Three of South Carolina’s most significant founding-era documents will be on public display in Greenville on Thursday, April 23 — a rare opportunity for Upstate SC residents and students to view original materials from the American Revolution that are normally held in controlled storage by the SC Department of Archives and History (SCDAH) and seldom shown outside Columbia.
The exhibit, titled “Foundations of a Revolution: South Carolina, 1775–1777,” will be hosted exclusively in the Upstate at the Upcountry History Museum at 540 Buncombe St. in Greenville from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission is free from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for those coming specifically to see the documents; regular museum admission applies earlier in the day. At 6:30 p.m., Archives staff will offer a public presentation in the museum’s theater discussing each document’s historical context and significance.
The three documents on display are: the 1775 Articles of Association for the District East of the Wateree, the South Carolina Constitution of 1776, and the 1777 Treaty of DeWitt’s Corner. Together, they trace South Carolina’s transformation from a British colony to an independent state during the Revolutionary period — a transition that played out in part across the Upstate region, which was the site of significant backcountry conflict during the war.
The Treaty of DeWitt’s Corner, signed in Oconee County in May 1777 between South Carolina, Georgia, and the Cherokee Nation, is particularly relevant to the Upstate’s own history. It ceded large tracts of Cherokee territory in the western Carolinas and reshaped the regional geography that would become Spartanburg and neighboring counties. Having that document accessible in the Upstate, where it carries direct historical weight, adds a dimension to the exhibit beyond its archival importance.
The Upcountry History Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate and the only venue in the Upstate region hosting this exhibit stop. For Spartanburg-area residents making the trip to Greenville, the museum is located approximately 30 minutes from downtown Spartanburg via I-85. Additional information is available at upcountryhistory.org or by calling 864-467-3100.
What’s Happening in Spartanburg
- What documents are coming to Greenville?
Rare founding-era South Carolina documents — including colonial-period charters and early state records — are making a one-day stop in Greenville as part of a statewide historical tour. - When and where can the public view them?
The exhibit will be open to the public for one day only; check the SC Department of Archives and History website for exact venue and viewing hours. - Why are these documents historically significant?
These materials document the transition from colonial rule to statehood and include some of the oldest surviving records of SC governance, rarely displayed outside of Columbia.
