'A sober desire for history': William Gilmore Simms as historian

Although primarily thought of as a novelist, and perhaps secondarily as a poet or editor, antebellum man-of-letters William Gilmore Simms is best understood as an historian. He was one of the most popular and influential historians of his day. His historical romances taught South Carolina's Revolutionary history to a wide audience. He influenced and supported most historians of his day working in or on the Old South. His biographies of John Smith, Francis Marion, and Nathanael Greene each sold through multiple editions during his lifetime. His school history of South Carolina was used in the state's public schools for generations. He was the leading Southern interpreter of the Revolution and amassed one of the most important private collections of Revolutionary War manuscripts.;As an historian, Simms's contribution to American historiography is five-fold. First, he collected and preserved important historical records. Some primary sources would likely not exist today but for Simms's efforts. Second, he championed writing accessible and artistic history. Third, Simms advocated what he thought of as a democratic history. By this he meant a history that recognized individual decisions instead of impersonal forces as the driving force of history. Yet, a democratic history also avoided the pitfalls of hero worship by drawing attention to the contributions of common men and women. Fourth, he gave attention to some traditionally neglected groups of American history including Loyalists and women. Finally, Simms contributed to the development of American historiography through tireless support and encouragement of other historians. All things considered, he was the central figure working in historical studies in the Old South.