Untold Narratives of the Revolutionary War

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Charleston Library Society

Untold Narratives of the Revolutionary War

In partnership with SC250 (the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission), we are so pleased to have been a recipient of one of their many generous grants oriented around commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary Era, and the state’s significant role in securing America’s freedom, by highlighting historical documents from this time period that had not previously been brought to the surface. Of the almost 900 manuscript materials held at CLS, approximately 90+ items were selected as candidates for digitization and transcription.

Join us for a special audience with two South Carolina historians, Rev. Dr. Paul Wood, Jr. and Dr. Larry D. Watson, who will reflect on this newly-established digital collection and contextualize how this important work illuminates new information about what we know of the Revolutionary War through a myriad of under-represented narratives, which in many cases, tell the “rest of the story.” By uncovering and sharing these raw materials of history, the project provides a deeper narrative and a pathway for individuals to connect to many of the unique and profoundly personal Revolutionary documents.

Special thanks to Brett Bennett and Heather Hawkins at SC250, as well as the diligent work of our staff, volunteers and interns: Collin Butler, Debbie Fenn, and Erin Perkins for their work in transcription, Jules Silberberg for creating and organizing the metadata, and the rest of our team at CLS (Jennifer Comer, Danielle Cox, Debbie Fenn, Lisa Hayes and Laura Mina for their hard work in completing this project).

Attendance is Free with RSVP, Please register below.

About SC250

The digitization and transcription of these materials were supported by funding from the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250). SC250 was established by the SC Legislature to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary Era and highlight the state’s significant role in securing America’s freedom. Its mission is to celebrate and promote South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution by engaging and inspiring South Carolinians and visitors through heritage tourism, rural economic impact initiatives, and educational programs.

About Rev. Dr. Paul Wood, Jr.

The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Wood, Jr. was born in Charleston, SC, and raised in Camden, where he graduated from Camden High School in 1973. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Furman University, a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Paul is a retired United Methodist minister. He served churches throughout South Carolina from 1980 until 2017. He and his wife Rev. Kay Wood retired to Inman, SC, but moved to Camden in 2021. For many years, Kay worked as a Registered Nurse. She later received ordination as a Full Deacon in the United Methodist Church and ministered as a hospice chaplain until her retirement in 2017. Upon his retirement, Rev. Dr. Wood became a historian of the American Revolution in South Carolina. He specializes in: South Carolinian Dicey Langston Springfield, heroine of the American Revolution, Ann Pamela Cuningham, defender of the Cunningham family and founder of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, and “The Civil War” which embroiled South Carolina during the Revolution. Additionally, Paul is writing a biography of William Cunningham, “Bloody Bill,” who became the state’s most prolific murderer during the American Revolution.

Rev. Dr. Wood’s academic article on Dicey Langston can be found under Education Resources at southcarolina250.com. He is writing the William Cunningham biography with support from South Carolina’s Sestercentennial Commission.

About Dr. Larry D. Watson

Dr. Larry Watson is Associate Professor in the department of History at the University of South Carolina. He is also an Adjunct Professor of History at SC State University and Department Chair for Social Science. His fields of research are colonial America, Civil War and Reconstruction and Twentieth Century America. Dr. Watson received his Masters in History from SC State University and his Ph.D. in African American and United States History as well as Early American Literature at his current residence, USC, in Columbia, South Carolina.

Dr. Watson is an experienced speaker and panelist, producing presentations and essays throughout his professional career. His most recent work includes “Impact of the American Revolution on Slave Manumissions in South Carolina” 2023, “The Women of Reconstruction” 2022, Moderator for the Documentary “Meltdown in Dixie” 2022 and “The Charleston Hospital Workers Strike” 2021.