This lecture shows how the story of South Carolina deeply impacted the story of the United States. Using numerous examples from the 16^th century onwards, this lecture demonstrates how the actions of South Carolinians and events in South Carolina contributed to the success of the British colonies in North America, the colonial rebellion and the American Revolution, sectional politics in the first part of the 19^th century, the coming of the Civil War, and Reconstruction and the 20^th century.

This program is part of the “Revolutionary Perspectives – Speaker Series” supported by the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission. 

Our presenter is Elizabeth Chew, CEO of the South Carolina Historical Society since January 2024. A historian, curator, and educator, she has worked at museums and historic sites since 1985.

Prior to arriving in Charleston, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Curator at James Madison’s Montpelier in Virginia. During her 8 1/2 years at Montpelier, Dr. Chew led teams of curators, historians, educators, interpreters, public program creators, archaeologists, and historic preservation experts in researching and interpreting James Madison and his family, his essential roles in framing the U.S. Constitution and leading the nation, and the community of enslaved people on the plantation.

Before joining Montpelier, Dr. Chew led the curatorial and education division at Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, NC.  Earlier in her career, she served as Curator at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, VA.  During her thirteen-year tenure there, she was responsible for ongoing research and interpretation initiatives that wove together the Monticello house, its collections, the Jefferson family, and the enslaved community.  Dr. Chew also worked in curatorial positions in art museums in Washington, D.C., at The Phillips Collection, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Raised in Augusta, Georgia, Elizabeth received a BA in art history from Yale University, an MA from the University of London, and PhD from UNC- Chapel Hill.