From the Vault: The SC Historical Society Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Your Family History: A Conversation with our Archivists Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

In honor of Family History Month, this episode features our archivists in conversation about the best ways you can research your family history with us. Director of Collections Virginia Ellison, Senior Archivist Molly Silliman, and Librarian/Podcast Host Sydney Derrick discuss the many resources we hold that can help in discovering your genealogy - and the best ways to begin your research.

Don't forget to leave a rating or review for our show - it helps others who enjoy South Carolina history to find us!

Family History: Interview with Andrew Thompson Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

In this month’s episode, we’re gearing up for October, which is Family History Month and American Archives Month. We’re focusing on genealogy research and the story of a researcher, Andrew Thompson, who took a deep dive into his family history using materials at the SC Historical Society! You’ll hear his story learn more about the specifics of researching African American families.

If you love our podcast, please leave a review or rate it! It helps others to find us and learn more about South Carolina history.

A Charleston Girl in the Last Decade of the 19th Century Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

In this month’s episode, we are putting ourselves in the shoes of a schoolgirl in Charleston during the last decade of the 19th century, thanks to a first-hand account of the childhood of Frances Jervey that is held in our archives. The composition book was part of an assignment from her school, Misses Gibbes’s School. It includes topical essays that were assigned to her as well as accounts of her Christmas holidays, trips to the mountains during the summer, and festivals in Charleston.

Fireworks in Congress: William Henry Drayton & Henry Laurens Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

If you’re describing a typical Fourth of July celebration to someone, you’re probably going to talk about spending the day outside or on the water, food on the grill, drinks in a cooler, and big noises booming throughout the night with bright lights and spectacles of explosives. And, almost from the very beginning, fireworks and celebration were the way that some American leaders wanted to mark the day. It was a topic of debate in the Continental Congress in 1779, and one of those in favor was South Carolina delegate William Henry Drayton. But if fellow South Carolina delegate Henry Laurens had had his way, it would have been a much more somber occasion. The fireworks weren’t the only topic the two argued about, and we talk all about it on this episode

Researching a Revolution: Interview with Virginia Ellison and Molly Silliman Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

Our guests for this episode are very special, because they work here in the archives! Virginia Ellison is the COO and Director of Collections here at the SC Historical Society, overseeing all archival and museum operations. Molly Silliman is our Senior Archivist, managing archival services and reading room operations, as well as working with researchers. They sat down with our host, Sydney Derrick, to discuss their favorite items related to the American Revolution and talk about how potential researchers can use the archives.

Continental Collab: Interview with C. James Taylor Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

This month's episode is a collaboration with the oldest in America – the Massachusetts Historical Society - exploring the relationship between John Adams, one of their most famous sons, and Henry Laurens, one of ours. Both were instrumental in the founding of the nation, but how well did they know each other? We’re going to discuss that with C. James Taylor, historian and the former editor-in-chief of the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Check out their podcast in partnership with us here: https://www.masshist.org/podcast/season-5-episode-6-South-Carolina.

Interview with Annette Guild on Digitizing the Heyward Papers May 24, 2026

Show notes

This episode continues our Dubose and Dorothy Heyward month, discussing these two Charleston Renaissance writers. We’re talking with Annette Guild, the Metadata Specialist at the SC Historical Society, who recently finished a project to digitize some of the papers of the Heywards. Those are now available on the Lowcountry Digital Library, as well as Digital Library of South Carolina, and the Digital Public Library of America.

Interview with Harlan Greene on Dorothy Heyward's Contribution to Porgy & Bess May 11, 2026

Show notes

We are heading back to the roaring 20s to talk about Dubose and Dorothy Heyward, the Charleston writers. Dubose was best known for his novel "Porgy," which became a play and then opera, "Porgy & Bess" developed with Ira and George Gershwin.

In this episode, we’re talking with author and historian Harlan Greene, who recently wrote the book “Porgy’s Ghost: The Life and Works of Dorothy Heyward and Her Contribution to an American Classic”.

John Burnet and George Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

We’re exploring the story of two men who were accused of similar crimes, but whose fates were very different. John Burnet, a Scottish immigrant, was taken into custody in the summer of 1775 in today’s Colleton County. He was accused of preaching to enslaved people and encouraging them to preach on their own, as well as revolt against their enslavers. An enslaved man accused of preaching at these same gatherings was named George and while John eventually went free, George met a very different end.

Mary Musgrove - RE-RELEASE Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

In this re-release episode, we revisit Mary Musgrove, a woman who played a role in colonial South Carolina and Georgia as peacemaker, translator, and liaison to Native Americans - specifically those in the Creek Nation.

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