George C. Rogers
According to Salute From the Georgetown County Historical Society and the Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies for Commitment to South Carolina History, Dr. George Calvin Rogers, Jr., was “perhaps the preeminent South Carolina historian of his generation” and “certainly one of the most prolific.”
Born in Charleston on June 15, 1922, Rogers was one of three children born to George Rogers, Sr., and Helen Bean. He began his education at the Craft School before enrolling at the High School of Charleston. A hardworking intellectual even in his youth, Rogers completed high school at seventeen. He aspired to Princeton University, but the university was wary of his age and asked him to apply again when he was older. He attended the College of Charleston before reapplying, but by the time Princeton admitted him, he lacked the resources to pay his tuition even after being offered a scholarship and loan. He therefore continued at the College of Charleston and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and History in 1943.
After graduating, Rogers enlisted into the United States Air Force and simultaneously attended the University of North Carolina to study meteorology—an unusual career path that culminated in his becoming a First Lieutenant meteorologist.
After retiring from the military, Rogers enrolled at the University of Chicago, where he received his Master’s in American History in 1948. Five years later, he received his Ph.D. in both American History and English. Thereafter followed instructorships at several universities, including Emory and the University of Pennsylvania, until he returned to South Carolina to teach at the University of South Carolina. In 1972, Rogers became the Caroline McKissick Dial Professor of History at USC, a position he held until his retirement in 1986.
Rogers joined organizations such as South Carolina Historical Society and the South Carolina Historical Association, and authored multiple books on the history of South Carolina, including Evolution of a Federalist: William Loughton Smith of Charleston, 1758-1817 (1962), a biography of the Charleston lawyer and congressman; The History of Georgetown County, South Carolina (1970); and Charleston in the Age of the Pinckneys (1980), about one of the earliest and most influential families in the state. When discussing his focus on SC history, Rogers explained, “I grew up in Charleston. It does something to you.”
Rogers passed away on October 7, 1997.
-- Anna Patton
Born in Charleston on June 15, 1922, Rogers was one of three children born to George Rogers, Sr., and Helen Bean. He began his education at the Craft School before enrolling at the High School of Charleston. A hardworking intellectual even in his youth, Rogers completed high school at seventeen. He aspired to Princeton University, but the university was wary of his age and asked him to apply again when he was older. He attended the College of Charleston before reapplying, but by the time Princeton admitted him, he lacked the resources to pay his tuition even after being offered a scholarship and loan. He therefore continued at the College of Charleston and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and History in 1943.
After graduating, Rogers enlisted into the United States Air Force and simultaneously attended the University of North Carolina to study meteorology—an unusual career path that culminated in his becoming a First Lieutenant meteorologist.
After retiring from the military, Rogers enrolled at the University of Chicago, where he received his Master’s in American History in 1948. Five years later, he received his Ph.D. in both American History and English. Thereafter followed instructorships at several universities, including Emory and the University of Pennsylvania, until he returned to South Carolina to teach at the University of South Carolina. In 1972, Rogers became the Caroline McKissick Dial Professor of History at USC, a position he held until his retirement in 1986.
Rogers joined organizations such as South Carolina Historical Society and the South Carolina Historical Association, and authored multiple books on the history of South Carolina, including Evolution of a Federalist: William Loughton Smith of Charleston, 1758-1817 (1962), a biography of the Charleston lawyer and congressman; The History of Georgetown County, South Carolina (1970); and Charleston in the Age of the Pinckneys (1980), about one of the earliest and most influential families in the state. When discussing his focus on SC history, Rogers explained, “I grew up in Charleston. It does something to you.”
Rogers passed away on October 7, 1997.
-- Anna Patton
