Recovering the Piedmont Past, Volume 2: Bridging the Centuries in the South Carolina Upcountry, 1877-1941

The second anthology in the series Recovering the Piedmont Past explores the modernization of the South Carolina upcountry and its role in creating the New South. It covers topics such as railroads, tourism, Jim Crow, pellagra disease, populism, Greek immigrants, and the Civilian Conservation Corps during the New Deal. The contributors examine religious history, economic boom and bust, popular recreational activities, and major trends that played out in small places, providing details and nuance that illuminate the historical context of the New South and engaging with the upcountry from fresh angles.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 30 January 2019
Publisher: University of South Carolina Press

The modernization of the South Carolina upcountry and its significant contribution to the creation of the "New South" are explored in this captivating anthology. In collaboration with Andrew H. Myers, Timothy P. Grady has assembled a collection of essays that delve into the microhistory of this northwest region of the state. The topics covered in this second volume are diverse and captivating, ranging from the impact of railroads on traveling circuses and tourist resorts to the visits by Booker T. Washington during the era of Jim Crow. The authors also examine pioneering efforts by progressives to identify the cause of pellagra disease, a heated debate over populism involving "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman, the acculturation of Greek immigrants, and the daily lives of Civilian Conservation Corps workers during the New Deal.

After years of being marginalized by the coastal elite, upcountry South Carolinians began to assert their influence and play a vital role in modernizing the region. The contributors to this anthology examine various aspects of this shift in power, including religious history, economic boom and bust, popular recreational activities, and significant trends that unfolded in small places. By providing intricate details and a fresh perspective on the historical context of the New South, this volume not only caters to a deep local interest but also engages with broader political and social issues.

Melissa Walker, the George Dean Johnson, Jr. Professor of History Emerita at Converse College and coeditor of "Recovering the Piedmont Past: Unexplored Moments in Nineteenth-Century South Carolina History," contributes a foreword to this anthology. Her insights and expertise further enhance the value and significance of the contributions made by the authors.

In conclusion, this anthology offers a valuable exploration of the modernization of the South Carolina upcountry and its pivotal role in shaping the "New South." By delving into the microhistory of this region, the authors provide a rich and nuanced understanding of the historical context and the diverse experiences of its people. This volume is a testament to the enduring legacy of upcountry South Carolina and its significance in the broader narrative of American history.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 162 x 236 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781611179224