In the early twentieth century, South Carolina was largely an isolated state.  The U.S. war effort in 1917 and 1918 broke through that isolation, bringing a variety of people and ideas in from around the nation, via the construction and manning of the military bases as well as speakers from national tours exhorting South Carolinians to fulfill their patriotic obligations through conservation efforts and Liberty Loan drives.  The Great War marked the first time that women moved into traditionally male occupations, and African Americans caught a glimpse of a different kind of society when they participated in military service and patriotic organizations. 

Beyond the Palmetto State, the international community is still affected by the repercussions of the political upheaval that occurred during the war, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.  The Great War set into motion the events that would shape the world in the twentieth century.  Despite this, few people realize the lasting impact that the First World War had on the development of the twentieth century. 

To address this lack of knowledge, a partnership of historical and educational institutions developed "Forward Together: South Carolina in World War I," a multiple-venue project on the participation of South Carolina and her citizens during the First World War and its effects on the state.  The partnership consists of the South Carolina State Museum, the South Caroliniana Library (USC), McKissick Museum (USC), the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum, the Historic Columbia Foundation, and ETV. 

Through exhibitions, public lectures, and the development of curricula, this project will give the community a better understanding of the twentieth century’s economic, political, and social issues that are embedded in the legacy of the Great War and continue to reverberate throughout regional, national and international communities.  In addition to the general public, the project will target students and teachers in primary and secondary schools, as well as the university community. 

This exhibit project has been made possible by a grant from the Partnership for a Nation of Learners, a leadership initiative of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.  It encourages libraries, museums, and public broadcasters to work collaboratively to address local needs, increase civic engagement and improve the quality of life in communities across the country. To learn more, please visit: www.partnershipforlearners.org.

This website is hosted by South Carolina Memory (www.scmemory.org), a digital cultural resource developed by the Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries (PASCAL). 

Historic Columbia Foundation - Historic Columbia Foundation is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in 1961 for the preservation of the Ainsley Hall House, known today as the Robert Mills House.  Since then the Foundation has grown to include the stewardship of five other historic sites, including the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, the circa-1818 Hampton-Preston Mansion, and the circa-1840s Mann-Simons Cottage, which are managed as historic house museums and the circa-1796 Seibels House and the circa-1912 Big Apple, which serve as rental properties.  Historic Columbia Foundation serves as a leading educational resource for local history and historic preservation advocacy within Columbia and Richland County.

McKissick Museum - McKissick Museum was established in 1976 by the University of South Carolina to serve as an educational resource for both the campus and the general public.  For the past thirty years, the Museum has grown to be one of the largest comprehensive university museums in the United States.  The Museum maintains an active research and exhibition program as well as serves as a learning laboratory for students in a number of academic disciplines.  Public programs and a variety of museum support services allow the staff to work with people of all backgrounds and interests.  McKissick  Museum's exhibitions and collections focus on folklife, history (material culture), art, natural science and the environment.

SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum - Founded in 1896, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum is the oldest museum in the Columbia area. The museum focuses on South Carolina’s military history from the Revolutionary War to the present War on Terror. An agency of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board, the museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums.  A nationally known Civil War flag collection, a South Carolina uniform collection, and weapons collection are complemented by a historical archives collection and a 19th and 20th century textile collection, which allows the museum to interpret the political, social, and cultural influences on South Carolina's military history.

ETV -ETV is South Carolina's statewide network of 11 television stations, eight radio stations and a closed-circuit educational telecommunications system in more than 2,000 schools, colleges, businesses and government agencies.  ETV and ETV Radio inform and engage South Carolinians with programs and events in their communities and serve as the Palmetto State's primary broadcasting source for comprehensive in-depth coverage of major issues and events.  The network creates unique, original, and award-winning content for and about South Carolina, and uses the power of TV, radio, satellite and the Internet to advance education, culture and citizenship.

SC State Museum - The South Carolina State Museum is a multi-discipline institution that is mandated by the state to collect, preserve and interpret the state’s history, natural history, science and technology, and fine and decorative arts of the Palmetto State. It encompasses more than 200,000 square feet of space, including 80,000 for exhibitions alone. Located in a renovated textile mill along the banks of the Congaree River in Columbia, it has both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

South Caroliniana Library - The South Caroliniana Library building was constructed in 1840 as the main library building for the University of South Carolina (then South Carolina College). It was the first freestanding college library building in the United States. During the 1930s the University of South Carolina formally began to collect manuscripts and published materials documenting South Carolina’s social, political, literary and cultural heritage as well as the history of the University itself. After the construction of a larger main library in 1940, the original library building became the South Caroliniana Library, dedicated to acquiring, preserving, and making available for research the growing collection of historic materials. Today, the South Caroliniana Library’s collection is one of the ten largest holdings of Southern manuscripts in the United States and one of the nation’s most important Southern history collections. Its holdings are essential to the understanding of South Carolina and Southern culture over the last three hundred years.