A witness to history
Preserving Charleston’s cultural history, one story at a time.
Told through the lens of a “witness to history,” oral histories provide a rich accounting of the past and forge a connection to future generations. Before the written word, history was passed down from one generation to another through storytelling – through the intentional recording of first-hand accounts and memories of people, communities and participants of the past. The oral histories provide a more accurate picture of the past through diverse, first-hand accounts and context of the social and civic issues of the time.
Historic Charleston Foundation’s Oral History Project began in 2003 from the realization that Charleston was rapidly losing members of the generation involved with the establishment of the Foundation and the preservation movement in the early 20th century. At that time, the decision was made to intentionally record interviews with former trustees and other pioneers in the preservation movement. More recently, HCF’s efforts have expanded to include interviews with residents of specific neighborhoods who speak about neighborhood history and their experiences with neighborhood changes over time; owners of historic homes who purchased their home through one of HCF’s revolving fund programs; Charleston craftspeople whose restoration work has contributed to Charleston’s preservation legacy; and local residents that sat witness to historic events in the Lowcountry.
