A French Connection

A historic document written in cursive.

When a gentleman in France doing research hit "send" after drafting a reference question, he was unsure what type of response he would receive. However, when you reach out to a South Carolina State Library librarian, you don't just get help; you gain a research partner. Librarian Hannah Majewski got to work searching for information on Philippe-Stanislas Noisette, a French gardener and botanist sent to Charleston in 1803 to become the director of the South Carolina Agricultural Society's garden. She found articles about Noisette, his family, and his career. Majewski also connected the French gentleman to other agencies and libraries that could help. Our mission is to provide equal access to information, no matter the inquiry's origin. 

Upcoming Event

Len Lawson phot and the cover of his book, New Names for Stars.

Speaker at the Center Presents Len Lawson, Poet and Author

June 16, 2026, 6:00 PM

Please join us for our next Speaker at the Center talk on June 16th at 6:00 for our talk with Len Lawson, Poet and Author of New Names for Stars, accompanied by Miho Kinnas and Kathleen Nalley. Len Lawson is the winner of the Lit Fox Award (Lit Fox Books, 2026). He will be joined by Japanese poet Miho Kinnas and author Kathleen Nalley in reading selections from his newest release.

Photo of Tom Elmore in a kilt in a cemetary.

Speaker at the Center: Tom Elmore presents the "Swamp Fox" in Media

June 18, 2026, 2:30 PM

Historian Tom Elmore, who has over twenty years of experience as a book, TV, and film reviewer, takes a look at some of the major works about Francis Marion and examines what they got right and what they got wrong, with a particular emphasis placed on the 1950s Disney mini-series.  Prepare to be educated, entertained, and amused!