Society awarded SC250 AMERICAN REVOLUTION GRANT

Grant program supports communities in rediscovering the Revolution in South Carolina

CHARLESTON, SC (April 27, 2026) - The Huguenot Society of South Carolina is the recipient of an Educational grant from the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) to help the community rediscover its unique American Revolution history.

The $5,359.37 grant will support an educational lecture on June 23, 2026, at The Charleston Museum titled Declaring Independence in Charleston: Text and Context. In honor of the 250th anniversary milestones of the Revolutionary era, SC250 awards grants to organizations in all of South Carolina's 46 counties to support education and cultural tourism initiatives in every corner of the state.

The lecture will celebrate the arrival and the spread of the news of the Declaration of Independence in Charleston in the summer of 1776. Taking a closer look at the Declaration broadside printed by Peter Timothy, and on special loan at the Charleston Museum May 30 – August 30, the lecture will explore this crucial text and the remarkable Timothy family of multigenerational printers who brought independence to life on paper and within South Carolina.

“We look forward to sharing the rich history of the document’s printer, Huguenot descendant Peter Timothy, and the significance of the document, with the audience in June. Timothy was a key figure in the struggle for independence in South Carolina and his story is not as well-known as some other Huguenot descendants such as Francis Marion and Andrew Pickens. Thanks to the co-sponsorship of The Charleston Museum, we can present Timothy’s contributions to the American Revolution in conjunction with the document being on exhibit which allows the full context of the printing to be examined,” said Margaret Garrett, President, The Huguenot Society of South Carolina. She added, “This important grant will enable the Society to provide the lecture in person and via virtual means. In addition, education panels are being prepared to accompany the lecture and for use in future educational programs.”

The lecture will be presented by The Huguenot Society of South Carolina and guest speaker Dr. Martha J. King.  Dr. King is Senior Editor of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson at Princeton University, where she has been since 2002. Prior to that, she received her Ph.D. in American history from the College of William and Mary. She has pursued a career as a historical documentary editor, and previously worked on publishing the papers of Henry Laurens, Nathanael Greene, Thomas Edison, and James Madison. She serves on several scholarly boards and councils and has published articles and essays on women in the American Revolution. She is currently completing a book on colonial American women printers for the University of Virginia Press. Speaking with Dr. King will be H. Cheves Leland, Author and Historian with The Huguenot Society of South Carolina.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged via The Charleston Museum website in the News & Events section (https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/news-events/events/declaring-independence-in-charleston-text-and-context/) or call 843.722.2996 ext. 235.

South Carolina had the second-most battles and skirmishes of any state in the Revolutionary era, but the state's significant contributions to America's independence are rarely recognized in the national conversation. SC250 was established to educate residents and visitors about South Carolina's contributions during the American Revolution.

For more information about The Huguenot Society of South Carolina visit https://huguenotsociety.org/

About The Huguenot Society of South Carolina:

The Huguenot Society of South Carolina was established in 1885 to preserve and perpetuate the memory of the Huguenots who left France prior to the promulgation of the Edict of Toleration, November 28, 1787. Today, the Society has nearly 2,000 members who are descendants of those Huguenots. The Society is a 501(c)(3) organization.

About SC250:

‍The South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) was chartered by the state General Assembly to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary Era and highlight the state’s significant role in securing America’s freedom. SC250’s mission is to celebrate and promote South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution by engaging and inspiring South Carolinians and visitors through heritage tourism, rural economic growth initiatives and educational programs. Learn more at https://southcarolina250.com/