The South Carolina Encyclopedia [Hardcover]

Walter Edgar (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2006

The South Carolina Encyclopedia is a comprehensive single-volume reference for just about anything anyone would want to know about the Palmetto State’s rich cultures and storied heritage, from prehistory to the present day. The encyclopedia is the result of a six-year collaboration between the Humanities Council SC, the Institute for Southern Studies at the University of South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina Press. Under the editorial direction of distinguished historian Walter Edgar, 598 contributors have come together to write more than one million words depicting the people, places, and things that define South Carolina.

The encyclopedia is an authoritative, entertaining compilation of essays on a broad array of topics ranging from war and politics to arts and recreation, from agriculture and industry to popular culture and ethnicity. Among the nearly two thousand entries are such diverse subjects as the Boykin spaniel, John C. Calhoun, Sarah Moore Grimké, Hootie and the Blowfish, Indian mounds, Matthew J. Perry, Rainbow Row, Surfside Beach, and white lightning. The palmetto bug, Lizard Man, and okra are all here, as are hurricanes, the Orangeburg Massacre, and yellow fever. Included as well are essays on every South Carolina county, every town with a population of twenty-five hundred or greater, and all elected governors and U.S. senators from the state. Famous figures and infamous characters, historic events and tragic moments, celebrated creatures and provocative lore, staple crops and new industries, the encyclopedia catalogs all of this and much more.

As diverse as the populations that live within the thirty-one thousand square miles that make up the Palmetto State, the entries included in The South Carolina Encyclopedia were chosen to best represent the many facets of our shared experiences that remind us of who we are, where we come from, what we have in common, and why we are distinctive.

The South Carolina Encyclopedia is a comprehensive introduction to the state for students and newcomers, and a treasure trove of rich details and lively insights for those already steeped in South Carolina’s history and culture. With its accessible format, four hundred black-and-white and forty color illustrations, and seventy-eight original maps, this volume invites a broad readership and placement in classrooms, libraries, archives, government offices, businesses, economic development agencies, media newsrooms, and—of course—home bookshelves. As the single most inclusive reference for all things South Carolinian, this truly is a people’s encyclopedia.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Joining a recent spate of state and regional encyclopedias, this hefty compendium covers South Carolina from prehistoric times to the present. The editor, a history professor and director of the Institute of Southern Studies at the University of South Carolina, identifies the 598 contributors by name only, but he notes that they are a mixture of academics and other scholars, public officials, and interested citizens. Ranging in length from 250 to 2,000 words, the 1,927 well-written entries cover counties, towns, noted South Carolinians (both living and deceased), institutions, organizations, businesses, events, customs, culture, and themes. Reflecting the diversity of the subject matter are such articles as Animals; Dueling; Frogmore stew; Opera houses; Park Seed Company; and White, Vanna. All entries are signed, and most include bibliographical references. Enhancing the text are numerous black-and-white illustrations and a section of stunning color plates.

Although coverage of specific subjects is commendable, a number of significant broader topics, such as archaeology, government, literature, music, and politics, have not been accorded overview articles. In addition, no cross-references are provided in either the body of the encyclopedia or the index. Also missing is a thematic list of articles, which might have partially compensated for this lack. Further, the index is insufficiently detailed for a work of this scope. A user researching Baptists in South Carolina will find the article Baptists and several page references under the heading Baptists in the index, but no links to the entry Two Seed in the Spirit Baptists . Similarly, one seeking information on South Carolina pottery will find only two page references under the index heading pottery, and neither guides the user to Catawba pottery or Edgefield pottery. Moreover, there are no index entries for any of the topics mentioned in the first sentence of this paragraph. An index heading for Music, for example, could have led readers to such articles as Beach music, Country music, Gospel music, and Spirituals.

Although this encyclopedia includes a wealth of information, accessing that information can be problematic. However, in view of its reasonable price and in spite of its shortcomings, this compendium should be in all high-school, public, and academic libraries in South Carolina. Larger public and academic libraries in other areas of the U.S., particularly those in southern states, should also find it useful. Marie Ellis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Back Cover

"The South Carolina Encyclopedia is indeed an easily searchable treasury of enlightened facts about our Palmetto State. Walter Edgar, George Reeves, Thomas Downey, his successor Aaron Marrs, and their dedicated team of associate editors, research checkers, and the volunteer consulting editor, Tom McLean, and all the others who made this publication possible through years of dedication and hard work, have provided us a grand compendium of facts from which we can gain a better understanding of events and the people who have shaped our state. The publication of this encyclopedia will benefit all who love South Carolina and are interested in learning more about her history."—The Honorable Robert E. McNair

"‘Monumental’ is much too small a word for this spectacular—and spectacularly well done—compendium of South Carolina people, places, and past history. This is a book to be treasured, a book to be enjoyed passage by passage, a book that will be on shelves in state and out for decades to come."—John Jakes

"For those of us who love South Carolina, Walter Edgar’s interesting, single-volume history is so important. Now, he and his fellow collaborators in The South Carolina Encyclopedia have served our state with a magnificent collection that chronicles our history, our present, and the foundation for our future. We are so fortunate to have this thoughtful, comprehensive resource at our fingertips."—The Honorable Richard W. Riley

"Dr. Walter Edgar provided scholars and historians with one of the most comprehensive and important texts of South Carolina with his South Carolina: A History. His latest work, The South Carolina Encyclopedia, continues and expands on Edgar's tradition of excellence in South Carolina scholarship. This work is an invaluable resource for anyone seriously interested in the rich history and culture of our unique state."—Jonathan Green

"In The South Carolina Encyclopedia Walter Edgar has once again provided a much needed sourcebook of collective knowledge for and about South Carolina. From the mountains to the coast, this definitive work effectively details everything that has made our great state what it is, how it is, and why it is. This is a tremendous contribution to our shared understanding of the heritage and culture of the Palmetto State and, not surprisingly, it is also a pleasure to read."—The Honorable James B. Edwards

"For more than six years I have eagerly awaited publication of The South Carolina Encyclopedia. This first-ever comprehensive volume, published by the University of South Carolina Press, funded through The Humanities Council SC, and edited by Dr. Walter Edgar from the Institute of Southern Studies at USC, will catalogue the diversity of people and experiences that have made South Carolina the extraordinary place it is today. This truly is the story of South Carolina as told by those who love her best." —The Honorable Lindsey Graham

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1076 pages
• Publisher: University of South Carolina Press (September 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570035989
• ISBN-13: 978-1570035982
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > History
  • #82 in Books > History > Historical Study > Reference

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive. Best of the bunch., January 19, 2007

By 

Jon L. Albee "Faulkner Wannabe" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The South Carolina Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

These types of books are becoming popular. You can buy them for quite a few cities, states and regions now: Chicago, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Appalachia, etc... As you might expect, any attempt to cram hundreds of years of history, millions of diverse people and hundreds of places into a thousand pages or so needs to be appreciated for breadth rather than depth. Don't come here looking for an architectural survey of the state, or a penetrating analysis of slavery versus states' rights, or a profound discussion of the differences between German Lutherans and Swiss Calvinists. It's not here. What is here is better than any travel guide, and more efficient than any comprehensive history tome. This is the best one of the lot, I've found. You're not going to be upset by glaring omissions or factual error. It's well done, and it's an attractive book. Perhaps most important, Dr. Edgar is THE South Carolina authority, with a swift command of this state's rich history, towns, institutions and important people. As a native Southerner, and ever-moving nomad, this book makes me homesick. That's a good sign.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect resource for a newcomer to South Carolina history, October 6, 2008

By 

Kraig W. Mcnutt (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The South Carolina Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

There are single books on South Carolina that are available for the serious student. For example The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina: 1514-1861 will give one a sweeping history of the early origins of SC (early 16th century) up to 1861.

But for the interested student, researcher, or just plain SC admirer one can't go wrong with this excellent resource: The South Carolina Encyclopedia.

It is compiled by almost 600 authors. The selections are balanced to give the reader a macro view of South Carolina, not just from an historical perspective. I keep it nearby when I'm reading a book about SC or even a magazine article or a web page.

Each article usually is followed by 2-3 recommended books for further reading. There is a nice index too.

One thing that would have made this resource better would have been to bold type each item entry within the text of each article. In other words, one might be reading about Beaufort and find a word in bold in the article (i.e., Robert Smalls) which would key the reader that 'Robert Smalls' also has an article entry for the encyclopedia.

It would have also been nice had the editors suggested a few other 'related' articles for each entry.

Highly recommended. Every public library should own this.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing short of incredible!, December 29, 2011

By 

CAT "CAT" (SC, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The South Carolina Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

With almost 600 contributors, this work is the most thorough I have seen! The index is helpful when searching for specific information. What a job it must have been to go through everything and to get it organized!