South Carolina from A to Z

"C" is for Cleveland, Georgia Allen (1851-1914). Writer, activist. Georgia Allen Cleveland and her husband were noted for their generosity and charity in the Spartanburg community. Both played leading roles in the founding of Converse College

"C" is for Cleveland School Fire, May 17, 1923.

"C" is for Clemson University Extension Service. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 created the Cooperative Extension Service. The act ended the rivalry between state agricultural commissioners and land grant colleges over the administration of extension work.

“B” is for Bennettsville (Marlboro County; 2020 population 7,020).

“A” is for Attakulla Kulla (d. ca. 1780). Cherokee leader, diplomat.

"W” is for Wigfall, Louis Trezevant (1816-1874). U.S. senator.

“T” is for Toumey, Michael (1805-1857). In 1844 Toumey was appointed “State Geological Surveyor for South Carolina.

“S” is for Sawyer, Benjamin Mack (1890-1940). Public official. During Benjamin Mack Sawyer’s tenure, the miles of roadways in the state doubled and two out of three of those miles were paved.

“R” is for Ring shout. During the era of enslavement as Africans from various ethnic groups joined together in the ring shout, it became an important mechanism through which a new common African American identity was formed.

“P” is for Peurifoy, John Emil (1907-1955). Diplomat “Jack” Peurifoy gained a reputation during his tenure for being a dedicated “Cold Warrior.”

“M” is for McCottry, Catherine Mae McKee (1921-2018). Physician. Throughout her career Catherine Mae McKee McCottry emphasized public health education, especially for sickle-cell anemia which affects primarily Black persons.

“L” is for Lieber, Oscar Montgomery (1830-1862). Geologist. The General Assembly elected Lieber “Geological, Mineralogical, and Agricultural Surveyor” of the state. In his position, Lieber produced four annual reports entitled Report on the Survey of South Carolina.

"H” is for Heller, Max (1919-2011). Civic leader, mayor of Greenville.

“W” is for Welsh. Settlers of Welsh descent played an important role in the settling of South Carolina backcountry in the 1730s and 1740s.

“T” is for Tillman, Benjamin Ryan (1847-1918). U.S. senator, governor.

"S” is for St. Stephen’s Parish. Established in 1754, St. Stephen’s Parish was located on the south side of the Santee River in modern Berkeley County.

“R” is for Regulators. The Regulators were backcountry settlers who banded together in 1767 in response to a crime wave that swept their region in the aftermath of the disruptive war with the Cherokee Indians (1759-1761).

“P” is for Peace, Roger Craft (1899-1968). Journalist, businessman, U.S. senator.

"G” is for Gonzales, Ambrose Elliott (1857-1926). Journalist, businessman. Under the leadership of Gonzales, the State staked out its position as South Carolina’s leading progressive chronicle of the early twentieth century.

“F” is for Frazier, Joseph William (1944-2011). Boxer. Frazier was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1980.

“E” is for English, Alexander (b. 1954). Basketball player. By the end of his career in Denver in 1990, English had become the most prolific scorer of the 1980s.

“D” is for Dillon County (405 square miles; 2020 population 28,292).

“C” is for Catesby, Mark (1682-1749). Naturalist, artist. Catesby's richly illustrated The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands was the first extensively illustrated work on the natural history of any region of North America.

“B” is for Bennett, John (1865-1956). Author, artist. A native of Ohio, Bennett published his first and most famous work Master Skylark in 1897.

“A” is for Atlantic Beach (Horry County; 2020 population 310). A historically Black beach community, Atlantic Beach is located fifteen miles north of Myrtle beach.