The Orangeburg County Historical Society will host a presentation on the history and ancestry of Western Orangeburg County on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 3 p.m. This event will take place at the Salley Archives, 1421 Middleton St., Orangeburg, and is sponsored by South Carolina Humanities.
Joseph and Martha Kitchings Seawright Ellison
The speaker will be Dr. Walter B. Curry Jr., who will share insights from his book, “The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol. 1, A Narrative History,” which details the historical narratives of his ancestors, noteworthy events, and communities in Western Orangeburg County. Curry will highlight the history of the region through the experiences of his maternal ancestor, Martha Kitchings Seawright Ellison, who was born into slavery on Nov. 20, 1849, in the Kitchings Mill area of western Orangeburg District. Key topics will include the local history during the antebellum period and the Civil War, Martha’s life during the Reconstruction Era, the establishment of Orangeburg County, the contributions of three African American men to the founding of Aiken County, the history of Salley, and significant events in the towns of Livingston and the Sawyerdale community, all interwoven with the Seawright-Ellison family narrative.
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The presentation will feature displays of historical images related to the topics discussed, along with the book, “The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol. 1, A Narrative History,” which will be available for purchase.
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Curry, originally from Orangeburg, established Renaissance Publications, LLC. In recognition of his contributions to genealogy, particularly regarding the Thompson family, he received the 2019 International Afro-American Historical and Genealogy Society Book Award in the Non-Fiction Category. Following this achievement, the South Carolina General Assembly recognized his work in preserving African American history and heritage in the state. For further details, please visit www.renaissancepubllc.com.
The Orangeburg County Historical Society serves as the guardian of Orangeburg County’s history. Meetings are held at the Salley Archives, which contain the historical records of individuals, families, and organizations from the county. For further information regarding the historical society and its presentations, please reach out via phone at (803) 535-0022, email at ochistorical@gmail.com, or visit the website at https://store.orangeburgh.org/.
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