Back to School: School Materials in the BDC

It’s that time of year again when children whine and parents cheer... You guessed it: it’s back to school!! Here in the Beaufort District Collection, we have a plethora of materials that cover the history of local schools as well as original materials that have been created by students over the years. Items such as these are extremely important to preserve as they capture glimpses of how young people viewed the world at their time. Some materials even include young people interviewing old folks through different decades which will be a wonderful resource for researchers to utilize in fifty years!

Graduation Day at Mather School [1950]
from the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection.

The Beaufort District Collection contains many different formats of materials. In this post, we will dive into examples from archives, books, microfilm, plans, posters, prints, and vertical files. The bulk of our materials come from donations. Items may come from another branch, the Friends of the Library, or a kind patron who found an old yearbook they no longer want. We would not have the vast selection we have now without the generosity of our community. Now, without further ado, let’s LEARN about our school materials!

Books

Look back 1965-1972: Civil Triumph: The Integration of Beaufort High School by Beaufort Middle School, 2002.

After thirty years, eighty Beaufort Middle School Students participating in the 2002 Humanities Program worked together to collect local oral histories of the integration of Beaufort High School. Prior to setting forth, students spent their time in class reading, researching, and participating in Socratic seminars all relating to the tribulations of slavery to equality and the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. BMS students then interviewed retired teachers, staff, and alumni who worked at or attended local schools from 1965 to 1972. They even interviewed Emory Campbell, previous director of the Penn Center, who provided his personal experience with integration and the Civil Rights Movement. 

Beaufort Family Histories: Downtown Beaufort as a Classroom by Lady's Island Middle School, 1997.

School related titles in the BDC.

In 1997, one hundred and twenty eighth grade students and their teachers worked together to create their own documented history of Beaufort and its families. Students worked together by studying the graveyards of Beth Israel Synagogue, St. Helena's Episcopal Church, and the Tabernacle Baptist Church. They also interviewed family members; some of their own, and some from the different congregations. There are quotes from the students all throughout the book where they talk about learning to interview people, rub gravestones, and enjoying the hands-on research. Even Shelly was quoted with saying, “I am not interested in history, but this project was fun.” So, take it from Shelly, if you are looking for a fun way to glimpse into Beaufort’s past, come take a look at Beaufort Family Histories: Downtown Beaufort as a Classroom.

The History of Robert Smalls School by the Robert Smalls Association, 1991.

Robert Smalls High School Band Marches in
the Decoration Day Parade [1957] from
the Lucille Hassel Culp Collection.

This is a small, but detailed account of the Robert Smalls School and its immense impact on Beaufort’s history. There are multiple black and white photos of the school from varying years as well as photos of numerous principals who led the school. The schools very first teachers are listed by name along with serving committee members, artists, and musicians brought to the school by Principal W. Kent Alston. This history covers the destruction and construction of various buildings that the school has called home since 1925. The Robert Smalls Association, comprised of alumni, is still in existence today and raises funds annually to provide scholarships for college students. 

Annuals

Shelves of school annuals in the BDC.

Remember how I mentioned that the bulk of our materials come from donations? Well, this is a section of our collection that heavily relies on donations. If you or a loved one have a Beaufort District school annual that you wish to part with, you may contact the BDC via email (bdc@bcgov.net) or phone (843-255-6468) to see if you can help fill in any of our year gaps. We would greatly appreciate it!

Our school annuals are catalogued and searchable through the SCLENDS catalog. We also have a page on our WordPress Blog titled Yearbooks & School Annuals in the BDC that lists all of our holdings as well as their years. Either resource gives patrons the opportunity to browse our selection of yearbooks to see if we have the specific school and/or year they seek. 

Vertical Files

Vertical files hold materials such as clippings, pamphlets, or articles pertaining to the subject of the file. These files act as a gateway; they can provide context that may point researchers to a new path of resources. If you are interested in learning more about the importance and use of these files, you can check out The Value of Historical (and Permanent) Vertical Files. Most of the school vertical files have articles, pamphlets, newsletters and/or programs from events held at the individual schools through time gathered from a variety of places at a variety of times. There are more than 50 designated school vertical files (e.g. VF SCHOOLS--MARY FIELDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 1934-1997) and over 130 school related vertical files (e.g. VF BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.) 

Materials from VF SCHOOLS -- BEAUFORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

Vertical File Spotlight: VF SCHOOLS -- BEAUFORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. In this select vertical file you will find: a report card from the 1933-1934 school year, a Beaufort Gazette clipping from 1942 announcing a new Beaufort Elementary School Building, and a 1999-2000 Annual Report featuring artwork from a student. This is only a small glimpse into the endless realm of possible materials that you may find within our school related vertical files. 

Posters & Prints

The posters and prints within our collection do a wonderful job at visualizing the array of time periods that we cover here in the BDC. From a Harper's Weekly print that was published in 1865 to a poster from an event that was held last week, there is a lot of ground to cover when it comes to the history of Beaufort District. 

Print #86 and Poster #450.

Print #86 comes from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper and was published on November 29th, 1862. It is entitled, "Sketches in Beaufort and its vicinity, South Carolina," as it depicts numerous spots in and around the area. However, there is one specific reason I chose this print. The center bottom drawing depicts the Beaufort College Building, which is now part of the University of South Carolina Beaufort campus in Downtown Beaufort. The building itself has lived many lives and served many purposes, including housing a freedmen school for young Black children throughout the Reconstruction era.

Poster #450 is one of our newest editions to our poster collection. St. Helena's Anglican Church began hosting this event as a support system for adoptive and foster families navigating a new school year. Now, their Back to School Bash has turned into a community wide event that serves as a welcoming space for all. Families can expect food and refreshments, music and games, giveaways and prizes, free school supplies, and most of all, community connection.

Archival Collections

The Beaufort District Collection is home to over 250 archival collections. A decent amount of them are related to our local schools, but there is one in particular I wanted to share with you today. The Folklore Project at Beaufort High School consists of three handmade booklets from 1972 that contain information on Gullah culture and folklore. 

The Folklore Project at Beaufort High School.

The booklets are titled as follows: "Gains From Their Life Roles: Samples of Beaufort's Folklore," "Unbelievable Beliefs: Roots, Superstitions, Remedies," and "Voices of Old Folks." Senior student contributors worked together to interview elderly citizens of Beaufort, write and edit the contents of the booklets, and illustrate the covers and pages throughout. The young students under the direction of English teacher Ms. Lee P. Shaffer set out on a mission to preserve the slowly fading rich culture of Beaufort; which will now be forever maintained and remembered within our collection. 

Microfilm

Reels of the Penn School Papers.

Here in the BDC, we have an extensive microfilm collection. From local newspapers to census records, Beaufort City and County Council minutes to primary documents produced by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History; all of these records are searchable in the SCLENDS catalog. An incredible resource that we have available to view on microfilm is the Penn School Papers from 1862 to 1976. 

The Penn School was founded on Saint Helena Island in 1862 by Laura M. Towne and Ellen Murray. Both of these women were Northern missionaries who established the school in order to provide education to formerly enslaved people in the area. The school endured many changes throughout the Civil War, the Reconstruction Era, and the many years leading up to its closure in 1948. The Penn School Papers cover various aspects of the school: correspondences, inventories, financial records, annual reports, and minutes. There are also more personal elements that detail the daily happenings at the school such as club rosters, newspaper clippings, class schedules, special events, and even photographs. 

Plans

The smallest accumulation of catalogued materials in the BDC would be our plans, which is why not many people are aware of them. Our two drawers of plans consist of fifty building, site, and airport outlines. 

Repairs and Restoration of the
Janie Hamilton School [1993].

Repairs and Restoration of the Janie Hamilton School [1993] was a building plan created by William Blount Shepard III for the school on Daufuskie Island to be presented to the Beaufort County School District. The Janie Hamilton School was constructed in 1937 to educate the native children on Daufuskie that were unable to make the walk to Mary Fields School located on the opposite side of the Island. These building plans proposed safety and structural improvements to almost every aspect of the building including the framework, roof, windows, wiring, and more, without demolishing the building and removing almost sixty years of history. 

Port Royal Elementary School Play [1950]
from the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection.

If you are interested in any of the materials I have shared today or wish to explore our collection for yourself: walk-ins are sometimes accepted, while appointments are always encouraged. To make an appointment, send an email to bdc@bcgov.net or give us a call at 843-255-6468. We hope to hear from you soon!

I've Had a Good Run ... Now It's Time to Say Farewell by Grace Morris Cordial, ML, SL, CA

It has been my privilege to take care of the Beaufort County Library's special local history collection and archives unit for 27 years and 6 months. 

I've always preferred the behind-the-scenes activities and tasks necessary to run a solid special library and archives unit over the interpersonal "stuff." In fact, local history program days or outreach events wiped me out. Nevertheless, I have interacted with 10,000s of customers, in person or remotely. One of my professional hallmarks became a skillful crafting of a very thorough response to a reference query. 

I loved writing for the BDC's 2 blogs in order to share the wonders of what's in this very special room. I have written thousands of social media posts about local people, places, events and historical themes here in Connections and on the BDCBCL : Links, Lists and Finding Aids blog. I have sometimes enjoyed maintaining the BDC's Facebook page. (During the clean-up I discovered a few key items that Cassi will probably use on the BDC's Facebook page at an appropriate time. Be on the look-out for buzzards!) 

There's no thrill like the thrill that a librarian/archivist gets on a good research hunt - said hunt sometimes resulting in the creation of a new vertical file and/or a BDC sponsored presentation. Indeed, as I was cleaning out my desk and files, I found enough material to create over 25 new vertical files with topics ranging from murder to fires to individuals to local organizations over the last month. 

I have loved working with Cassi, Sydney and Valerie Lesesne on multiple projects. We have gotten so very much done with 3 fulltime staff and our auxiliary member this past year. I love to the moon and back the BDC's Beloved Docent cadre who have been instrumental in the various digital collections, transcriptions, preservation processes, indexing, etc. The very fact that most of them have been with me for a decade or more must say something about the BDC's working environment because they really don't get paid to be here. 

I am grateful to all who helped me through the years including the indomitable members of the Clover Club and the steadfast members of the Beaufort County Historical Society. I am particularly grateful to all those unknowns who donated their hard-earned dollars to make the relocation of the Research Room to the 2nd floor, 2001-2010 happen. There is simply no way that the depth and range of the materials and services could occur through the BDC today had the relocation not happened. I am grateful for the support of former Library Director Wlodek Zaryczny for seeing the project through. I am just sorry that Hillary Barnwell did not live to see the BDC's Grand Re-opening on 29 September 2010. But geez, Louise, it took way too long: 9 years and 16 days, folks. It took 9 years and 16 days to move the BDC between floors in this building.

My successor should probably figure out how to go "up" and "out" in the next 3 to 5 years - so that s/he can have the appropriate space for an ever-growing collection.

Here are a few high points in my career that will continue to have consequences for BDC customers:

• Being part of the pilot project for the inclusion of public library materials into the South Carolina Digital Library. We started with the phosphate mining photographs donated - literally off the street by a walk-in customer in 2007. We have continued our long and successful association with its Lowcountry Digital Library for 2 decades. Fingers crossed that you'll see some new collections uploaded there before the end of 2026.
• Convincing Technical Services to catalog more than just book materials. Thanks go to Amber Shorthouse for her initiative that spurred things forward on that front by beginning to catalog the vertical files without my knowledge. As all employees come to understand, sometimes it is simply better to say "Sorry" than ask for permission. Through the years, the maps, charts, illustrated prints and posters have followed suit. Customers will find the books, DVDs, vertical files, microfilm, maps, charts, illustrated prints and posters in the BDC are listed in the SCLENDS catalog.
• It looks like my advocacy of 20+ years will pay off soon. It appears that the digitization of the Palmetto Post newspaper will proceed at long last with the SC Newspapers project. So stay tuned ...

The roughest day of my career was when former Library Director Ray McBride called me to say that he had no options other than to re-allocate the BDC's then open full-time assistant position to the library materials courier position during the early days of the COVID shutdown. I was at home - it was COVID after all - and I cried. The only factor stopping me from quitting that day was the County's health insurance plan. It took current Library Director Amanda Brewer Dickman several long dark years (for me) to get the Preservation Associate position returned - and then she went a step further and got the BDC a full-time Library Assistant for the public area : 3 full-time staff in the BDC - Heaven on earth! Thank you, Amanda.

I will say that it has mostly been a pleasure dealing with my Library colleagues, folks connected to local cultural heritage organizations, the 10,000s of local, national and international researchers and coordinating 100s of local history programs through the years. The reason for the "mostly"? Sometimes colleagues, customers, partners, speakers, red tape and hurricane evacuations just made good service delivery harder than it had to be.

I am content that I did what I could with what I had where I was. I am proud of what I have accomplished in my many years of service. As I told the Beaufort County Council on Monday night, "I've had a good run - and now I am done." Sydney and Cassi will take it from here. Just be aware that with my exit, this means that the BDC will again be short-staffed for a while so please be patient with them. I expect that Library Administration will be announcing the lucky person who shall succeed me as the head of the BDC.

A word of caution to him/her: Just remember that a job never will love you back so try to keep a good life/work balance. Work hard and steadily. There will never be a slow time in a special collections / archives unit - only brief periods of time when your focus can shift temporarily to a different particular task or project.

To all you local history nerds : May life bring you everything you need and some of what you want. I thank you for your support.

This is Grace Cordial, signing off as the Senior Librarian (and Archivist) in charge of the BDC. (And I made it to retirement without having to do a hurricane recovery salvage project. YES!)

New (and New-to-Us) Materials in the Research Room, 2nd Quarter 2026

We are back with a New (and New-to-Us) update! This update covers materials that have been catalogued from April 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026. Though this may not be the most expansive update, it is important to show that we are always collecting and cataloguing new materials (and some pretty interesting ones if we do say so ourselves!) Without further ado, let's get into our new titles and posters:

New (and New to Us) shelves in the BDC.

Titles: 

In Darkest South Carolina: J. Waties Waring and the Secret Plan that Sparked a Civil Rights Movement by Brian Hicks, 2018. 

In Darkest South Carolina
by Brian Hicks.

In a cross between a biography and a captivating novel, Hicks tells the true story of how Julius Waties Waring, a son of a Confederate veteran, became a courageous civil rights hero. Waring practiced law all his life but was not officially commissioned as a federal judge until he was in his sixties. However, this did not slow him down nor prevent him from being the change that this country needed. Read of the lines he had to cross, the ostracism he had to face, and the ceaseless threats he received; all of which he expected after denouncing segregation as an "evil that must be eradicated" in the landmark school segregation case Briggs v. Elliott.  

Warrants for lands in South Carolina, Vols. 1-3 by A. S. Salley, Jr., 1998.  

Ready reference section
in the BDC.

This one edition encompasses three whole volumes. Volume one covers land warrants from 1672 – 1679, volume two covers land warrants from 1680 – 1692, and volume three covers land warrants from 1692 – 1711. This title is housed in our Ready Reference section which consists of the shelves you see when you enter the BDC (pictured to the right.) Researchers are free to pull materials from the Ready Reference section as it is stocked with our most commonly used materials.  

Maude Callen: Legendary Nurse-Midwife of South Carolina by Lindsay Street, 2026 

Maude Callen
by Lindsay Street.

Maude Callen was a remarkable woman who dedicated her own life to saving the lives of others. She was orphaned at the age of six and raised by her uncle who was a physician, which only further encouraged her to pursue schooling to become a nurse. She graduated as a nurse in Savannah but travelled to the Lowcountry to train young women to be midwives. She continued to train others, deliver babies, and visit patients at their own homes. In 1951, LIFE Magazine published an essay on Callen’s work. Admirers began sending in donations which allowed Callen to open her own clinic, the Maude E. Callen Clinic, which she ran from 1953 until her retirement in 1971. We purchased this title because it has a small section about the Midwives School operated at Penn School.  

The Plants: Part II by Carl Wellard, 1995.  

Drawing of Butterfly Bush page 40
from The Plants: Part II by Carl Wellard.

Carl Wellard felt that he was living an unfulfilling life in the corporate world. His background and interests were in plants, but he never saw them as more than that. Then, the universe took matters into its own metaphorical hands. Wellard lost his job, lost money in meaningless deals, and was left with less mobility after an automobile accident. All he had left was his love for plants. He wrote his first book which only scratched the surface. The Plants: Part II dives even deeper into the history of native Lowcountry plants, their names, the perfect soil, fertilizer and environment for them; but he also discusses and encourages the process of acclimating new plants to the Lowcountry.  

Painting the Southern Coast: The Art of West Fraser by West Fraser, 2016.  

Painting the Southern Coast
by West Fraser.

West Fraser is an artist who was born in Savannah and raised on Hilton Head Island. He has traveled and painted scenes from all over the world, but no matter what, he always returns to his Lowcountry roots. His work has been honored with nine solo museum exhibitions in the Midwest, Southeast, and California, including one in 2017 at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston. This show in particular followed the theme of his book, Painting the Southern Coast, which communicates the history and beauty of the Lowcountry through his own beautiful paintings, including many Beaufort District landscapes. We have other coffee table books dedicated to his artwork and the work of other artists as well. 

Gullah Culture in America by Wilbur Cross, 2008.  

Gullah Culture in America
by Wilbur Cross.

Author and editor Wilbur Cross spent much of his life in New England but called Hilton Head Island home in his later years. He spent many years researching Gullah culture and worked closely with Dr. Emory Campbell while writing this book and working on the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor bill which helped to protect and preserve Gullah culture in America. This title meticulously explores the history of Gullah culture; from the arrival of African slaves in the New World to 21st century Gullahs traveling to West Africa to discover with their roots. Gullah Culture in America is more than just a history of a culture, it is a story of connection, art, immersion, and love.  

The World of the Salt Marsh: Appreciating and Protecting the Tidal Marshes of the Southeastern Atlantic Coast by Charles Seabrook, 2012.  

The World of the Salt Marsh
by Charles Seabrook.

Explore the history and the biodiversity of the southeastern marshlands and learn the importance behind the conservation efforts being made to keep the coast safe from continuous threats. Charles Seabrook is an environmental writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. His mission with creating with book was to educate people, from local conservationists to coastal visitors who may only be passing by. If one person can learn and appreciate the beauty of the tidal ecosystem, then they can share their knowledge to help protect it.  

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Posters:

• Pictures from Home: Lean Ensemble Theater: [Hilton Head Island]: December 12-21, [2025.] 
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr.: Bluffton Youth Theatre: Dec. 12th - Dec. 21st [2025.] 
• Christmas Belles:  A Jones Hope Wooten Comedy: Live at Coligny Theatre: Sea Glass Stage Company [2025.] 
• Art with Intention: with Genni Lib Threet: [Beaufort County Libraries]: March 4 - April 2 [2026.] 
• Flying Frog Frog Fest [sic]: Supporting Operation Patriots FOB (opfob.org): Saturday April 18, 2026: Frogmore "Intranational" Airport [2026.] 
• Kidfest: MCCS at Laurel Bay: Saturday 28 March [2026.] 
• Beaufort County School District Pre-K screenings now open for the 2026-2027 school year [2026.] 
• Summer Reading! = Lectura de Verano: June 1 - July 31, 2026: Beaufort County Library. 
• The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, Bluffton Youth Theatre: [February and March 2026.] 
• Hilton Head Island Ride of Silence: Wed. May 20th [2026.] 
• Hairspray, the Broadway Musical: You Can't Stop the Beat: Arts Center of Coastal Carolina [2026.] 
• HHIHS Seahawk Stage Company proudly presents: Peter Pan and Wendy [2026.] 
• 17th Annual Hilton Head Island Art Festival: Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina: May 22-24 [2026.] 
• Pat Conroy Tenth Annual MARCH FORTH: Celebrating a legacy of words & change: March 2-8 [2026.] 
• Every Brilliant Thing: Lean Ensemble Theater [Hilton Head Island] January 22 - February 1, 2026. 
• PEDAL Hilton Head Island: Ride with us on Sunday, May 3, 2026! 
• The White Chip: Lean Ensemble Theater [Hilton Head Island] March 20-29, 2026. 
• Irish Fest 40 years: Sunday March 15 [2026]: Hilton Head Ireland. 
• Back to SCHOOL BASH: St. Helena's Anglican: July 29 [2026].

Because Cassandra has been busy dealing with accretions to archival collections and coordinating local history programs with our partners, we do not have any new archival collections that are ready to be publicized for this quarterly report.   

If you are interested in any of the materials we have shared today or wish to explore our collection for yourself: appointments are encouraged while walk-ins are sometimes accepted. To make an appointment, send an email to bdc@bcgov.net or give us a call at 843-255-6468. We hope to hear from you soon!