Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin is coming to Greenville. The American History Bookclub will host An Evening with Doris Kearns Goodwin at the Poinsett Club on Oct. 15, running from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $50.
The event takes place at the Poinsett Club, located at 807 E. Washington St., according to Greenville Journal. Goodwin is scheduled to speak at the club's Oct. 15 event.
Goodwin brings a hefty resume to the Upstate. She won the Pulitzer Prize for “No Ordinary Time,” her account of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II, and her book “Team of Rivals” won the Lincoln Prize and inspired Steven Spielberg's film “Lincoln,” according to C-SPAN. More recently, in 2025, Goodwin executive produced an eight-part History Channel documentary miniseries with Kevin Costner on the American West, the same source notes.
The Club and Its Museum Home
The club meets at least once a quarter at the Upcountry History Museum, where its programs typically draw between 50 and 100 attendees. The Greenville Journal reports that it has 435 members and a mailing list of 600. Furman University says the club began in 2008 for members of the museum.
Founder Emilyn Sanders moved to Greenville from Houston, Texas. Before launching the club, she worked with former First Lady Barbara Bush on a celebration of reading American history that drew about 100 people when it started and has since toured five cities, where it is always sold out, according to the Greenville Journal. Sanders later joined with fellow Furman University trustees Kathy McKinney and Mary Peace Sterling to start the Greenville group.
A Regional Lens on American History
The Greenville Journal reports that Sanders sees South Carolina’s history as part of the broader American story and has pointed to the Upcountry’s history as an area of public curiosity. The club looks for speakers who can connect national subjects to Greenville, including when the topic does not focus directly on the city.
Membership is free for people who belong to the Upcountry History Museum. Members can suggest speakers and books for the group to consider. The Greenville Journal describes historical literacy as a central aim of the club.
How the Museum Connects Local and National History
The museum provides a broader context for the club’s local-history focus. According to the City of Greenville, the Upcountry History Museum connects the region’s history with major transformations, including events after World War II, the Civil Rights Movement and economic revivals. The Upcountry History Museum says it organizes annual exhibitions spanning subjects such as history, art, science, natural history and pop culture, and offers guided tours exploring how exhibit topics relate to the Upcountry.
A Lineup of Notable Historians
Goodwin isn't the only big name the club has brought to Greenville over roughly two decades of programming. Its annual event has previously hosted authors including Jon Meacham, David McCullough and David Brooks, according to the Greenville Journal. A separate list of past speakers compiled by whosonthemove.com also includes Michael Beschloss and Maureen Dowd alongside Goodwin, McCullough and Brooks.
The club's programming continues to bring presidential historians and bestselling authors to Greenville audiences interested in connecting local history to the national story.
