22 July 2015

Program about Fort Frederick, August 13th



The Beaufort District Collection continues its partnership with the Beaufort Chapter of the Archaeological Society of South Carolina to present another local history and archaeology program in August. This time there is even an optional tour of an important historic site!

"Old Fort, Beaufort, S. C." Postcard by Palmetto Studios, 1941
(From the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection, Beaufort County Library)
Join us for the Film Screening of the Fort Frederick documentaries on Thursday, August 13th at 11am in the Children’s Programming Room (1st floor) of the Beaufort County Library, 311 Scott St., Downtown Beaufort, SC. At the conclusion of the library program, there will be an optional tour of the Fort Frederick led by the archaeologists. The remains of Fort Frederick are located mostly on the Beaufort Naval Hospital grounds.  

Archaeological excavations, tabby restoration, and public tours took place at Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve in Beaufort County during the winter of 2014-2015, under the aegis of the Department of Natural Resources Heritage Trust Program. This cultural resources work was documented through a series of short films that will be screened at the Library. Funding for the archaeological work and filming was provided by the DNR Heritage Trust Program and through grants received from the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund and The Humanities Council SC. 

Extract from Plat of Smiths Plantation, showing the "Spanish Fort", c1862
Extract from Plat of Smith's Plantation,  BDC Map Collection
Meg Gaillard, Archaeologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Heritage Trust Program, will introduce the short films. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of those who did the digging, filmed the archaeology work, and who now protect the historic site.

Seating is limited to the first 50 guests. Guests will be asked to complete a brief DNR survey about the films prior to an optional field trip to the Ft. Frederick site. (Please note: Transportation is NOT included). The program and tour are free and open to anyone over age 6 interested in the topics of local history, military history, colonial history, archaeology, or historic preservation.  
About the Presenter:
Meg Gaillard has over 12 years of photography experience, and over nine years of archaeology and public outreach experience working mainly in the Southeastern United States. Her primary research is in historical archaeology, ethnography, and public interpretation. Meg holds two B.A. degrees from the University of South Carolina in Anthropology and Journalism. She also holds an M.A. degree from the University of Manchester (England) in Visual Anthropology. Meg has worked as a photographer, anthropologist, archaeologist, public interpretation specialist, and ethnographer on projects in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and the United Kingdom. In 2010, Meg co-founded the South Carolina Archaeology Public Outreach Division (SCAPOD), a 501c3 with a mission to encourage knowledge of South Carolina’s cultural heritage and archaeology. She is currently an archaeologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Heritage Trust Program, which was established in 1974 as the first of its kind in the nation to conserve natural and cultural properties across South Carolina.

Want to do a little background reading on this British colonial fort before you come to the program? Learn about Fort Frederick on one of the BDC’s Local History and Nature Pages.
                                                                                                                                                                  
BTW: Some images from the Beaufort District Collection are included in the films.      

REMINDER: The Research Room is closed Friday, July 17th.                                     

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