Part of an ongoing series on coastal North Carolina’s observance of America’s 250th.
The State Archives of North Carolina will explore the historical events and archival records that inspired the North Carolina storylines in “Outlander.”
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“Outlander,” a television show based on a series of books by Diana Gabaldon, is about a World War II nurse who travels through time to 18th-century Scotland, where she meets a young Highlander. The historical fiction series follows the couple through time and on their travels, starting in 1740s Scotland and eventually to the colony of North Carolina in the 1760s, where the pair take part in the American Revolution. The first episode of the show premiered in 2014 on Starz and the finale for the eight-season series aired in May.
In recognition of the series conclusion, archivists Josh Hager and Alison Thurman will discuss their 25-part blog series, “Documenting the World of Outlander,” which highlights historical documents that reveal the real people, places and events behind episodes set in North Carolina during an hourlong webinar scheduled for noon Tuesday, Aug. 5.
Participants must register for the free program through Zoom at https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_sE_iI7JETPye8lVbCruTBw.
“Intended as a ‘bonus feature’ for fans of Outlander who want to explore more of the world of Jamie and Claire, it expands on the historical context of the show through original documents housed at the State Archives of North Carolina,” according to the blog that began in 2018, when the Frasers first set foot on North Carolinian soil in Season 4 of Outlander.
During the webinar, Hager and Thurman will examine topics including the Committees of Safety, the flight of Royal Governor Josiah Martin and the Battle of Kings Mountain using colonial maps, criminal trial records, Revolutionary-era newspapers and other primary sources.
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Published on the State Archives’ “History For All the People” blog from 2018-23, the 25-part series connects memorable scenes and plotlines from Outlander to original records preserved by the State Archives.
The State Archives is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which has coordinated America 250 NC, the state’s official commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
For more information, contact Outreach Coordinator Adrienne Berney at adrienne.berney@dncr.nc.gov or 919-814-6863.
