan Ave., Andrews: Paige Sawyer, Chair/Francis Marion Interpretive Center, “Fascinating Facts about Francis Marion” Paige Sawyer Wednesday, May 13, at 10 a.m., Andrews Library 105 N. Morgan Ave., Andrews: Dr. Lee B. Wilson, Associate Professor of History/Clemson University, “Treason as Political Weapon in the American Revolution” Dr. Lee B. Wilson Wednesday, May 20, at 10 a.m., Andrews Library 105 N. Morgan Ave., Andrews: Keith Gourdin, Francis Marion Descendant, “Family History & Connections with Francis Marion” —– May 2026 Thursday, May 7, at 2 p.m., Southern Georgetown Library, 4187 Powell Road, Georgetown: Victoria A. Smalls, CEO/Smalls Cultural Resources, “The Social & Cultural Life of Gullah People in the SC Lowcountry during the Revolutinary Era” Victoria A. Smalls Thursday, May 14, at 2 p.m., Southern Georgetown Library, 4187 Powell Road, Georgetown: Sallie Ann Robinson, Chef & Author, “Lowcountry Gullah Cuisine during the American Revolution” Sallie Ann Robinson Thursday, May 21, at 2 p.m., Southern Georgetown Library, 4187 Powell Road, Georgetown: Jennifaye Singleton, Sweetgrass Weaver, “Traditional Gullah Artforms of the Revolutionary Period” Jennifaye Singleton Friday, May 29, at 11 a.m., Southern Georgetown Library, 4187 Powell Road, Georgetown: Hastings Hensel, Guide/River Reader Kayaking, “Kayak Tour of Battle of Black Mingo Site” — Registration required — email dturner@gtcounty.org Hastings Hensel —— June 2026 Thursday, June 4, at 2 p.m., Carvers Bay Library, 13048 Choppee Road, Hemingway: Steve Williams, Author, “African Americans and the Revolutionary War” Steve Williams Thursday, June 11, at 2 p.m., Carvers Bay Library, 13048 Choppee Road, Hemingway: Pelor Richards, Cultural Interpreter, “Roots & Resilience: Gullah Life in the Revolutionary Era” Pelor Richards Thursday, June 18, at 2 p.m., Carvers Bay Library, 13048 Choppee Road, Hemingway: Lee G. Brockington, Author, “Patriots & Loyalists: The Battle at Home” Lee Brockington June-July 2026: “The American Revolutionary War in South Carolina” exhibit at Georgetown Library This is a traveling exhibit from the South Carolina State Museum that will be on public display at the Georgetown Library during regular operating hours (Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. / Saturday: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) in June and July 2026 as part of “A Glorious Cause: South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Public History Initiative by the Georgetown County Library.” The project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the South Carolina State Library. It is free and open to all. 0 Hammock-All
