New Finding Aids for Hollings Collection

More finding aids for the Ernest F. Hollings Collection are now on our website. Check them out! You'll find guides to Hollings' Gubernatorial Papers, his Personal Papers (except for his Campaign Files -- that will be up in a few weeks), and most of his Senate Papers.

For his Senate Papers (1966-2004), 3 files list every folder of legislative material and constituent correspondence -- Folder List #1 (1966-78), Folder List #2 (1979-90), and Folder List #3 (1991-2004). Aids for Press and Media, Travel Files, and Voting Record are also up.

Some documents in Press and Media are part of "Fritz Hollings: In His Own Words". Of the 200 writings, speeches, photographs, and audio files in this online exhibit, you'll find 57 articles written by Hollings for newspapers and magazines, 65 newsletters (like the partial front page of one shown above from Aug. 1976) and newsletter articles sent to South Carolinians from the late 1960s through mid-1980s, and a few press releases.

So if you can't make it down to SCPC on the USC Campus, check out some of Hollings' material online.

SCPC Parking Lot Closed Temporarily

Attention Visitors and Researchers!

The parking lot at SCPC (w/ the lovely spots for patrons in front of our bright blue door) WILL BE CLOSED as of April 1st. It should reopen Thursday, April 9th.

If you need help finding a space, we might be able to give you suggestions. Give us a call at 777-0577 or 0578.

Sorry for the inconvenience but our lot is being fixed up.

Joining the Circus

Again this year, during the week of March 9th, SCPC's parking lot played host to the Ringling Brothers' circus animals. Despite the inconvenience to our researchers, who aren't able to park at our door for the week, and traffic snarls caused by tiny tots being maneuvered across the streets at showtimes, the staff enjoys taking peeks outside to see which animals we have a good view of each time around. This year was a particularly good one for elephants!

We were in close proximity to some tigers, too, but it was hard to get a clear view through the fence and cages...

But the circus has moved on, and things are getting back to normal.

SCPC at the South Carolina Book Festival

SCPC participated in the 13th annual South Carolina Book Festival over the weekend of February 27. The Festival celebrates the book and features South Carolina authors, publishers, and book sellers. Four SCPC donors - - Jack Bass, Fritz Hollings, Kate Salley Palmer and Nick Zeigler, were featured prominently. All spoke at the Festival and signed their books for the avid readers drawn to Columbia’s Convention Center for the event.

Hollings was the main speaker Saturday morning. He appeared with Jack Bass before over one hundred and fifty Festival patrons for a fifty minute presentation in which he reflected on a life in government. Later, he was interviewed by C-SPAN, whose bus, a mobile studio, visited the Festival for the second year in a row.

SCPC was given a booth at the Festival for a well-received exhibit of the Hollings Collection. Hundreds saw the exhibit, which showcased materials from the collection and Lori Schwartz’s new electronic publication - - Fritz Hollings: In His Own Words, which features over two hundred speeches, press releases, op ed columns, and other items from the Hollings Collection presenting Hollings’ thoughts on government and politics. It is hoped this publication will be welcomed by those interested in Hollings’ career as well as public school teachers using primary materials in their classrooms. Hollings continues to talk and write on government.

Recent writings are available at his web site - - http://www.citizensforacompetitiveamerica.com/.

Hollings to Speak at SC Book Festival

On Sat., Feb. 28th, at 10am at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in the Vista, Senator Fritz Hollings will speak about his career and his book, Making Government Work, published by the USC Press in 2008. Jack Bass will serve as interviewer, much as he did for Hollings' talk and book signing at the State Museum last fall. Afterwards, Hollings will sign copies of Making Government Work in the Exhibit Hall.

The above candid shot of Hollings with fellow Senators Frank Lautenberg and James Exon during Budget Committee hearings, c.1987, is one of many photos in the book.

Staff from SCPC will be exhibiting documents, photographs, and memorabilia from the Hollings Papers at the USC Press Booth #101 in the Exhibit Hall on Saturday and Sunday. Stop by and take a look!

The Book Festival is the latest in a series of events promoting the Senator's book. Following the rousing success of the first book signing at Thomas Cooper Library last June, Hollings signed in Washington, D.C., at The Citadel in Charleston, the Upcountry History Museum in Greenville, DeBordieu Colony Country Club in Georgetown, the Florence County Public Library, and the SC State Museum.