Beaufort District Collection Connections

Attend RootsTech from your home computer

2012-02-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

The Ancestry Insider just posted how all you genealogists out there can gain free online access to some of the sessions at the RootsTech Family History and Technology Conference being held in Salt Lake City tomorrow through Saturday, Feb. 4th. Click here to learn more.

A very neat feature is that most of the sessions have hand-outs. For example, the session "Do I Trust the Cloud" has a PDF (or .doc) document that spells out the basics of cloud computing, the benefits, and the concerns attached to cloud computing - as it relates to privacy and personal data within the genealogical process.

Don't forget to make the adjustments from Mountain time to Eastern time.

FOL Series Underway

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder: The Friends of the Beaufort County Library's Books Sandwiched In and the Friends of the Hilton Head Library's Book Breaks continue throughout February. And if you'd rather view than read, the Friends of the Hilton Head Library offers a Film Serie s on Saturday afternoons until March 8th.

Burton Sauls of CityTrex, in collaboration with the Friends of the Beaufort County Library, has created podcasts of the sessions thus far. Click here to select and hear a specific review or preview upcoming sessions.

Gullah Culture Featured in February

2012-01-31T00:01:00.001-05:00

Beaufort County Library starts our celebration of Black History Month with three presentations the first week of February. Two are related to the Smithsonian's New Harmonies exhibit (which leaves Sat., Feb. 4th.)

For images of some of the programs thus far, click here.

Wed., Feb. 1st
A) Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Peoples, will share Gullah music with participants in the Technical College of the Lowcountry auditorium from Noon until 1 pm. Her program is entitled "Livin' Wid We: A Gullah/Geechee Journey of Harmony." (To see images taken at her high energy December program for New Harmonies, click here.) You'll sure to enjoy her upbeat, lively, and informative performance.

B) Southern Beaufort County residents might want to make plans now to join the Friends of the Hilton Head Branch Library for a presentation by Will Cross and Dr. Emory Campbell about "Books on Gullah Culture." This session will be held in the Hilton Head Branch Library's Community Room and also begins at Noon on Feb. 1st.

Mr. Cross wrote Gullah Culture in America, and Dr. Campbell wrote the foreward to Gullah Culture in America. Copies are available through our local history sections under call number 305.8961 CRO.

Sat., Feb. 4th
The New Harmonies Exhibit and supplemental programming is closing with a Grand Finale performance sponsored by the BDC.

Join the BDC as it sponsors the Aunt Pearlie Sue Show at 2 p.m. in the old SC Room of the Beaufort Branch Library. Meet us downstairs as Anita Singleton-Prather becomes “Aunt Pearlie Sue.” Aunt Pearlie Sue delights audiences with Gullah-flavored folktales, songs, skits and history. Doors open at 1:30pm. Seating is limited. Seating is first come, first served. Room capacity is set by fire code regulations.

For an annotated bibliography of Gullah related materials, read this.

Jasper County Turns 100

2012-01-30T13:55:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday! Jasper County just turned 100 years old. Jasper County, after years of petition, was carved from Beaufort and Hampton Counties on January 30, 1912 and became South Carolina's 44th of 46 counties at 1:55pm.

Here is a transcription of the Beaufort Gazette newspaper item "Jaspar [sic], New Baby County."

Jaspar, [sic] New Baby County.

Governor Signs Act Creating Forth-Fourth County.

Columbia, January 30. -- Special: There are forty-four counties in South Carolina now, for when Governor Blease, at five minutes of 2 o'clock, gave his signature to the Act establishing Jasper County, one other was added to the number.

The Act was signed be [by] the Governor, there being present Attorney R. H. Welch, of counsel for the new county; Secretary of State McCown, Mr. Rowland and Mr. Blackburn, private secretary and stenographer, respectively, to the Governor, Mr. Perry, from the new county, and others. The group reassembled in the office at 5 o'clock and were photographed.

When he had signed the Act Governor Blease expressed his hopes for the new county in these words: "May God bless Jasper County and all her people and may she live long and prosper.["] -- W.F. C.

National History Day 2012 Competition

2012-01-27T00:01:00.001-05:00

From the National Coalition for History blog Dec. 2, 2011 -

The National Archives recently announced the launch of a special web site highlighting activities and documents related to the 2012 National History Day theme – Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History. Inspiration for National History Day projects can be found in sample documents, suggested topics at www.DocsTeach.org/home/national-history-day.

These online records include photographs, maps, textual records, posters, patent drawings, and video and sound recordings that reflect the 2012 theme and can be incorporated into any of the five National History Day categories.

Teachers can introduce the 2012 National History Day theme with an activity that encourages students to define the terms revolution and reform, and then examine the differences between them by analyzing documents connected to the New Deal. Another activity, entitled Mrs. Jackson’s Letter, illustrates an emotional reaction to ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Selma, Alabama in 1964. In other activities, students can reflect on why some documents are more effective than others when creating a National History Day project.

To get your creative juices flowing, this document could be your inspiration.

Using the site’s seven interactive tools, teachers also have the option of creating, modifying, and sharing additional activities connected to the 2012 National History Day theme based upon the students’ skill level.

Here are a few local history topics at the high school level that the resources of the BDC could support:

Ku Klux Klan in 1920s Beaufort County as seen through the Beaufort Gazette.
Fusion Politics during the late 19th century
The roles of women as seen in the life of Abbie Holmes Christensen, Laura Towne, the Community Club, and the activities of the Female Benevolent Society and Clover Club
The American Revolution in Beaufort District
I'm sure there are others that could fit the "Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History" theme

If you'd like to discuss a particular topic or brainstorm local history topics that might meet the criteria for this contest, let's talk. Please call me at 843-255-6446 or send me an e-mail at gracec@bcgov.net to set up a time to discuss National History Day topics that BDC resources can support.

New Harmonies series continues

2012-01-25T00:01:00.010-05:00

Although the New Harmonies exhibit must soon be packed and sent away, it's still on display through Sat.., Feb. 4th. If you haven't seen it yet, please do drop by. The exhibit is open when the Beaufort Branch Library is open for business. Who knows when Beaufort County Library will be awarded another such fine exhibit to share with our community?!

In February we have two New Harmonies/Local History related programs for your listening, learning, and entertainment!

Wed., February 1st Lunch & Listen: Livin' Music: A Gullah/Geechee Journey of Harmony featuring Queen Quet Noon to 1 p.m. at Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort Campus

Saturday, February 4^th Closing Celebration with Aunt Pearlie Sue 2 p.m. at Beaufort Branch Library Anita Singleton-Prather, “Aunt Pearlie Sue,” delights audiences with Gullah-flavored folktales, songs, skits and history passed down to her.

"Celebration of American Music," a display of photographic work by members of the Photography Club of Beaufort, will be taken down at the end of this month. If you haven't seen it, do make an effort to see it before January 30th. It's a wonderful exhibit of local talent.

For questions regarding New Harmonies events, please contact Amanda Brewer, at abrewer@bcgov.net or (843) 255-6458.

We hope to see you at one (or more) of these very special opportunities to celebrate the "Roots of American Music" in concert with the Beaufort County Library system!

"Virtual BDC" Change Now Active: 1

2012-01-23T13:40:00.005-05:00

Q: Notice something new in the "Virtual BDC" drop-down box?

A: You can now get to the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection: A Celebration of Beaufort, South Carolina directly from the Library's homepage. (While you're there, feel free to make comments or share your memories. Just be aware that any comments you make may re-appear elsewhere in cyberspace.)

Even More Changes Coming to the Virtual BDC

2012-01-20T00:01:00.004-05:00

Reminder: We're upgrading to PastPerfect 5.0 on Monday, Jan. 23rd. The Research Room computer will be offline during the installation process. This means that customers won't have access to Ancestry Library Edition nor to the catalog to do their own searches.

The Library system is updating the software behind our web site. This impacts another part of the "Virtual BDC." The Local History & Nature pages are being converted into DRUPAL supported pages. You'll also notice a "new look" to the index page.

Work is currently underway, so please bear with us. We're doing our best to catch all the mistakes but something may well slip by us.

If while visiting our website or the "Virtual BDC" you notice something awry (as in links take you nowhere or a link for "Sweetgrass baskets" ends up at the Tabby article), please share the details with our website administrator at libwebmaster@bcgov.net.

We appreciate your patience. In the end, we hope that you too will feel that the changes are good ones which improve our customer service.

No ALE Searching on Monday in the Research Room

2012-01-18T15:59:00.007-05:00

Visitors to the Research Room usually have access to a computer for searching the catalog and/or Ancestry Library Edition. An exception to this standing practice will occur on Monday, Jan. 23rd.

On Monday, Jan. 23rd, our systems specialist, Stuart Forrest, will be installing major upgrades to our PastPerfect software. The Friends of the Beaufort County Library originally paid for PastPerfect software for us way back in 2001. Since then, we've done several upgrades. Now, we have to upgrade from versions 3.5 to 4.0 and from 4.0 to 5.0 to move forward with our long-range plans for digitization of special collections materials.

Our ultimate goal has always been to share our holdings more broadly by using affordable technology to facilitate viewing inside our branch libraries of some of the "behind-the-wall" special collections materials we hold in trust. A successful installation to PastPerfect 5.0 is the long anticipated and necessary first step on our journey to reach out and share the wonders of the BDC with all our BCL customers, regardless of their branch library of choice.

While we apologize for the inconvenience to our Research Room customers on installation day, the upgrades will facilitate better services for Research Room, as well as "Virtual BDC," customers. It'll be so worth it.

Thank You!

2012-01-17T16:00:00.001-05:00

The mission of the Beaufort District Collection is to acquire, preserve, maintain and make accessible a research collection of permanent value which records the history, culture and environment of the area of lowcountry South Carolina once known as the old historic Beaufort District. In these stringently close economic times, donations of appropriate research materials are particularly helpful.

We are very grateful to all the generous individuals and organizations who helped us meet our mission in 2011.

Through the years, we have built a solid reference collection through a combination of purchases and donations. The Beaufort County Library and the Beaufort District Collection would like to thank the following people and organizations for their generous donations of local history reference books, videos, photographs, maps, posters, postcards and/or documents that were added to our holdings during 2011:

Anonymous
Dennis Adams
Amy Jenkins Bassett
Charles Boxley
Jane Chakides
Clover Club
George Fino
Friends of the Beaufort County Library
Fran Hays
Alexia Helsley
Ian Hill
Conway G. and Diane Ivy
Jenny L. Kitty
Tony Mills
Penelope Holme Parker
Sally Pringle
Bill Rauch
Dr. W. C. Sammons
Carolyn Poling Schreiber

Although our primary charge is to be good stewards of the materials we hold in trust for our community and share them with researchers, a lot of people interested in local history do not necessarily enjoy the process of research. Accordingly, a special collections library needs to share its materials with the community in other ways such as programs. During 2011, we provided opportunities for lifelong learning and leisure through BDC-sponsored programs on local history, oral history, genealogy, and archaeology with the help of others. We are grateful to the folks and organizations who donated their services in support of the BDC @The Branches local history series during 2011:

Amy Jenkins Bassett
Neil Baxley
Beaufort County Planning Department
Marvin Bouknight
Rosalyn Browne
Mike Coker
Sandy Dimke
Ian Hill
Stephen Hoffius
Chris Judge
Alice Connelly Moore
Penn Center
Dr. Lawrence Rowland
Jason Ryan
Baynard Woods

And we cannot forget our most enduring supporters, the Beloved BDC Docents:

Bill Culp
Hugh Folk
Jan Johnson
Laura Lewis
Sherry Puccini
Harriet Rahm
Linda Schumacher
Marlyn Schumacher
Zakary Haigler

Each of these dedicated volunteers donated their time and their skill to the BDC during 2011. They performed such tasks as map encapsulation, diary transcription, magazine article title indexing, photograph preservation, maintenance of our obituary index, and filing "stuff" which helps us share our holdings with the community. Charmaine and I couldn't work without their help!

A heartfelt "Thank You" for your support of and donations to the unique Beaufort District Collection. The BDC serves our community much better because of these donors, presenters, organizations and docents!

Reminder: Today

2012-01-17T00:01:00.003-05:00

Dan Huff, musician, and music historian, will offer a presentation on the gospel, jazz, and blues roots of our African American culture which has contributed to our rich American musical heritage.

Tuesday, January 17^th Lecture: “African American Contributions to Music” by Dan Huff 1- 3 p.m. at University of South Carolina Beaufort, Auditorium, 801 Carteret Street

Good Books and Good Friends: A Great Combination

2012-01-16T17:00:00.003-05:00

Beaufort County Library system has three Friends of the Library groups. Each group is independent. Each group has its special projects and ways in which it supports one or more component of the library system. On tap for the spring are two book series and a film series.

The Friends of the Beaufort County Library have begun their 2012 Books Sandwiched In series.

Just like last year, CityTrex is providing podcasts of the book review sessions in case you can't make it to the programs held on Mondays, Jan. 23rd - Feb. 27th, from Noon to 1 pm at the USCB Center for the Arts. Click here to get to the index from which to make your choices. (New podcasts will be added as they become available).

On the 2012 Books Sandwiched In schedule are:

Jan 23rd: THAT USED TO BE US by Thomas Friedman presented by Dr. Valerie Truesdale

Jan 30th: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson presented by Deanna Bowdish

Feb 6th: HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard presented by Charles D. Frost

Feb 13th: BLEAK HOUSE by Charles Dickens presented by Robert R. Googins

Feb 20th: UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand presented by Gary Kubic

Feb 27th: FLYING: A NOVEL by Paula Helfrich and Rebecca Sprecher presented by Rebecca Sprecher

The Friends of the Hilton Head Library group sponsors the Book Break series. This year, I draw particular attention to the session by Wilbur Cross and Emory Campbell on books about Gullah culture. Sessions are held in the Hilton Head Branch Library's Community Room beginning at Noon.

January 18th - Dr. Jane Upshaw presents Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

January 25th - Marion Conlin presents A Quest In the Middle East and the Making of Modern Iraq by Liora Likutz

February 1st - Will Cross and Dr. Emory Campbell present A Collection of books on Gullah culture

February 8th - Scottie Davis presents The Help by Kathryn Stockett

February 15th - David Lauderdale presents Personal History by Katherine Graham

February 22nd - Maureen Richards presents Seed from Madagascar by Duncan Clinch Heyward and A Confederate Lady Comes of Age: The Journal of Pauline Decaradeuc Heyward, 1863-1888 edited by Mary D. Robertson.

If movies are more to your liking, the Friends of the Hilton Head Library have your back. They offer a Film Seminar Series, too!

January 19th - "The Help"

January 26th - "A Few Good Men"

February 2nd - "The Dresser"

February 9th - "Dick"

February 16th - "The Letter"

February 23rd - "A Man For All Seasons"

March 1st - "Strangers on a Train"

March 8th - "Avalon"

Doors open at 1:30 with a travelogue prior to the movie beginning at 2:00.

Please consider joining one (or all) of our Friends of the Library groups and help supplement our funding: Friends of the Beaufort County Library; Friends of the Bluffton Library; and/or Friends of the Hilton Head Library.

In Honor of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-13T14:25:00.000-05:00

To celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 16th, we suggest one item of particular local historical interest. Many folks are not aware that King used to visit Penn Center for respite from his public political activities campaigning for Civil Rights during the 1960s. For information about his visits to our area, please check out I will not be silent and I will be heard: Martin Luther King Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Penn Center, 1964-1967 by J. Tracy Power available at all our Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head, and St. Helena branch libraries under call number 323.4 POW.

A search in the SCLENDS catalog for the keywords "Martin Luther King" results in 684 hits. Restricting the search to "Martin Luther King, Jr." as a subject heading within the Beaufort County Library catalog results in 109 hits. You'll need to come to the BDC to read the contents of the King, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968) vertical file. So, if you are interested in learning more about this man who helped change the history of our country, visit your nearest Beaufort County Library branch library.

Please remember: All Beaufort County Library branches will be closed on Monday, January 16th to celebrate the contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr. Regular hours resume Tuesday, January 17th.

BDC Launches 2nd Digital Collection

2012-01-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

The Library was fortunate to have received the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection in April 2007. For the past 4 years, staff, docents, and a SC SHRAB grant funded photographs archivist have completed various tasks to get us to the point where we could upload a selection of 300 of the best and most significant images to share. We are very fortunate indeed to be able to rely upon the assistance of the Lowcountry Digital Library to make the "Lucille Hasell Culp Collection: A Celebration of Beaufort, South Carolina" a reality.

Want to see something nifty? Click here.

"African American Contributions to Music" lecture by Dan Huff

2012-01-12T00:01:00.004-05:00

Dan Huff, musician, and music historian, will offer a presentation on the gospel, jazz, and blues roots of our African American culture which has contributed to our rich American musical heritage.

Tuesday, January 17^th Lecture: “African American Contributions to Music” by Dan Huff 1- 3 p.m. at University of South Carolina Beaufort, Auditorium, 801 Carteret Street

Dan has played in numerous symphonies and orchestras in major cities. He is an accomplished musician and presenter for OLLI on Gullah history and music as well as a dedicated Friends of the Beaufort County Library member and serves on the system's Library Board of Trustees.

We're getting closer to the end of the New Harmonies exhibit and program schedule, but there's still time for you to experience roots music with Beaufort County Library. For the complete schedule of New Harmonies events click here.

Community Sing

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Programs related to the New Harmonies exhibit on display at Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street continue. Penn Center is holding its Community Sing, Sun., January 15th beginning at 6:30pm in Frissell House. Local gospel choirs will sing traditional spirituals in a community sing-along.

You're welcomed to join in - if you'd like to participate.

If you haven't seen the Photography Club of Beaufort's "Celebration of American Music" display in our 2nd floor gallery, please do drop by. It is scheduled to go away at the end of January. You don't want to miss it. For the complete schedule of New Harmonies events click here.

Please show your support for the Beaufort County Library system by attending at least one program related to the New Harmonies exhibit! For the complete New Harmonies Events program schedule, click here.

Pick a Performance, Any Performance ...

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

January has 23 opportunities for you to explore American musical traditions with Beaufort County Library. Pick one (or more) to attend! We'd love to see you enjoy your public library - (even more than usual, of course.)

Celebrate 2012 with New Harmonies!

2012-01-02T00:01:00.010-05:00

Now that the clamor of the holidays is behind us, come get refreshed by immersing yourself in the sounds of music.

Visit the New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music exhibit from the Smithsonian Museums. Hours mirror the Beaufort Branch Library operating hours.
View the "Celebration of American Music" photographs display, 2nd floor Gallery. Hours: Mondays through Fridays, 9 am until 5 pm until January 30th.
Come visit the "Through the Years: Music in Beaufort District" display of selections from our holdings in the BDC Research Room display case. Hours: Mondays through Fridays, 10 am until 5 pm.
There are 23 (yes, twenty-three!!!) music related programs during the month of January. Pick one or more to attend. For the complete schedule, click here.

We believe that libraries make a positive contribution to our communities. Your attendance at a library sponsored event, program, or exhibition shows others that you believe that libraries make a positive contribution, too! Please show your support for the Beaufort County Library by attending one (or more) of the scheduled activities this month.

Port Royal Ferry, Skirmish of, 12.31.1861 - 1.02.1862

2011-12-30T00:01:00.000-05:00

To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Skirmish at the Port Royal Ferry, we share this posting of from the New York Times dated January 7, 1862.

To find out more about the image from the Library of Congress at the head of this entry, click here.

Polar Bears, Pelicans, and Half- Naked People

2011-12-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

It seldom gets cold enough in coastal South Carolina to properly execute a true polar bear plunge but, hey, we try! If one is so inclined, (I most definitely am not!) here's a local option "jump-in-the-ocean" opportunity on New Year's Day 2012 for you to consider:

The 4th Annual Pelican Plunge co-sponsored by Hunting Island State Park and its Friends group with proceeds applied to supporting the "Discover SC" program.

Cheerleaders accepted!

Can't decide whether to take the plunge? Perhaps this 5:10 minute video of the 2011 Plunge posted by participant wmike83 will help you make up your mind.

New Harmonies: Lunch & Listen on Spirituals

2011-12-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

In 1925, James Weldon Johnson, poet and author of The Book of Negro Spirituals wrote:

"Generally speaking, the European concept of music is melody and the African concept of music is rhythm."

The spiritual melds the two concepts into a distinctly American musical form that is the topic of a New Harmonies program:

Wednesday, January 4^th Lunch & Listen “Sea Island Spirituals” featuring the Jones Family Noon to 1 p.m. at Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort Campus
Listen to the Jones Family perform authentic renditions of spirituals originating in the Sea Island. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch to eat in the Student Center prior to the performance.

To see a list of some of the materials that Beaufort County Library has on the topic of spirituals, look in my SCLENDS Bookbag.

The New Harmonies exhibit hours mirror the Beaufort Branch Library hours. The Photography Club exhibit in the 2nd floor gallery is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 am until 5 pm through Jan. 30th. The BDC Research Room display of music related materials from our holdings, many relating to the spiritual musical form, mirrors Beaufort District Collection hours.

Please show your support for the Beaufort County Library system by attending at least one program related to the New Harmonies exhibit! For the complete New Harmonies Events program schedule, click here.

Library Databases: DISCUS

2011-12-23T00:00:00.005-05:00

On 12.15.2011, I mentioned that Librarians like to choose "Best" materials for lists. On December 7th, the Library Journal posted an article entitled "Best Databases 2011." Beaufort County Library provides several of the highlighted databases for our customers. Among the "best databases" chosen were Biography in Context; Gale Virtual Reference Library; and Encyclopedia Britannica. These three databases are part of a much larger database of databases called DISCUS that you can get to from our website.

Go to the Library's homepage (www.beaufortcountylibrary.org), choose the 2nd blue tab "Online Research" then choose "Research Resources." You'll find entry points to 8 other subscription databases (some with multiple databases ) there. (The direct point of access to the "Research Resources" page is http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/htdocs-sirsi/db.htm.)

Let's start with the largest database in scope and content, that is, DISCUS. DISCUS like ALE is a database of databases. (This is important to remember because you will see this again!)

DISCUS (short for Digital Information for South Carolina USers) provides free access to an electronic library of made up of a core collection of high quality online resources that support education, enhance economic development and improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians. DISCUS is available 24/7 through school, college and public libraries. DISCUS ensures equal access to information and learning resources regardless of race or socio-economic status - a crucial philosophical and professional tenet of librarianship.

The DISCUS database provides a variety of organized resources for individuals of all ages, educational levels and interests. The databases include librarian-vetted:

magazines
professional journals
newspapers
encyclopedias
e-books
reference material
student and teacher resources
maps
pictures
recommended Web links
multimedia
and much more!

DISCUS resources use the Internet merely as a delivery tool to provide accurate information from recognized publishers focusing on high-quality publications and documents that are updated regularly and organized so you can quickly find the information you need. It is highly doubtful that you would discover these resources through an open web search.

Google, Yahoo, Firefox and other Internet search engines are designed to search the open Web. When searching with Google or other Internet search engines,you’re likely to retrieve lots of irrelevant, commercial and possibly poor-quality results. (Personal note: I tend to find what I'm looking for on the 3rd or 4th page of results when doing an open Web search for websites - as when I find something to put in one of the "Local History Treasures Brought to You by the Beaufort District Collection." DISCUS makes looking for solid and reliable and permanent links to information on some topics and products much easier to find.)

Customers need a valid public library card to access the DISCUS database from home or from your office. (You can use DISCUS at will within our library buildings). You'll need to stop by one of our branch libraries to pick up the flyer with the password for home or office access. Because this database is paid for by the State of South Carolina on behalf of citizens of this state and its public libraries, we cannot share the password for external access over the web.

Want a little help before you take off on your own?
Each month the State Library offers a one-hour webinar titled "New to DISCUS? Start Here!" that explains the program and provides an opportunity for Q&A.

Never participated in a webinar? Just read the State Library's Online Training FAQs to learn how easy it is. Information about DISCUS training is found on the Training Tab of our website. Take advantage of some free training in 2012! Next class is January 11th, 2012.

Photos from "Dancin Wid We" New Harmonies Program

2011-12-22T00:01:00.001-05:00

The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition has posted images from Queen Quet's "Dancin Wid We" performance on Tuesday night. Click here to view the images.

As you can see, attendees at the program became participants in the program! We librarians love it when our customers engage so directly in our program opportunities.

A Heads Up: February is Black History Month. Although both the Queen and the BDC show that every month is Black History Month for us, she has agreed to kick off the Library system's observance. Queen Quet will be sharing her Gullah musical roots as part of the Lunch & Listen series on Wed., Feb. 1st at the Technical College of the Lowcountry. The presentation begins at Noon. Her topic is "Livin' Music: A Gullah/Geechee Journey of Harmony." You may want to go ahead and pencil this opportunity to learn more about an integral part of the fabric that is Beaufort District.

Reflections on Novice Genealogists

2011-12-21T00:01:00.006-05:00

Genealogy's Star, a Rootsweb endorsed blog written by experienced genealogist James Tanner, carried an article "What are beginner's impressions of genealogy?" on Nov. 21, 2011.

I'd like to make a few reflections about his entry and about our experience helping BDC customers who are beginning their family history research.

The author reflected on his day assisting 3 separate novice genealogists. Although these folks became quite frustrated during their time at his library with the inaccuracy of some of the sources made available to them, he felt that at the end of the day, the researchers had a successful foray. Like me, the author was discouraged by the Ancestry television commercials which mislead potential family historians into thinking that pedigree charts blossom without error from cyberspace.

Here are his observations:

Genealogy is not easy. It is difficult and complicated.

There are a lot of different skills used in genealogical research including the basic computer skills.

Online information is not always very reliable.

You cannot just push a button and come up with a full-blown pedigree.

Genealogy could take all your time if you let it do so.

Some of the online databases are not easy to deal with because of the errors and duplications.

Genealogy is worth the effort and is a real challenge.

Charmaine and I often deal with budding family historians here in the Beaufort District Collection Research Room. Our reflections mirror those of Mr. Tanner but I'd re-order his summary points and expand on several ...

Genealogy is worth the effort and is a real challenge. In some ways, I believe that genealogists have to be the bravest people in the world. One may discover all sorts of unsavory family secrets in the effort. One must go where the records lead them which means
Genealogy is not easy. It is [a sometimes quite] difficult and [more often than not a quite] complicated [process of discovery].
Start with what you know about yourself [and your parents]. Then go backwards in time, one generation and one record at a time.
You cannot just push a button and come up with a full-blown pedigree. I agree with Randy Seaver, one of the comments to the entry, that unless "you are a sibling of an experienced genealogist with a well-populated family tree [it is very unlikely that] you press a button and obtain a full-blown pedigree." An additional caveat I'd make is: And only if they cited all their sources for the pedigree in a manner which you can independently verify!
There are a lot of different skills used in genealogical research including the basic computer skills. Here! Here!! And investigating each individual on one's family tree often includes acquisition of new skills and resources, some digital, some printed, some manuscript. No one person has all the requisite skills at any given time because the field and potential source base is constantly evolving.
Online information is not always very reliable. But neither are printed sources. Every document must be suspect and placed in context and evaluated not only as an individual record but in relation to other extant records.
Some of the online databases are not easy to deal with because of the errors and duplications. As above, just because it's printed, doesn't mean it's the truth. Errors and duplications are possible because humans make mistakes and computers ingest and regurgitate what is made available for the harvest. Critical evaluation of a source or a database is crucial.
Genealogy could take all your time if you let it do so. I used to open my talks about genealogy research with this Anonymous ditty:

Genealogy begins as an interest, becomes a hobby, continues as an avocation, takes over as an obsession, and in its last stage is an incurable disease.

The key is to please ask for assistance, bring your notes with you, we're happy to help, but don't expect instant and miraculous results. Happy Ancestor Hunting!

Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition supports New Harmonies Exhibit

2011-12-18T20:00:00.011-05:00

The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition is collaborating with us - twice - to provide supplemental programming for the Smithsonian's Traveling exhibit, New Harmonies. New Harmonies is on display in Beaufort Branch Library from Dec. 17th, 2011 - Feb. 4th, 2012.

Watch the "New Harmonies" segment with Queen Quet and Amanda Brewer from the Gullah/Geechee TV Nayshun News here.

Join the anniversary celebration of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition with the Dancin' Wid We: Music & Dance of the Gullah/Geechee program. The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition advocates for recognition of Gullah/Geechee rights and culturalcontinuation at all levels of government. The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition's homebase is St.Helena Island, SC. The organization was founded by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/GeecheeNation, a native of St. Helena with family roots stemming also to Polowana and Dataw Islands.

Queen Quet will lead this interactive evening of music and dance on Tues., Dec. 20th at Beaufort Branch Library (311 Scott Street, 1st floor) that celebrates the harmonies that Gullah/Geechees have brought to and sustained in North America as a part of the New Harmonies: Roots of American Music Smithsonian Traveling exhibition. The program starts at 6 pm (which means you won't have to pay the kiosk to park!)

Pencil in this February event now: Queen Quet offers a "Lunch & Listen" program on Gullah musical traditions almost at the end of the exhibit period. Wed., February 1st she is the presenter/performer at a "Lunch & Listen" session called "Livin' Music: A Gullah/Geechee Journey of Harmony featuring Queen Quet." This program will be held from Noon to 1 p.m. at Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort Campus.

Now on display in the BDC Research Room: "Through the Years: Music in Beaufort District" highlighting selections from our own holdings about the merging of African and European influences to create a sacred American music as exhibited through spirituals, folk songs, and the musical compositions of Beaufort native, Mary Palmer Dana Shindler, 1810-1883.

The "Celebration of American Music" photographic exhibit continues in the 2nd Floor Gallery through January 30th.

Please show your support for the Beaufort County Library system by attending at least one program related to the New Harmonies exhibit! For the complete schedule of New Harmonies related events and programs, click here.

New Harmonies Exhibit Opens Today

2011-12-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

Please join us! All are welcomed to eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy the music!!

New Harmonies at Penn Center

2011-12-16T00:00:00.006-05:00

The Grand Opening of the New Harmonies exhibit is this Saturday. Ribbon cutting is set for 2 pm. Please join us... and please put these program opportunities on your calendar:

Penn Center is collaborating with us - twice - to provide supplemental programming for the Smithsonian's Traveling exhibit, New Harmonies on display in Beaufort Branch Library from Dec. 17th, 2011 - Feb. 4th, 2012.

Sunday, December 18th The Nativity Scene 6:30 p.m. at Frissell House at Penn Center, St. Helena Island

A re-enactment of the Christmas story with musical renditions of Old English carols sung by members of local choirs. This traditional holiday performance is based on the original "Mystery Play" that was performed at Penn School in the early 1950's.

Sunday January 15th Community Sing 6:30 p.m. at Frissell House at Penn Center, St. Helena Island Local gospel choirs will sing traditional spirituals in a community sing-along.

Please show your support for the Beaufort County Library system by attending at least one program related to the New Harmonies exhibit! Attend one (or both of these programs co-sponsored with Penn Center) if you can. You won't be disappointed.

Drop by when you're downtown and see the wonderful photographs on display in the 2nd floor Gallery. The Photography Club of Beaufort have exceeded even their usual and customary high artistic quality with the photographs on display. They are not to be missed!

For the complete schedule of New Harmonies events click here.

Best Databases of 2011

2011-12-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Librarians love to select "best" books, videos, databases, websites, etc. It's part of what we do: select and acquire "best" materials for our customers. On December 7th, the Library Journal posted an article entitled "Best Databases 2011." Beaufort County Library provides several of the highlighted databases for our customers.

These are Biography in Context; Gale Virtual Reference Library; NetLibrary; Encyclopedia Britannica; Auto Repair Reference Center; and the oft expounded upon Ancestry Library Edition that is purchased through the BDC.

Over the next month or so, I'll be posting entries about some of these databases here in Connections. Plans are underway to post helpful tips and a demonstration video on the BCL's website soon. I'll provide those links when they come available.

It's been a long time in coming ...

2011-12-14T00:01:00.011-05:00

Good news! Good news! The long awaited and lauded New Harmonies Exhibit opens this Saturday, December 17^th! Join us and enjoy an afternoon of live music and to explore the New Harmonies exhibit. Grand Opening Ceremony for New Harmonies will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street. The afternoon will feature local performers Vic Varner, Beek Webb, Kirk Demspey, Queen Quet, and Crosstuned. Ribbon cutting begins at 2 PM. Admission is free. All ages, genders, nationalities, residents or visitors are welcomed. Y'all come, if you can. We'd love to see each and everyone of you.

Events are out of the gate rather quickly. In addition to the on-going Photography Exhibit upstairs on the 2nd floor, there are two New Harmonies related programs Dec. 18 - 20th.

Sunday, December 18th The Nativity Scene 6:30 p.m. at Frissell House at Penn Center, St. Helena Island

Wednesday, December 20^th Dancin’ Wid We: Music & Dance of the Gullah/Geechee 6 p.m. at Beaufort Branch Library

Come and join the anniversary celebration of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition which is the premiere organization for the advocacy of Gullah/Geechee rights and cultural continuation. The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition's homebase is St. Helena Island, SC and it was founded by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation who is a native of St. Helena and has family roots stemming also to Polowana and Dataw. Queen Quet will lead an interactive evening in music and dance that celebrates the harmonies that Gullah/Geechees have brought to and sustained in North America as a part of this Smithsonian exhibition.

In the BDC Research Room "Through the Years: Music in Beaufort District" display of BDC holdings about music and musicians is on display. You can take in the Photography Club of Beaufort's exhibit and our display all on the same day! Come visit us during our customary hours of operation, that is, Mondays through Fridays, 10 am - 5 pm except when we're closed for the holidays per County policy. [Friday, Dec. 23rd; Monday, Dec. 26th; and Monday, January 2nd].

For the complete schedule of New Harmonies events click here.

Please show your support for the Beaufort County Library system by attending at least one program related to the New Harmonies exhibit!

On Poinsettias

2011-12-12T00:00:00.010-05:00

Today is "National Poinsettia Day."

Congress chose December 12 in remembrance of former ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, a native South Carolinian who popularized the colorful bracts (another way to say "modified leaves.") Poinsett died on Dec. 12, 1851. Poinsettias (also known as poinsettas -- no "i") have become the quintessential Christmas plant. For me, a poinsetta says that Christmas is coming. (I leave out the "i").

If you have a young child in your life, you can share Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie DePaola. It is available in the Children's rooms at some of our branch libraries. The call number is J 398.24 DEP.

The photo of the poinsettia was taken in our 2nd floor gallery, currently hosting the Photography Club of Beaufort's show “Celebration of American Music.” The gallery will be open 9 am until 5 pm most weekdays until January 30th.

New Harmonies is nigh

2011-12-09T00:01:00.010-05:00

Beaufort Branch Library's Lunch & Listen music series concludes Mon., Dec. 12th with a return visit of Chris Jones, who will give a high energy performance showcasing guitar playing styles of iconic guitar players.

Bring your own lunch (or buy one at the Outtakes Cafe) to the USCB Performing Arts Center from Noon to 1 pm and enjoy this free concert. Everyone is welcomed.

This fall's Lunch & Listen series has been brought to you by Beaufort Branch Library and the USCB Performing Arts Center.

Don't forget: The Photography Club of Beaufort exhibit is open just outside the BDC Research Room on the 2nd floor of the 311 Scott Street library building. The theme is "Celebration of American Music." Everyone is welcomed. Here's what the Bluffton Today wrote about the photography exhibit.

Double "Don't forget:" The New Harmonies exhibit opens downstairs this Saturday, Dec. 17th with music and ribbon-cutting beginning at 2 pm. Everyone is welcomed. For the complete schedule of New Harmonies events click here.

Free ALE webinar Dec. 12th

2011-12-07T00:00:00.002-05:00

Don't forget this free ALE webinar available at your home or office computer:

Mon., Dec. 12, 2011 2:00 pm Ancestry Library Edition (ALE) - US Focus

Go to http://proquest.com/en-US/support/training/webinars.shtml and click on “Genealogy” for the webinar list and to register for a session.

If you have any trouble with home or office access to the training sessions for ALE, contact Linda Cubias, MLIS, Supervisor, Customer Education & Training office +1 704 947 8170 mobile +1 240 672 5695 or linda.cubias@proquest.com.

Ancestry Library Edition subscription database is available inside all of our Beaufort County Library facilities during the branch library's regular business hours. Use any of the public access computers at our branch libraries to access the Ancestry Library Edition subscription database.

Please note: Use of the library's public access computers may include fees for some Library customers.

Trivia - but not Trivial

2011-12-05T00:22:00.001-05:00

Based on her Civil War experience, who established the Red Cross?
1. Clara Barton
2. Florence Nightingale
3. Margaret Sanger
4. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Of course, the answer is 1. Clara Barton.

Clara Barton was a crucial mover-and-shaker during the disaster relief efforts after the "Sea Island Hurricane" of 1893. For an overview of the resources available on her life, take a peek at the list of "Recommended Reading" material on her within the "Local Notables" series.

Technical Glitches in the BDC

2011-12-02T12:18:00.006-05:00

Dear All,

It is with deep sadness that I must share that my e-mail system has imploded. Your request for assistance may have been decimated by that system failure.

If you have sent anything electronic to my account gracec@bcgov.net on or before November 30th, that request for assistance or information has vanished into cyberspace. Please e-mail that request to my assistant at cseabrook@bcgov.net. Her account appears to be working properly. We want to assist you if our resources can help.

If I have agreed to any presentations from your organization at some point between now and June 30, 2012, please confirm the date and time. My Outlook Calendar was erased in the implosion. I'd contact you except for the fact that the implosion also wiped out my address book of professional contacts as well.

The staff of the BDC never intentionally ignores requests for our assistance. If you don't hear from us within 5 days of your re-submitted requests, please follow up by calling Charmaine at 843-255-6468.

Our IT department has been notified of the problems I've identified which follow suit in the wake of the unfortunate event of e-mail account deletion. As yet, I have no timeline for repair or restoration.

Photography Exhibit Opens Tonight!

2011-12-02T00:01:00.003-05:00

The Photography Club of Beaufort presents its annual photography exhibit: “Celebration of American Music” a collection of photos submitted by members of the Photography Club of Beaufort. To coincide with the soon-to-arrive New Harmonies exhibit, their theme is “roots music.”

Join us this evening from 5 to 7 pm for the Grand Opening Reception in the 2nd floor gallery (just outside the BDC's Research Room entrance). The photographs will be on display Dec 2nd through January 30th. The gallery will be open 9 am until 5 pm most weekdays.

For the complete schedule of New Harmonies events click here.

Shopping for that perfect gift for a History Buff?

2011-12-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Disappointed by Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday, and Cyber Monday? Still looking for that perfect gift for your history buff? Here are a few online retailers connected to cultural heritage organizations that might be worth a look-see:

The National Archives e-store
The South Carolina Online Mall (The reproduction Mills Atlas map of Beaufort District is quite nice - and only $20!)
The South Carolina Historical Society - Choose the Gift Shop label then click on each category (books, prints, software, and gifts) to see what is on offer.

Don't like doing business online? Are you more likely to leave things to the last minute? Consider this, then, and support local historical cultural heritage organizations. A number of the members of the Beaufort County Historical Resources Consortium have a gift store or have Friends organizations which operate a gift store with proceeds going to their beloved institution.

For example, Coastal Discovery Museum has a gift shop. Although the BDC doesn't offer items for sale, the Friends of the Beaufort County Library operate a book store in the Beaufort Branch Library with proceeds going to supplement the County's funding for Beaufort Branch, Lobeco Branch, St. Helena Branch and the Beaufort District Collection. Content changes often. You can support the BDC - and give a pristine copy of a novel - in one small cash exchange.

An alternative way to give the gift of local history is to purchase a membership for a beloved one to a Beaufort County based cultural heritage organization. Oh, the choices you will have! Historic Beaufort Foundation, Bluffton Historical Preservation Society, the Heritage Library, Penn Center, Coastal Discovery Museum, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, Beaufort County Historical Society, Beaufort History Museum, and/or the Public Library Foundation among others would each appreciate your financial and moral support. Prices and benefits of membership vary.

Happy Holiday Shopping!

New Harmonies: Roots of American Music Coming Very Soon

2011-11-29T00:00:00.010-05:00

New Harmonies is almost here -- and the excitement is growing day by day! New Harmonies is a traveling exhibit created by the Smithsonian Institution that will be on display at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott Street from December 17, 2011 through February 4, 2012.

New Harmonies celebrates American music: blues, country western, folk, and gospel music. Eight kiosks display instruments as varied as fiddles and banjos, accordions and drums, vintage sheet music, and program bills. A listening station provides an immediate opportunity to experience the music firsthand. In addition to the exhibit, the Beaufort Branch Library has developed and coordinated programming and activities to complement the exhibit—lectures, films, and performances.

There's even a panel with the world famous, often reproduced "The Old Plantation" by amateur watercolorist John Rose of Broad River, Beaufort District featured in the exhibit.

The BDC Research Room display will rotate from "The Civil War in Beaufort District" to "Through the Years: Music in the BDC" during mid-December. Drop by to see it. (More details forthcoming).

The Beaufort District Collection is a recognized contributor to the New Harmonies project.

Among the array of program offerings, here are the ones closest to the BDC's scope and mission:

Fri. Dec. 2^nd Photography Club of Beaufort exhibit opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Gallery at 311 Scott Street

The Photography Club of Beaufort presents its annual photography exhibit: “Celebration of American Music” a collection of photos submitted by members of the Photography Club of Beaufort. To coincide with New Harmonies, their theme is “roots music”. Visit the 2nd floor gallery (just outside the BDC's Research Room entrance) from Dec 2nd through January 30th to view the photographs. All are invited to attend the grand opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 2nd. The gallery will be open 9 am until 5 pm most weekdays.

Saturday, December 17^th New Harmonies Grand Opening 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street

Enjoy an afternoon of live music and explore the New Harmonies Exhibit. The afternoon will feature local performers Vic Varner, Beek Webb, Kirk Demspey, Queen Quet, and Crosstuned. Ribbon cutting begins at 2 PM at the Beaufort Branch Library (311 Scott Street) and admission is free.

Sunday, December 18th The Nativity Scene 6:30 p.m. at Frissell House at Penn Center, St. Helena Island

Wednesday, December 20^th Dancin’ Wid We: Music & Dance of the Gullah/Geechee 6 p.m. at Beaufort Branch Library

Wednesday, January 4^th Lunch & Listen “Sea Island Spirituals” featuring the Jones Family Noon to 1 p.m. at Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort Campus

Listen to the Jones Family perform authentic renditions of spirituals originating in the Sea Island. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch to eat in the Student Center prior to the performance.

Sunday, January 15th Community Sing 6:30 p.m. at Frissell House at Penn Center, St. Helena Island

Local gospel choirs will sing traditional spirituals in a community sing-along.

Tuesday, January 17^th Lecture: “African American Contributions to Music” by Dan Huff 1- 3 p.m. at University of South Carolina Beaufort, Auditorium, 801 Carteret Street

Dan Huff, musician, and music historian, will offer a presentation on the gospel, jazz, and blues roots of our African American culture which has contributed to our rich American musical heritage. Dan has played in numerous symphonies and orchestras in major cities, and has played his brass instruments for many. He is an accomplished musician and presenter for OLLI on Gullah history and music.

Thursday, February 2^nd Lunch & Listen: Livin' Music: A Gullah/Geechee Journey of Harmony featuring Queen Quet Noon to 1 p.m. at Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort Campus

Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine is a published author, computer scientist, lecturer, mathematician, historian, columnist, preservationist, film consultant, and "The Art-ivist." She is the founder of the premiere advocacy organization for the continuation of Gullah/Geechee culture, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition. Queen Quet has not only provided “histo-musical presentations” throughout the world, but was also the first Gullah/Geechee person to speak on behalf of her people before the United Nations in Genevé, Switzerland. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch to eat in the Student Center prior to the performance.

Saturday, February 4^th Closing Celebration with Aunt Pearlie Sue 2 p.m. at Beaufort Branch Library

Anita Singleton-Prather “Aunt Pearlie Sue” delights audiences with Gullah-flavored folktales, songs, skits and history passed down to her. This Grand Finale performance is sponsored by the Beaufort District Collection.

For the complete schedule of New Harmonies events click here.

For questions regarding New Harmonies events, please contact Amanda Brewer, at abrewer@bcgov.net or (843) 255-6458.

We hope to see you at one (or more) of these very special opportunities to celebrate the "Roots of American Music" in concert with the Beaufort County Library system!

The 150th Anniversary Commemoration continues...

2011-11-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

... with a gala 4 day event, Dec. 1st - Dec. 4th. Lead sponsors are the Coastal Discovery Museum and the Lowcountry Civil War Roundtable.

Nationally recognized experts in the history of the Civil War will be lecturing. (We're talking William C. Davis, Dr. James Robertson, Jr.and Col. Kevin Weddle, Ph.D.; Beaufort's own Dr. Larry Rowland and Dr. Stephen Wise; and Mike Coker, author of The Battle of Port Royal). Re-enactors will be on site doing their Civil War campsite activities. Watch performances by Clarence Felder and Chris Weatherhead using diaries, letters, and music from the era. Participate in the opening reception of a temporary museum exhibit on how the local area experienced the maelstrom. Find details at http://www.coastaldiscovery.org/civilwar.html. Fee.

Other historical organizations are involved as well with separately ticketed or free events. Be sure to read down the entire webpage for a vast array of Civil War related activities and events going on that weekend.

And, of course, in case you're of a mind to do some research on the Civil War, check out these lists of online resources, materials available through the Library system, or in the BDC Research Room:

Battle of Port Royal, 1861
Mitchelville
Life and Legacy of Robert Smalls
Missionary Teachers to the Freedmen
Selective Materials on the United States Colored Troops

Penn Center, a sister cultural heritage agency, has posted a short pdf on a sesquicentennial themed tour of their facilities and holdings online.

Grace's Bottom Line: There are plenty of opportunities - at all price points -- for you and yours to learn how the Civil War and Reconstruction history of this place and its people is different than the Civil War and Reconstruction history of any other place in this country. Embrace the uniqueness!

"The Planter" topic at HBF Dinner & a Lecture

2011-11-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

An illustrated history of the CSS Planter from its life as a packet boat operated with an enslaved crew to its place in history as the US Planter, a political and naval icon, will be presented as part of Historic Beaufort Foundation’s “Dinner & a Lecture” series Monday, November 28, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., at the Verdier House, 801 Bay Street.

“The History of the CSS Planter,” will be presented by Robert Smalls’ scholar, lecturer and model maker Dennis Cannady. He will trace the ship from its construction order by Scottish Capt. John Ferguson in late 1859, its trial runs in Shem’s Creek in late 1860, its wartime use and its postwar history when Ferguson repurchased it for use as a commercial steamer. Cannady will also detail its demise.

In addition to lecturing on Smalls and the crafting of ship models for Osher Life Long Learning, Cannady, a retired mechanical engineer, is a lecturer for the nationally touring exhibition, The Life & Times of Congressman Robert Smalls, now on exhibit at the Verdier House, 801 Bay Street, until December 20.

Fee. Seating is limited; call 379-3331 to make reservations. Contact Maxine Lutz, mlutz@historicbeaufort.org for details.

Blackbeard the Pirate

2011-11-22T15:40:00.002-05:00

A decade or so ago (yes, I've been here that long), a Beaufort District Collection Room customer got very annoyed with me upon learning that the wreck of the Queen Anne's Revenge was in that other Beaufort (the one pronounced Bo fert) in North Carolina. He was most definitely in the wrong state. Although Blackbeard plied these waters, he was captured and killed off Beaufort, NC 293 years ago today.

Read more about his final days in a History Channel online magazine article.

Maritime archaeology activities have been on-going since the ship was discovered in 1996. See artifacts and video of the recovery efforts in Beaufort, NC here.

For library owned materials about pirates, read the list on Pirates under the "Local History Treasures brought to you by the Beaufort District Collection" on the Library system's "Recommended Reading" page.

For just plain fun -- (it is the start of the holiday season after all) for a limited time only -- learn how to speak Pirate from the folks at Mango!

Free Civil War and Reconstruction Opportunities for Learning

2011-11-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

The topic of the Civil War has been all around us since April. Recently there has been a bevy of programs, symposiums, exhibits, etc. all relating to some aspect of the Civil War in this blog. Why? Because even though the Civil War officially ended 146 years ago, it is ever present in the minds of many Americans. Let's suppose, though, that you are of a more academic bent and want to delve deeper than a short lecture, or a quick run-through of an exhibit or display can provide:

Longtime readers know that I often draw from the History Channel Club e-newsletter. Here's an opportunity to audit an Ivy League college course, on the Civil War and Reconstruction era, for free - without having to dress for class:

Didn't make the cut to major in U.S. history at Yale? Not to worry. Now you can attend virtually — without student loans — to achieve more than a passing knowledge of the Civil War and its times. Recorded in 2008 for the school's Yale Open Courses, history professor David Blight—director of Yale's Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition, and the author of numerous books on the Civil War and its aftermath (his final presentations on Reconstruction are particularly involving)—offers 27 hour-long lectures in a course titled "The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-1877."

The online classroom features transcripts of all 27 lectures, the course outline, and a syllabus of recommended readings.

You have several options for downloading the classroom sessions: iTunes, as mp3 files, or as video files for your computer (high or medium bandwidth). You can even "test" yourself by answering the Final Exam questions.

Heads up: The Beaufort County Library will be closed this Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holidays. We'll look forward to seeing you during our regular hours on Monday.

Links to Digital Collections You May Wish to View

2011-11-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

From Serving South Carolina with MORE (South Carolina State Library’s newsletter), Winter 2011 issue, p. 7:

Public libraries, universities, historical organizations, and museums from around South Carolina have made available many unique historical collections for the public to view. And the Beaufort County Library is among that number!

Opening History: U.S. History Resources from Libraries, Museums, and Archives website maintains a list of digital collections in South Carolina by organization. Opening History is a project of the IMLS Digital Collections and Content (DCC) registry. Sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the DCC’s purpose is to bring together digital collections funded by IMLS National Library grants.

The State Library also maintains a list of digital collections in South Carolina at our South Carolina Library Network wiki.

Heads up: We’ll be adding another digital collection real soon….

Don't forget: The Beaufort District Collection Research Room will be closed Thurs., Nov. 24th and Fri., Nov. 25th for the Thanksgiving holidays. You can visit us on the web through our "Virtual BDC" offerings accessible through the Library's homepage at http:www.beaufortcountylibrary.org. Choose the "Local History" tab to gain access.

Online Training for ALE

2011-11-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

Although one has to always remember “There is no ultimate database that has every record ever,” there are some fine genealogical databases available in cyberspace. Numbering among those fine resources is Ancestry Library Edition, which just so happens to be the most used database that the BCL provides to its customers (which, incidentally, the BDC funds through its collection development monies).

There are two opportunities for you to register directly with ProQuest, our vendor for ALE, for a free ALE webinar at your home or office:

Wed., Nov. 23, 2011 3:00 pm Ancestry Library Edition (ALE) - US Focus

Mon., Dec. 12, 2011 2:00 pm Ancestry Library Edition (ALE) - US Focus

Go to http://proquest.com/en-US/support/training/webinars.shtml and click on “Genealogy” for the webinar list and to register for a session.

Please note: Use of the library's public access computers may include fees for some Library customers.

Lunch & Listen to Dempsey play the Blues

2011-11-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

Beaufort Branch Library's Lunch & Listen music series continues Mon., Nov. 14th with Chris Jones, guitar maestro, tracing the history of Blues guitar from the mid-1930s until today.

Bring your own lunch (or buy one at the Outtakes Cafe) to the USCB Performing Arts Center from Noon to 1 pm and enjoy this free concert. Everyone is welcomed.

This fall's Lunch & Listen series is brought to you by Beaufort Branch Library and the USCB Performing Arts Center.

In Commemoration: "The War to End All Wars"

2011-11-11T11:01:00.006-05:00

Today is Armistice Day, AKA Veterans Day. On the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:00 am in 1918, by agreement, the guns of the nations at war since 1914 fell silent. At its conclusion, the total military dead was 8.5 million. Estimates of civilian casualties range from 6 to 13 million.

Under any reckoning, World War I, "The War to End All Wars," (AKA "The Great War") was a catacylism of destruction and slaughter.

An unemployed but already published poet, Isaac Rosenberg became a reluctant soldier. When he enlisted in 1915, his first assignment was the 12th Suffolk Regiment which only took men no taller than 5' 3" . He was sent to fight in France in June 1916. His trench poems (of which the extract from Dead Man's Dump is below) were written on whatever scraps of paper he could find and forwarded to his sister. He died during the German Spring Offensive in April 1918. His trench poems were published posthumously in 1922.

The air is loud with death,
The dark air spurts with fire,
The explosions ceaseless are.

His work, and the work of other poets, are highlighted in the First World War Poetry Digital Archive is an online repository of over 7000 items of text, images, audio, and video for teaching, learning, and research. The heart of the archive consists of collections of highly valued primary material from major poets of the period, including Wilfred Owen, Isaac Rosenberg, Robert Graves, Vera Britain, and Edward Thomas. This is supplemented by a comprehensive range of multimedia artifacts from the Imperial War Museum, a separate archive of over 6,500 items contributed by the general public, and a set of specially developed educational resources. These educational resources include an exciting new exhibition in the three-dimensional virtual world Second Life.

The First World War Poetry Digital Archive is a significant resource for studying the First World War and the literature it inspired.

A companion website is the Great War Archive. The Great War Archive contains over 6,500 items contributed by the general public in the United Kingdom between March and June 2008. Every item originates from, or relates to, someone's experience of the First World War, either abroad or at home. Contributions were received via a special website and also through a series of open days at libraries and museums throughout the country.

A supplemental FLICKR site contains images uploaded by individuals from their personal collections after the deadline for submission to the Great War Archive.

These digital contributions from the United Kingdom documenting the World War I experience are quite sobering. Work is underway to include the German perspective as well.

For a closer-to-home view, we have The official roster of South Carolina soldiers, sailors and marines in the World War, 1917-1918 for family historians to find a synopsis of an ancestor's service record. We also maintain an obituary file which includes notices of local men killed during the War and a vertical file headed History--World War, 1914-1918. Our postcard collection contains a number of contemporary postcards about the training of Marines on Parris Island during the period.

Come visit us. We are usually open Mondays through Fridays, 10 am - 5 pm, except when we aren't - as in today. Today we are closed to observe Veterans Day. We resume regular hours on Monday.

For the official record of a U.S. military person serving during the Great War, one should contact the National Archives.

Civil War Symposium

2011-11-10T00:01:00.003-05:00

Penn Center, the University of South Carolina/Beaufort and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of Beaufort are hosting a Civil War Symposium on Fri., Nov. 11th from 9 am until Noon in the USC Performing Arts Center.

Civil War photography expert, Bob Zeller, will present Lincoln in 3D, a complete stereoscopic slide show on the history of the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and the battlefield photography of America’s epic Civil War.
The panel presentation will also include Dr. Stephen Wise, historian and Director of the Parris Island Museum, who will present on “The Battle of Port Royal” and Dr. Larry Rowland, distinguished professor at the University of SC-Beaufort, who will speak about his new book, The Civil War in South Carolina.
Re-enactor Donald Sweeper will begin with an opening monologue on Robert Smalls, Civil War hero and statesman. A book signing will be held after the panel presentation.

The Penn Center will also present a living history program by the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment Re-enactors on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at the Heritage Days Celebration, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Fee. For reservations or tickets, please call the Penn Center at (843) 838-2432 or visit their website at www.penncenter.com.

Don't forget: The Beaufort County Library is closed tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 11th to observe Veterans Day.

Catalog Update

2011-11-09T10:27:00.001-05:00

No Catalog Access on November 8th & 9th - UPDATE

**UPDATE 8:50 AM 11/9/11 - THE SYSTEM UPGRADE IS TAKING LONGER THAN EXPECTED. THERE WILL BE NO ACCESS TO THE ONLINE CATALOG TODAY (11/9/11). ACCESS SHOULD BE RESTORED ON THURSDAY 11/10/11 BY 8:00AM**

Johnson about the National Cemetery - BCHS

2011-11-09T00:01:00.002-05:00

Beaufort County Historical Society, the oldest history related organization in Beaufort County, hosts Kristine Dunn Johnson, author of No Holier Spot of Ground: Confederate Monuments and Cemeteries of South Carolina on Thurs., Nov. 10th. She will also share some of the history of the Beaufort US National Cemetery.

The meeting is at Noon in the Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club on Meridian Road. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend at no charge. For further information about the BCHS, contact: Pamela Ovens-President sail@singlestar.us or call 843-785-2767 or visit their website, http://www.beaufortcountyhistoricalsociety.org.

If you prefer to munch and learn, contact Nancy Gilley at 843-524-7969 for an optional light lunch catered by Debbi Covington will be served at 11:30 for $10.

Reminder: All units of the Beaufort County Library will be closed Fri., Nov. 11th for Veterans Day.

Reminder: Catalog is Being Upgraded Today

2011-11-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

The life of a librarian (and that of a library lover) is constantly in flux due to technology. Keep your fingers crossed that all the technology upgrades go as planned and the result is a better customer and (worker) experience for each of us.

All the libraries will be open their regular hours during the upgrade period. We'll just be doing things the old-fashioned way = pencils and paper!

Also, on Friday, Nov. 11th all branches of the Beaufort County Library, including the Beaufort District Collection, will be closed to observe Veteran's Day. Regular hours resume Nov. 12th.

Coker on Monday

2011-11-03T00:01:00.003-04:00

Sea Island Hurricane of 1893: A Guide to Resources

2011-11-02T11:36:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, 35 people attended our BDC@ The Branches program for the Bluffton Branch History Book Club session on The Great Sea Island Storm by Bill and Fran Marscher. We even had some folks sitting in the hall. Bratton DeLoach and I were delighted to have such a crowd! I showed images of some of our BDC holdings relating to the Hurricane of 1893 that devastated this area - and now everyone who came knows that I don't think much of our former governor, Benjamin Tillman. (What a mean and hateful man he was. And, yes, that is a moral judgment - which I will stand by!)

I've compiled a guide to resources about the storm that I used to prepare the review and program. Halle Eisenman, who's still doing double-duty as Reference Manager at Hilton Head Branch and webmistress, posted the guide post haste in one component of the "Virtual BDC," viz., "Local History Treasures Brought to You by the Beaufort District Collection" within the librarian-chosen "Recommended Reading" page. (There are 6 components of the "Virtual BDC" in all).

Q: How do you find the "Virtual BDC?"
A: Start at our Library's homepage, that is, at www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.

Option 1: Choose the "Local History" tab. It's the third one in the blue row of column headings.

5 of the 6 components of the Virtual BDC are accessible through the "Local History" tab. Here you'll find direct links to the BDC homepage, Local Obituary Index, Connections, the Donner Digital Collection of phosphate industry and early 20th century farming, and the index to the 50+ Local History & Nature pages. But there's more...

Option 2: See the "Quick Links" section in the left column under the tan Library Catalog box? Recommended Reading is among the choices. Click Recommended Reading.

About 1/2 way down, you'll see a section labeled: "Local History Treasures Brought to You by the Beaufort District Collection." There are 35 (as of today) lists of materials about people, places, and topics important to Beaufort District's history within these guides. The one on the "Sea Island Hurricane of 1893" posted just this morning has a red "New!" beside it.

Taken together, the "Virtual BDC" got approximately 50,000 hits last FY year. Please help me make that 60,000 for this FY by taking a few minutes to explore the offerings.

Given that there is a big push for "Participatory Librarianship" these days, I'd love to get your comments on how to improve and enhance our current offerings within the "Virtual BDC." Contact me at gracec@bcgov.net or make a comment to this post.

Civil War Related Events

2011-10-28T00:00:00.001-04:00

Civil War history fans have a broad variety of options over the next 2 weeks to satisfy their cravings to learn more about this pivotal event in United States history. Some opportunities are free. Some opportunities require tickets. Some opportunities require the payment of fees.

Port Royal Plantation is hosting an re-enactment event and lectures on Sat., Nov. 5th.

On the true anniversary of the Battle of Port Royal, Mon., Nov. 7th, we are hosting Mike Coker, author of the Battle of Port Royal in Bluffton Branch at 2 pm and again at 6:30pm in Frissell Hall, Penn Center. During the evening author book/talk, sale and signing session at Penn Center, Coker will be joined by Dr. Larry Rowland and Stephen Hoffius, editors of the Civil War in South Carolina, and Neil Baxley, author of No Prouder Fate. Penn Center is co-sponsor of the evening session.

On Thurs., Nov. 10th Kristine Dunn Johnson, author of No Holier Spot of Ground: Confederate Monuments and Cemeteries of South Carolina will share some of the history of the Beaufort US National Cemetery at the Beaufort County Historical Society meeting held in the Yacht Club on Lady's Island beginning at Noon.

Fri., Nov. 11th USC-B, Penn Center, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute are co-sponsoring a Civil War symposium at the USC Performing Arts Center, 9 am - Noon.

Civil War photography expert, Bob Zeller, will present rare 3D digitized stereographs of President Abraham Lincoln, his inauguration, the White House, the hanging of the assassination conspirators, and many of the most famous Civil War battlefields, like Antietam and Gettysburg, taken by famous Civil War photographers. The audience gets to wear 3D glasses. The show also includes three of the earliest photographs of St. Helena Island. Zeller will autograph his new book, Lincoln in 3D.

The Battle of Port Royal—“The Day of Big Gun Shoot” Presenter: Dr. Stephen Wise, Dir. of Parris Island Museum. November 7, 1861 heralded one of the earliest amphibious operations of the Civil War in the South. Dr. Wise expertly narrates the course of the military strategies implemented by the Union forces and the Confederacy and the unfolding of war in Beaufort, South Carolina and surrounding Sea Islands.

Dr. Lawrence Rowland, co-editor of “The Civil War in SC” will discuss and sign his latest book.

The Civil War Symposium is a component of Penn Center's Annual Heritage Days celebration.

Reminder: Judge on Archaeology on Thursday

2011-10-24T00:01:00.002-04:00

Chris Judge will lecture on "Making Artifacts Talk: Fifteen Years at the Johannes Kolb Site––Archaeology and Education" at the Beaufort Branch Library on this Thursday, Oct. 27th beginning at 5:30 pm.

This lecture is brought to you by the BDC@The Branches local history series and the Beaufort County Planning Department. The lecture will occur in the old SC Room on the first floor of the Beaufort Branch, 311 Scott Street. It is free and open to anyone over age 12 interested in learning more about archaeology in South Carolina.

Sesquicentennial Events Coming Up

2011-10-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Port Royal is almost upon us.

On Monday, Nov. 7th, the true anniversary, Michael D. Coker, author of The Battle of Port Royal, will talk about his research into the “pivotal turning point” of the Civil War that occurred in our area. The naval engagement involved two forts in Beaufort District (Fort Beauregard on Bay Point and Fort Walker on Hilton Head) and the “largest fleet ever assembled by the United States” up to 1861.

To accommodate our customers, we are holding two sessions, one South of the Broad River and another North of the Broad River on Mon., Nov. 7th. Both of these BDC@ The Branches programs are free and open to the public. Anyone over age 12 with an interest in Civil War and local history is welcomed to attend.

In the afternoon beginning at 2:00 pm, the BDC is sponsoring a book talk and signing at our Bluffton Branch Library. Coker will be available to autograph and sell copies of his book and to answer questions at the conclusion of his presentation.

The Battle of Port Royal with Mike Coker

Bluffton Branch Library

120 Palmetto Way

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

That evening the BDC@ The Branches local history series travels to Frissell Community House on the historic Penn School campus for session 2. Dr. Larry Rowland will set the scene by providing an overview of his The Civil War in South Carolina, co-edited with Stephen Hoffius. Coker will discuss The Battle of Port Royal. The program begins at 6:30pm. At the conclusion of the program, Coker, Dr. Rowland and Hoffius, and Neil Baxley, author of No Prouder Fate, will be on hand to sell and sign their books. Penn Center is co-sponsoring the evening program.

The Battle of Port Royal with Mike Coker

Frissell Hall, Penn Center Campus, St. Helena Island

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Special Guests: Dr. Larry Rowland, Stephen Hoffius and Neil Baxley

The BDC will display materials about the battles of Port Royal, Port Royal Ferry, Pocotaligo, and Honey Hill during November and December. Visit our Beaufort Branch, Hilton Head Branch, and/or St. Helena Branch libraries for a traveling display of surrogate materials [for preservation purposes] during November. [The real deals will be on display only in the BDC Research Room exhibit case!] In December, a similar display travels to Lobeco Branch and Bluffton Branch.

We also have a "Recommended Reading" guide about the Battle of Port Royal. Perhaps you'll want to learn more.

Although the BDC is not involved with the Battle of Port Royal 150th Commemoration at historic Fort Walker on Port Royal Plantation, Hilton Head Island being held on Sat., Nov. 5th, we would be remiss if we did not draw your attention to event. According to the tentative schedule Living history and Static Displays are open 10 am - 3 pm; with the official program beginning at Noon. Read more about that event and planned activities here.

Reminder: Register Today for ALE webinar at STH

2011-10-20T00:01:00.000-04:00

October is designated as "Family History Month.” Are you interested in researching your ancestors? Looking for the family’s black sheep? Don’t know how or where to get started?
Perhaps the BCL can help.

St. Helena Branch Library will project the online Ancestry Library Edition webinar about US records posted in that database on Wed., Oct. 26th at 4:00 pm. The webinar is free. Registration is limited to 12 persons. Registration is required. Contact Branch Manager Maria Benac at 255-6486 or mbenac@bcgov.net by Sat., Oct. 22nd to attend.

On the Road Again ... to Bluffton Branch

2011-10-18T00:01:00.006-04:00

The BDC heads south of the Broad on October 29th, November 1st and November 7th.

I'll be the third lecturer in the 2011 Thomas Heyward series sponsored by the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society on Sat., Oct. 29th at 11 am. The series is held in the Community Room at the Bluffton Branch Library. My topic is “Wonders in the Beaufort District Collection.” The presentation provides an overview of BDC services for all people and parts of Beaufort County, highlighting materials about the Bluffton and Hilton Head Island areas. (There are more than you might think!)

Tues., Nov. 1st - BDC@ Bluffton Branch, 2:00 pm
Review of the book and documents from the BDC re: Great Sea Island Storm of 1893.

We'll be showing some of the special collection materials we house about the 1893 Hurricane to the Bluffton Branch's History Book Club meeting. There is no need to register. Everyone is welcome! (If you would like more information about the Bluffton Branch History Book Club, please contact Bratton at (843) 255-6503.)

We kick off our local commemoration of the Civil War as it happened here in the old Beaufort District on:

Mon., Nov. 7th - BDC@ Bluffton Branch 2:00 pm
"Battle of Port Royal" with author/archivist Mike Coker.

Robert Smalls Exhibit and Descendants at HBF

2011-10-15T00:01:00.000-04:00

Descendants Helen Boulware Moore and Michael Boulware Moore will share Robert Smalls’ impact on their lives during Historic Beaufort Foundation's next “Dinner & A Lecture” on Monday, Oct. 24th, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., at the Verdier House, 801 Bay Street.

Their talk will enhance the arrival of “The Life & Times of Congressman Robert Smalls” traveling exhibit. Under the auspices of the South Carolina State Museum, the exhibit will be at the Verdier House until December 20.

Fee. Seating is limited. Call 379-3331 to make reservations.

To get an idea of the vast variety of materials that the Beaufort County Library has on this very significant native son, take a look at these lists of resources and links:

“Life and Legacy of Robert Smalls, 1839 – 1915”

Short biography

Longer biography

NPS: Diverse Cultures Itineraries

2011-10-14T00:01:00.000-04:00

People from all over the world came together to create the United States, and people continue to arrive here from many corners of the earth. It is the responsibility of the National Park Service to preserve the historic places and stories of America’s diverse cultural heritage. In keeping with its mission to document and share the history of the American people through interpretation and preservation of historic places, the National Parks Service has recently launched 150 new itineraries to historic sites and stories more representative of this nation's diverse cultural heritage.

Among the new itineraries is one for our own Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Important sites in the history of the Gullah people are mentioned from North Carolina to Florida, including Beaufort County's Penn Center on St. Helena Island.

For additional information, visit the National Park Service Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor website or call 843-881-5516.

Click here for the National Historic Landmark registration file for the Penn School Historic District: text and photos. Reservations for tours of the island can be made by calling 843-838-2432.

Rice plantation farming and slavery in Lowland South Carolina are the subjects of an online lesson plan, When Rice Was King. The lesson plan has been produced by the National Park Service’s Teaching with Historic Places program, which offers a series of online classroom-ready lesson plans on registered historic places. To learn more, visit the Teaching with Historic Places homepage.

To read a short essay on "Rice: A South Carolina Tradition" by Amber Shorthouse, click here.

William Henry Brisbane, Oct. 12, 1803 - April 5, 1878

2011-10-12T00:01:00.007-04:00

The man described by Dr. Rowland as "the most hated man in the Beaufort District" (History of Beaufort County, South Carolina, vol. 1, p. 417) is the subject of an article in the South Carolina Historical Magazine. (SCHM is running about a year behind the publication date on the cover.)

William Henry Brisbane was born in Upper St. Peter's Parish into a slaveholding family; trained as a minister and a physician; became a slaveholder himself; published an apologist newspaper; and struggled with his conscience from 1833 until 1840 when he became an abolitionist. During the Civil War, he was appointed a Direct Tax Commissioner by his friend Salmon P. Chase. It was Brisbane's responsibility to assess parcels of land for payment of taxes. Should the taxes go unpaid by the absent landowners, the properties would be placed for public auction at which anyone present could bid. A vast amount of property was confiscated and sold for back taxes. Not exactly an activity that would endear one to one's former neighbors, relatives and childhood associates.

Drop by the BDC Research Room to read "'We are verily guilty concerning Our Brother': The Abolitionist Transformation of Planter William Henry Brisbane," by J. Brent Morris, South Carolina Historical Magazine, July-October 2010, pp. 118-150.

We also have a Beaufort County Historical Society Paper on him. It is BCHS Paper #62: “William Henry Brisbane: South Carolina Slaveholder and Abolitionist,” by Blake McNulty. (This document is available only inside the BDC.)

Our customary hours of operation are Mondays through Fridays, 10 am - 5 pm, but we're closed today for BCL's semi-annual Staff Development Day.

The image was copied from Wallace Alcorn's website on the William Henry Brisbane Project.

Last Chance to Register

2011-10-10T00:01:00.003-04:00

We're holding our final "Behind-the-Scenes Tour" of the BDC on Thursday evening, Oct. 13th at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm.

We're highlighting materials from our holdings about transportation in keeping with this year's SC Archives Month theme: "South Carolina On the Move."

Anyone over age 12 interested in learning more about the operations and preservation activities of the Beaufort District Collection is welcomed to attend. This special "Archives Month" program is free but registration is limited to 10 people per session. Pre-registration is required.

Call Charmaine at 843-255-6468 or e-mail her at cseabrook@bcgov.net to register.

Please note: The City of Beaufort parking kiosk doesn't have to be fed after 6:00 in the evening.

Reminder: All departments of the Beaufort County Library is closed Wed., Oct. 12th for staff development day.

Brooker on Tabby at HHI Archaeology Society

2011-10-09T00:01:00.004-04:00

The Archaeological Society of South Carolina, Hilton Head Chapter celebrates Archaeology Month with a lecture by
Colin Brooker on Tuesday, October 18th at 1 pm at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn. Brooker is an expert on "Worldwide Tabby Architecture," and supervised the stabilization of the ruins on Dataw Island.

The lecture and meeting are free and open to the public. For further information, please contact George Stubbs- 843-363-5058 www.assc.net.

In case you'd like to see some of the materials the Library has on the topic of tabby, visit our Tabby: Cement of the Lowcountry webpage.

Washington performs at Lunch & Listen

2011-10-07T00:01:00.001-04:00

Beaufort Branch Library's Lunch & Listen music series continues Mon., Oct. 10th with native son, Craig Washington, playing Jazz favorites on his electric guitar.

Bring your own lunch (or buy one at the Outtakes Cafe) to the USCB Performing Arts Center from Noon to 1 pm and enjoy this free concert. Everyone is welcomed.

This fall's Lunch & Listen series is brought to you by Beaufort Branch Library and the USCB Performing Arts Center.

Celebrate Archaeology Month with BC Planning and Library!

2011-10-05T00:01:00.009-04:00

October is a busy month for the BDC. In addition to it being "Archives Month," it's also "Family History Month," as well as "SC Archaeology Month."

Beaufort County has numerous recognized digs within its boundaries. In concert with the goals of South Carolina Archaeology Month, the Beaufort County Planning Department and the Beaufort County Library have teamed together to stimulate public pride in our state’s long archaeological heritage, increase public understanding of why archaeological research is important, educate the public about how to protect, preserve and study archaeological resources, and encourage legitimate archaeological activities. For the past 7 years, Ian Hill, the County's Historic Preservationist and I have brought programs on the topic of Archaeology to you during the month of October. This year is no exception.

We are very pleased to host USC-Lancaster Professor and archaeologist, Chris Judge here on Thurs., Oct. 27th at 5:30 pm. His lecture "Making Artifacts Talk: Fifteen Years at the Johannes Kolb Site––Archaeology and Education" is part of the BDC@ The Branches local history series. The lecture will be held in the old SC Room on the first floor of the Beaufort Branch library building at 311 Scott Street in downtown Beaufort.

Learn more about the Kolb Site at http://38da75.com/.

On your way to Judge’s presentation, linger a few minutes at the archaeology related materials and artifacts on display in the Beaufort Branch Library. Or check out some of the many archaeology-related books, videos, and database resources the Beaufort County Library provides.

Come to the lecture and pick up your own "Making Artifacts Talk" poster with loads of information about the Kolb site on the reverse! Free, while supplies last.

Tour the BDC in honor of SC Archives Month

2011-09-30T00:01:00.006-04:00

Sign up to get a "Behind-the-Scenes Tour" of the Beaufort District Collection during October to celebrate SC Archives Month.

Even if you came last year, this year the highlight is on transportation related materials, maps, postcards and other images in our holdings, so you're bound to see something new!

Anyone over age 12 interested in learning more about the transportation holdings, operations, and preservation activities of the Beaufort District Collection is welcomed to attend. The program is free. Registration is limited to 10 people per session. Pre-registration is required.

We have two sessions planned:

Tuesday evening, Oct. 4th at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Thursday evening, Oct. 13th at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm.

Register today by calling 843-255-6468 or by e-mailing Charmaine Seabrook Concepcion at cseabrook@bcgov.net.

Please note: We do not give these tours for individual members of the public at any other time of the year - and that the City of Beaufort Parking kiosk doesn't have to be fed after 6 pm.

To find out more about SC Archives Month 2011 “On the Move” special events, tours, and exhibits, please visit http://scarhivesmonth.palmettohistory.org.

Support for Archives Month 2011 is provided to South Carolina institutions and organizations by the South Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board (SC SHRAB) through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Library Website is Sort of Up

2011-09-29T11:18:00.006-04:00

The Library website is up - but the BDC webpages are old, old, old.

The BDC web pages: Beaufort District Collection homepage and the BDC Services page are currently showing as if it were April 13, 2010.

The BDC web pages are updated at least every other week, sometimes on a weekly basis if there is no information to share.

IT is aware of the problem. We hope to have this fixed soon.

Library Website is currently down

2011-09-27T13:26:00.004-04:00

Our Systems person says that unfortunately the hardware for our Library website has failed. Actions are being taken to mitigate the situation as quickly as possible. We will restore the library website as soon as we can.

Free Your Mind: Read a Banned Book!

2011-09-23T00:01:00.004-04:00

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States. BBW 2011 runs from September 24th through October 1st.

Intellectual freedom — the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular — provides the foundation for BBW. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

The books featured during BBW have been targets of attempted bannings. Some of the classic works of literature on the challenged list may surprise you.

For titles challenged in 2009-2010, click here.

In a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. However, sometimes the bans stand.

Imagine how many more books might be challenged — and possibly banned or restricted — if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use BBW each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; and the National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. In 2011, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, National Coalition Against Censorship, National Council of Teachers of English, and PEN American Center also signed on as sponsors.

Q: What can you do to show your support for intellectual freedom?

Here are a few suggestions:
1) Check out and read a title that has been banned or challenged from our holdings in the SC LENDS catalog.
2) Visit and "Like" the Banned Books Week Facebook page.
3) Contribute your own 2 minute video reading from your favorite challenged book to YouTube.

This entry was informed by the ALA webpage found at http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm and links therefrom.

Free Genealogical Webinars - Act Fast!

2011-09-21T00:01:00.002-04:00

October is designated as "Family History Month.” Are you interested in researching your ancestors? Looking for the family’s black sheep? Don’t know how or where to get started? Perhaps we can help.

Genealogical research is very personal and context is key to a successful result. Each researcher has to deal with a unique set of circumstances, personalities, and potential sources of information for each and every person on their family tree. A basic understanding of the history of the places, times, and, surviving records relating thereto is crucial to the research process. As Anonymous once said:

Genealogy begins as an interest,
Becomes a hobby;
Continues as an avocation,
Takes over as an obsession,
And in its last stages,
Is an incurable disease.

Although one has to always remember “There is no ultimate database that has every record ever,” there are some fine genealogical databases available. Numbering among those fine resources is Ancestry Library Edition (abbreviated as ALE).

It’s best to think of ALE as a conglomeration of other databases. It is a massive resource, containing over 7,000 record collections directly relevant to family history research. And, it's not cheap. With the County mandated budget cuts for FY 12, providing this resource to our customers costs almost 30% of the BDC budget for materials (includes books, magazines, DVDs, CD-ROMs, and archival ephemera). Because ALE is a key resource for anyone doing family history research, the BDC provides it to all the branch libraries as well as in the BDC Research Room.

You have to sign up to use our public computers (which is available free to valid BCL card-holders) to access the full ALE database.

We are committed to doing one ALE workshop per calendar year (and did so in 2011, at the Hilton Head Branch, in February). Announcements for BDC sponsored genealogy related workshops appear in here in Connections no less than one month before presentation. But “once is not enough,” and we know it.

Q: So what are some other ways can we help you learn the features of ALE?

A: We can tell you about free ALE training webinars through ProQuest, our vendor for ALE!

There are four upcoming opportunities for you to sign up for the free ProQuest training webinars:

Thurs., Sept. 29, 2011 1:00 pm Overview of ALE
Tues., Oct. 4, 2011 1:00 pm ALE - US Focus
Tues., Oct. 11, 2011 9:00 am ALE - UK & Ireland Focus
Wed., Oct. 26, 2011 4:00 pm ALE - US Focus

The most daunting aspect of the registration process is the URL, choosing the Genealogy section, and then selecting the session(s) you'd like to attend online! You don't have to limit yourself to just one session either.

According to Linda Cubias, MLIS, Supervisor, Customer Education & Training, Eastern U.S., for ProQuest,

• Anyone can attend with an internet connection (including WiFi) from any computer.
• Here are the technical requirements for the computer (included here by operating system).
• For any users that have difficulties joining a webinar, there are recordings available later.

Registrants have two audio options for the ProQuest ALE webinars: An audio broadcast through your computer headset/speakers; or, call in using the toll-free phone number that is included in your email invitation to join the meeting (sent to you after you register directly with ProQuest. We won't have this information to give to you!).

If you have any trouble with home or office access to the training sessions for ALE, contact Linda Cubias, MLIS, Supervisor, Customer Education & Training office +1 704 947 8170 mobile +1 240 672 5695 or linda.cubias@proquest.com.

Please note: Beaufort County Library staff are not able troubleshoot your technical difficulties with personal computing equipment.

To show the difference a little professional reference librarian intermediation can make -

• Hilton Head Branch will set up its computer lab to receive the online webinar on Tues., Oct. 4th at 1:00 pm. Space is limited. Registration is required. Call the Hilton Head Branch Reference Desk 255-6525 no later than Mon., Oct. 3rd at 1 :00 pm to register.

• BYOL (as in “Bring your own laptop” – with sufficient battery power to last 2 hours) to the BDC Research Room on Thurs., Sept. 29, 2011 1:00 pm for access to the online ALE webinar. Space is limited to 2 registrants. Be sure to allot enough time to set up WiFi access before the webinar training. We will be available to answer questions about ALE for an hour after the webinar session. Pre-registration is required. Call the BDC Research Room Reference Desk at 255-6468 to register. Deadline to attend the BDC Research Room session is Wed., Sept. 28th at 1:00 pm.

• St. Helena Branch will project the online webinar on Wed., Oct. 26th at 4:00 pm. Registration is limited to 12 persons. Registration is required. Contact Branch Manager Maria Benac at 255-6486 or mbenac@bcgov.net by Sat., Oct. 22nd to attend.

Why not get a no cost basic orientation to the ALE database through one of these webinars offered by ProQuest as part of your observance of “Family History Month”?

A final way that the BDC helps genealogical researchers is to offer research consultation appointments during our regular working hours. We do our best to guide family historians to possible records with the answers to your questions. Our specialty, not surprisingly, is the old Beaufort District (Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton Counties), South Carolina state records, and Federal records relating to the southeastern US. Call me at 255-6446 to arrange a professional reference librarian consultation session. Advance notice is much appreciated - and be sure to bring along what you already have on the family members in which you are most interested!

The Beaufort District Collection Research Room is customarily open Mondays through Fridays, 10 am until 5 pm.

A Multitude of Programs on History and Archaeology

2011-09-20T00:01:00.007-04:00

If you are a history, archaeology, genealogy or music buff, you have plenty of options to exercise your interest over the next 10 days:

Tues., Sept. 20th - Nena Powell Rice (SCIAA) is the speaker at the Hilton Head Chapter of the Archaeology Society of South Carolina at 1 pm in the Coastal Discovery Museum. Free. For more information, contact George Stubbs 843-363-5058 www.assc.net.

Thurs., Sept. 22nd - Beaufort County Historical Society is hosting re-enactor Joseph McGill, who will discuss the actions and people of the 54th Massachusetts. The BCHS meeting begins at Noon and is open to the public. Free. The meeting will be held the Yacht Club on Lady's Island. Contact: Pamela Ovens sail@singlestar.us or call 843-785-2767.

Sun., Sept. 25th - Dwayne Pickett, coauthor of “The European Struggle to Settle North America” will discuss his book and sign copies at a reception in honor of William Hilton Day at the Heritage Library, 852 William Hilton Pkwy on Hilton Head Island. The lecture begins at 1:30pm. Call 686-6560 for reservations. Donation suggested.

Mon., Sept. 26th - Beaufort Branch Library begins to gear up for the New Harmonies: Roots of American Music exhibit with a series of noontime musical performances. First up is Laura Lee Rose and Friends performing a variety of folk songs and Civil War tunes. The session will be held in the USCB Performing Arts Center from Noon until 1:00pm. Bring your own lunch. Free. Lunch & Listen series is co-sponsored by USCB Center for the Arts.

Mon., Sept. 26th - Ron Roth presents a special lecture entitled "Undaunted Valor: Stephen Elliott and the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery." Attendees will get gallery tour of a new permanent exhibit at the Verdier House about the BVA. The event will begin at 5:30 pm, 801 Bay Street. Fee. Sponsored by the Historic Beaufort Foundation.

Tues., Sept. 27th - Bill Altstaetter will present a lecture on “The Pre-Columbia Low Country and the Lost Century,” beginning at 1:30 pm in the Heritage Library, 852 William Hilton Pkwy on Hilton Head Island. Fee. Call 686-6560 for details.

Wed., Sept. 28th - Nancy Burke will lead the first of a two-part program titled “Starting Family Research,” with the second session scheduled for Oct. 5. Classes begins at 1:30 pm in the Heritage Library, 852 William Hilton Pkwy on Hilton Head Island. Fee. Call 686-6560 for details.

Fri., Sept. 30th - The Heritage Library will waive its daily research fee for non-members in honor of William Hilton Day, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Short history talks on selected genealogical and historical subjects will also mark the occasion. Call 686-6560 for details.

Lunch & Listen series lead-in to New Harmonies Exhibit

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Amanda Brewer, Beaufort Branch Library, has put together a musical Lunch & Listen series as a lead-in to the arrival of the Smithsonian's New Harmonies exhibit in December.

She's a guitarist herself and it appears that she just might have called in a few favors from her performer friends to set up the free noontime concerts for the community.

Mon., Sept. 26th - Laura Lee Rose and Friends - Civil War and Folk Tunes

Mon., Oct. 10th - Craig Washington - Jazz on Electric Guitar

Mon., Oct. 24th - Kirk Dempsey - Blues on harmonica and guitar

Mon., Nov. 14th - Chris Jones - History of Blues guitar from the mid 1930s to present day.

Mon., Dec. 12th - Chris Jones - High energy performance showcasing guitar playing styles of iconic guitar players

Bring your lunch to the USC-Beaufort Center for the Arts auditorium on the historic Beaufort campus, 801 Carteret Street, and enjoy the music of Beaufort’s local musicians this fall through Lunch & Listen, a music series brought to you by the Beaufort Branch Library and the University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts.

These one hour lunchtime music performances are free, and open to all who are interested in enjoying music by local performers! The series is free and open to the public with doors opening at 11:30 am. and performances running from Noon to 1 p.m. Bring a lunch or purchase one at Outtakes Cafe next door to the Performing Arts Center.

Heads up: BDC@ The Branches returns in October

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Throughout the year, the Beaufort District Collection brings in authors and speakers on a variety of topics meeting our mission to share information about the history, culture, and environment of our area.

Because staff is working very hard preparing metadata for our "300 for the 300th" project with the Lowcountry Digital Library, we have no scheduled BDC@ The Branches programs during September.

To celebrate "Archives Month" in October, register to get a "Behind-the-Scenes Tour" of the BDC. Anyone over age 12 interested in learning more about the operations and preservation activities of the Beaufort District Collection is welcomed to attend. The program is free but registration is limited to 10 people per session. We have two sessions planned:

Tuesday evening, Oct 4th at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Thursday evening, Oct. 13th at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Contact us at 843-255-6468 to register. Please note: The City of Beaufort parking kiosk doesn't have to be fed after 6:00 in the evening.

October is also "Archaeology Month." Thurs., Oct. 27th - Archaeologist Chris Judge on "Making Artifacts Talk: Fifteen Years at the Johannes Kolb Site––Archaeology and Education." BDC@ Beaufort Branch, 5:30 pm. Co-sponsored by Beaufort County Planning Department.

The BDC is on the move in November. Tues., Nov. 1st - BDC@ Bluffton Branch, 2:00 pm. Review of the book and documents from the BDC re: Great Sea Island Storm, 1893

In November, we kick of our local commemoration of the Civil War as it happened here with ...

Mon., Nov. 7th - "Battle of Port Royal Sound, 1861" with author/archivist Mike Coker (2 sessions). BDC@ Bluffton Branch 2:00 pm and BDC@ Penn Center 6:30 pm. The evening event includes special guests Dr. Larry Rowland, Stephen Hoffius, and Neil Baxley. Co-sponsored by Penn Center.

And in December, don't forget that the Smithsonian's New Harmonies: The Roots of American Music exhibit is coming Dec. 17th. Details divulged later.

September 17th is (US) Constitution Day

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Today we honor the United States Constitution and the vigorous debate about what it says, what the Founders meant, and what it means for Americans 224 years after the document was signed at the Convention in 1787. (The Bill of Rights, ratification, and implementation all came later.)

From the Gilder Lehrman Institute:
In honor of Constitution Day, and with the permission of the author, the Gilder Lehrman Institute is pleased to send you “One Document, Under Siege” by Richard Stengel.

We hope you enjoy this thought-provoking article and share it with teachers, students, and friends.

Richard Stengel is Editor-in-Chief of Time Magazine and former President of the National Constitution Center. He welcomes your comments and questions, which can be sent to him at richard_stengel@time.com.

Read last year's Connections entry about Constitution Day.

Civil War Topics at BCHS Meetings

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The Beaufort County Historical Society has two Civil War related programs on their Fall Speaker Series.

On Sept. 22nd re-enactor Joseph McGill will discuss the actions and people of the 54th Massachusetts, an African-American Union Troop that was stationed here in Beaufort and fought valiantly in the assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston Harbor. This program is funded in part by The Humanities Council SC, a state-based program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Six weeks later on Nov. 10th, Kristine Dunn Johnson will speak on her book No Holier Spot of Ground: Confederate Monuments and Cemeteries of South Carolina and the history of the Beaufort US National Cemetery.

All meetings are held at noon at the Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club, Meridian Rd., Beaufort, SC. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend at no charge. For further information about the series, contact: Pamela Ovens-President sail@singlestar.us or call 843-785-2767.

If you like to lunch and learn, contact Nancy Gilley at 843-524-7969 for an optional light lunch catered by Debbi Covington will be served at 11:30 for $10.

　

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Lunch & Listen series lead-in to New Harmonies Exhibit

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September 17th is (US) Constitution Day

Civil War Topics at BCHS Meetings

No Catalog Access on November 8th & 9th - UPDATE