The University of South Carolina

On December 19, 1801, the South Carolina legislature established the South Carolina College, one of the nation’s first publicly supported institutions of higher education. In the past two centuries, the institution has evolved from a small liberal arts college with one campus into a large modern university with eight spacious campuses. Carolina’s heart, however, remains firmly nestled in the site of its original campus, the historic Horseshoe. Throughout its history, Carolina has faced challenges that at times threatened its existence, including the burning of Columbia in 1865, when the destructive fire swept up to the walls of the campus. Several reorganizations and name changes culminated in the school’s final reorganization in 1906 as the University of South Carolina. The university adapted to history’s societal changes, including the admission of women, desegregation, and the student unrest of the 1970s. This volume draws extensively from the collections of the University of South Carolina Archives to chronicle Carolina’s remarkable history through images of its founders, administrators, faculty, campus, and most importantly, its students.