“To preserve us from utter ruine” The Revolution of 1719 – Exhibit

The bloodless revolution that occurred in Charles Town in 1719 had a profound impact on South Carolina history that reverberates even to this day, but the event itself has been largely forgotten; a moment of history examined by only the most dedicated scholars.  The exhibit “To preserve us from utter ruine”: The Revolution of 1719 will offer visitors an understanding of the period of South Carolina history leading up to and including the end of proprietary rule in the colony and its transition to a British royal colony. The exhibit opens on December 18, 2019 at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. SC Humanities supported this program with a Major Grant.

The exhibit will make use of the holdings of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History to explore the self proclaimed “Convention of the People” that was the foundation for other political revolutions in the state in 1776 and 1861. The exhibit will introduce to many this often overlooked but transformational period that made South Carolina a truly revolutionary colony and state.

The exhibit is open during normal operation hours of the SC Department of Archives and History, Monday through Saturday from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM, beginning December 18, 2019 and will run through September 2020. There is no admission fee to view the exhibit.

“To preserve us from utter ruine” The Revolution of 1719 is presented by the SC Archives & History Foundation and the SC Department of Archives and History with the support of South Carolina Humanities.  The exhibit is located in the SC Archives & History Center, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223.

Formed in 1993, the South Carolina Archives & History Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the programs and services of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. 

The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 21-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.

Image: the 1711 “Crisp Map,” courtesy Library of Congress