Government and Law

The great seal of South Carolina was first used on a document dated May 22, 1777. It was a double-sided,…

As sovereign political entities, all fifty states have adopted special symbols. In every state the first emblem was a seal,…

The doctrine of states’ rights, a recurring theme of South Carolina political thought, is composed of two elements: a belief…

Lieutenant governor, civic leader, author. “Nancy” Stevenson was born on June 8, 1928, in New Rochelle, New York, the daughter…

Soldier, colonial official. Stuart was born on September 25, 1718, in Inverness, Scotland, the son of John and Christian Stuart.…

The Scots disembarked near present-day Beaufort, calling their settlement Stuart’s Town. The site was promising, but Stuart’s Town lay on the disputed frontier between rival Spanish and English claims. It was also occupied by several feuding Indian nations.

In 1908 Swearingen was elected state superintendent of education, a position he would hold unopposed for fourteen years. He was quick to state that he was not political but was interested in education and saw the position as an opportunity to serve the state.

At the start of each legislative day, the sergeant at arms places the sword in a cradle at the front of the president’s podium, where it rests whenever the Senate is in session. The ceremonial weapon is made of steel and gold and is thirty-nine inches long.

In 1871 and 1874 white Democrats in South Carolina, frustrated with high taxes and the Republicans’ domination of the state…

Congressman, governor, U.S. senator. Born near Granby on May 4, 1770, Taylor was the eldest son of the upcountry planter…

A dispute between supporters and opponents of nullification over state loyalty oaths, the Test Oath Controversy erupted into violence as…

The Textile Workers Organizing Committee (TWOC) was formed as part of the attempt by the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)…

Educator, governor. Father of South Carolina’s modern public school system and the only professional educator to serve as governor, Thompson…

Congressman, diplomat. Thompson was born in Pickensville on January 8, 1798, the son of Waddy Thompson, Sr., and Eliza Blackburn.…

U.S. senator, governor. Thurmond was born in Edgefield on December 5, 1902, to John William Thurmond and Eleanor Gertrude Strom.…

U.S. senator, governor. Tillman was born in Edgefield District on August 11, 1847, to Benjamin and Sophia Tillman. The family…

Governor. Timmerman was born in Anderson on August 11, 1912, the son of George Bell Timmerman and Mary Vandiver Sullivan.…

Newspaper printer, patriot. Timothy was born in Holland to Louis and Elizabeth Timothée before they immigrated to Philadelphia in 1731…

Lawyer, jurist. Toal was born in Columbia on August 11, 1943, the daughter of Herbert W. Hoefer and Lilla Farrell.…

Physicist, Nobel laureate. Townes was born in Greenville on July 28, 1915, the second of six children born to Henry…