Past Meets Present

A black and white photo of the old post office on Gervais Street, which is now the South Carolina Supreme Court.

An inquiry about the original doors to the Supreme Court of South Carolina building on Gervais Street turned into a treasure hunt, yielding images of Columbia that are pretty different than what we know today. The law librarian at the Court asked for anything we could find about the front doors to the building, which was a post office until the state bought it in 1966. Images like this one from the Digital Public Library of America show their appearance. Connecting with the National Archives, we learned that the building's architectural drawings and plans are on file in Maryland.

Upcoming Event

Colonial militia reenactors in a field.

Defenders of Liberty: The Evolving Story of America’s Military

May 22, 2025, 10:00 AM

Join us for a one hour webinar exploring America's military evolution from its colonial militia roots to its modern global presence. This focused session traces the remarkable transformation of U.S. armed forces that began with citizen soldiers defending colonial settlements against Native American tribes and fighting for independence from Great Britain.