Cataloged for the Library Section of the Research Room by Sydney
South Carolina's Sacred Spaces: Seventy Churches and Temples that Helped Shape the State's History and Culture by William B. Fitzpatrick (2019). This title contains beautiful photographs of sacred spaces all over South Carolina. From Beaufort District, readers will recognize: First Union African Baptist, Mary Jenkins Praise House, Old Brick Church, St. Helena's Parish Church, St. Helena's Chapel of Ease, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and Sheldon Church. Copies of this title are available for checkout through the SCLENDS.
A Collection of Lowcountry Baskets: A Living Tradition, Gullah Baskets Then and Now by Laura S. Crosby and James M. Bishop (2022). Learn about the important role basketmaking has had throughout Gullah history. This pictorial work contains 298 photographs of sweet grass baskets collected by the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor from 1978 – 1985. Many of the basket makers mentioned have since passed, but their spirits live on through their descendants, who are even mentioned throughout the book. This title is a BDC exclusive. To view, please contact the BDC to schedule an appointment.
Kedzie: Saint Helena Island Slave by Bonnie Stanard (2011). It is rare for the BDC to collect fiction works, but we do house fictional titles written by local authors or ones that take place in Beaufort District. Stanard’s book follows Kedzie, a young, enslaved girl who lives on St. Helena Island. When her life is turned upside down, she is forced to face adversity all on her own. There are some copies that you can borrow from Beaufort or St. Helena Branch libraries.
Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan: Get a Grip on Our Future: Adopted December 15, 1997, from The Beaufort County Government & Land Ethics, INC (1997). This land plan from 1997 was created for Beaufort County, South Carolina in negotiation with the Beaufort County Planning Department. The plan is divided into the following subsections: Historical Perspective; Demographics and Trends; Existing Land Use; The Future Use of the Land Vision; Natural Resources; Cultural Resources; Parks, Recreation, and Open Space; Transportation; Economic Development; Affordable Housing; and Community Facilities. This title is a BDC exclusive. To view, please contact the BDC to schedule an appointment.
Tales of Old Town Bluffton, [v. 1]: The Complete 'Bluffton boy' Stories and Other Writings of Andrew Peoples by John Samuel Graves, III, Andrew Peeples and Mildred Pemberton (2022). Andrew Peeples, a Bluffton native, was the Health Education Director for the South Carolina State Board of Health, but he also dabbled in writing. Looking back on his childhood, he wrote stories about what it was like to grow up in the South Carolina Lowcountry. This particular title contains his “Bluffton Boy” stories also well as other stories and articles written by Peeples that were not included in his Bluffton Boy book. The Bluffton Branch Library has a copy for checkout.
Heritage Education Public programs document packet No. 5 from The South Carolina Department of Archives and History (c.1990). This 1991 revised Document Packet covers the architectural heritage of South Carolina from 1780 to 1941. From colonial times to the Antebellum period, to pre- and post-World War I. Learn more about the structures that defined each period of South Carolinian history. The SCLENDS consortium have additional copies that you may borrow.
The Compass, Vol. VIII; No. XIII: Spring from The University of South Carolina at Beaufort (1968). This is the very first issue of The Compass, University of South Carolina Beaufort’s student written literary magazine. This edition was published in the Spring of 1968 and was dedicated to Mrs. Ann Morse who conducted a writing workshop for students of USCB. Many of the works in this edition of The Compass were created with Mrs. Morse’s guidance and influence. This title is a BDC exclusive. To view, please contact the BDC to schedule an appointment.
Parris Island Coloring Book: Color Your Way to Graduation Day by Vera Basilone (2019). Though not in our typical realm of materials collected, the BDC does house a few coloring books! This specific coloring book contains 31 outlined images of activities on Parris Island, 4 word search puzzles, and a countdown to graduation calendar. Coloring (or any marks or writing of any kind) in our materials is strictly prohibited, but BDC staff members will be more than happy to photocopy pages for interested patrons. This title is a BDC exclusive. To view, please contact the BDC to schedule an appointment.
The Journal of Thomas Abram Huguenin: Last Confederate Commander of Fort Sumter by Thomas Abram Huguenin (2004). In the early 1890’s, Huguenin began writing his autobiography, which he only planned for his own family to see. Now, readers can learn about his time at the South Carolina Military Academy and his involvement in events such as the defense of Charleston Harbor, Morris Island, and Fort Sumter, as well as his retreat to North Carolina and his involvement in the Battles of Averysboro and Bentonville. As you are aware, the BDC's copy has to remain in the BDC but the State Library has two copies of this title with library cardholders within the SCLENDS consortium.
Regulations of the U.S. Naval Station, Port Royal, S.C. by G. W. Sumner (1899). This rare and delicate pamphlet states the rules, regulations, and orders given to all officers, enlisted persons, and civil employes stationed at the Port Royal Naval Station in 1899. The forward is given by Rear Admiral George Watson Sumner, Commandant at the time of the address. This title is a BDC exclusive. To view, please contact the BDC to schedule an appointment.
Military Service Records at the National Archives by Trevor K. Plante (2007). This reference catalog contains records from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard regarding the following: pensions, bounty land grants, Prisoners of War, discharges, headstones, burials, medals, and more. This title is a BDC exclusive. To view, please contact the BDC to schedule an appointment.
The Revolutionary War in South Carolina: Profiles in Leadership by Steven D. Smith and Kevin Dougherty (2025). Smith and Dougherty worked together to provide thorough overviews of the following Revolutionary War figures: Henry Laurens, Richard Furman, William Jasper, John Rutledge, Thomas Sumter, Francis Marion, Isaac Shelby, Nathanael Greene, Daniel Morgan, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Henry Lee, Hezekiah Maham, Rebecca Motte, William Moultrie, and Andrew Pickens. Given that the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is coming up soon (4 July 2026), I am almost certain that additional copies at other libraries within the SCLENDS consortium will be added to the catalog. - gmc
River of Words: Musings on Port Royal Sound Through Poetry and Art 2014 by Beaufort County School District Students (2014). River of Words is a yearly publication brought to you by the Beaufort County School System and the Port Royal Sound Foundation. Every year, art and poetry entries created by students in the Beaufort County School System are chosen to be incorporated into River of Words as a tribute to the beauty of the Lowcountry. The 2014 publication joins the River of Words publications for the years 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 already in our stacks. This title is a BDC exclusive. To view, please contact the BDC to schedule an appointment.
Posters
Lowcountry Children's Book Fair, Port Royal Sound Foundation (2025). BTW: We also have the poster for the 2024 fair.
Maps
Welcome to South Carolina: Beaufort and Beaufort County, Universal Advertising Associates (1989).
Map of Beaufort County [South Carolina]: Beaufort County Board of Realtors and the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, Accurate Maps & Atlas, Inc. (1993).
Map of Hilton Head: Free • Spring • 1984, New South Promotions (1984).
Buried Treasure in South Carolina The Mining Association of South Carolina Inc. (1976).
Map of Beaufort County South Carolina Including: City of Beaufort Hilton Head Island: Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, Champion Map Corporation (1987).
Hilton Head Island Culture Trail Map, Wiren Publishing Inc. (2024).
New Archival Materials by Cassandra
Bloomsburg University professor Sandra Kehoe-Forutan conducted research on Gullah cemeteries in Beaufort County, South Carolina, from 2011 to 2014, documenting their locations and conditions. Her collection includes surveys, maps, and notes collected during the course of her research.
The Woodrow Strock Collection of Oyotunji African Village Slides consists of 45 color slides documenting the Oyotunji African Village in Sheldon, SC. The images were taken by Strock during the late 1970s or early 1980s, and they capture religious and everyday activities along with the physical landscape of the village.
Sarah Gray "Sally" Pringle (1931 – 2023) was given this small collection of material from one of Sheriff J.E. McTeer’s children. The material includes two typewritten pages with reminiscences about the McTeer's residence on Bay Street and experiences during the 1940 Hurricane. Two photoprints with related images are also included.
We have additional information about Beaufort's "White Witch Doctor" long-time sheriff Ed McTeer on the BDC's WordPress blog.- gmc
The Dale Friedman Collection of Johnson Family Materials is made up of items related to the Johnson family, donated by descendant Dale H. Friedman. It includes circa 1800s photographs, ephemeral objects, and a recipe book, offering significant genealogical and historical value.
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We hope you have enjoyed learning about all of the new and exciting materials that the Beaufort District Collection has collected over these last few months. If you are interested in taking a closer look at any of the materials we have shared today, please feel free to call the BDC at (843) 255-6468 or email bdc@bcgov.net to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are sometimes accepted, while appointments are always recommended. We have quite a busy schedule this fall, so always be sure to check the Beaufort County Library calendar for any closings or scheduled local history programs. We hope to hear from you soon!
