Access to Research Room Closed ... for the time being

Circumstances are such that access to the Beaufort District Collection's Research Room ceased effective June 18, 2020 until further notice.  (I must admit that it felt very good to help customers the few days that the Research Room was open from June 15 at 9 AM - until closing time on June 18.)

What this means for you: No one will be able to do research inside the room. This is particularly problematic for the unique (and popular) items we share only inside the Research Room such as microfilm of the back files of the Beaufort Gazette (1906 - March 31, 2015), Island Packet (1970 - March 31, 2015) and Palmetto Post (1882 - 1907).

My advice about what to do during the Research Room's shutdown is "Pretend like it's March 16, 2020" again. During the Library system's shutdown, we drew attention to all the "stuff" available online. Take full advantage of all of the Library's digital assets to explore local history:

• The BDC's Photographs, postcards, unique documents in the Lowcountry Digital Library
• The BDC's Facebook page
• The BDC's Links, Lists and Finding Aids blog
• "Beaufort History Moments" videos on YouTube
• At least through the end of June, one can get access to Ancestry Library Edition with a valid BCL library card and the proper password. To receive the special password, Contact Us and be sure to include your 13-digit library card number. Don't yet have a card? Start here.
• Get Local History Reading Suggestions or Summer Reading ideas

Still having trouble finding the information you seek? Please let me know and I will try to help you from wherever I happen to be at the moment.

• You can call 843-255-6446 and leave a message.  
• You can send an email to gracec@bcgov.net or bcl@bcgov.net or bdc@bcgov.net. Those will be monitored Mondays through Fridays, 9 AM to 5 PM. 
• You can be old school and write a letter. Our address is "Beaufort District Collection, Beaufort County Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC 29902." 

Regardless of your choice of communication, I promise to respond as soon as practical. I will do my best to give you solid advice or point you to digital resources or to items in the Library's circulating local history sections that can get you further along your research path.

Please note: All units of the Beaufort County Library will be closed on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 for Independence Day.

Capt. James Reeve Stuart, 1825 - 1851

(Latest update: 6 May 2025 -gmc) Some of the old Beaufort families, like families in other places, recycle names through the generations. It can get confusing to figure out who is whom without their birth and death dates. We've seen this happen with the the naturalist Stephen Elliott, the "Fighting Bishop" Stephen Elliott, and Ste Elliott, father of Capt. Charles Pinckney Elliott and the mix-up of the Robert Woodward Barnwells. Another example are the two James Reeve Stuarts, the artist (1834 - 1951) and the soldier (1825-1851) who is the subject of today's post.

Captain James Stuart was born on July 12, 1825 in the Nathaniel Heyward House on Bay Street to John A. Stuart and Claudia Smith, daughter of James Smith and Mariana Gough Smith. His father was editor of the first Beaufort Gazette (1828 - 1830) and ran the Charleston Mercury newspaper from 1830-1846. (John A. Stuart is one of "Beaufort's Galaxy of Great Men" according to Gilbert P. Voigt.) Capt. Stuart graduated from the Military Academy at West Point in 1846 where he was George McClellan's roommate.  He served bravely in the battles of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Conteras, Churubusco, Chapultepec and helped capture Mexico City during the Mexican War. Most military accounts mention that when volunteers were requested, Stuart immediately stepped out first. He was breveted twice for his gallantry and meritorious conduct. After the Mexican War, he reverted to regular rank as a 2nd Lieutenant and got some leave to visit home where he was feted in Charleston. Shortly thereafter he was assigned to the West. He never married.

Stuart was posted to Jefferson Barracks in Missouri and later to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, where he was assigned to the command of Col. Philip D. Kearney. The unit was stationed to monitor the Indians. On June 17, 1851 he was mortally wounded by an Indian's arrow near the Rogue River Valley. After lingering in awful pain for a day, he died and was buried for the first time in Phoenix, Oregon under the shade of two oak trees by his friend Capt. John Walker. Stuart's body would later be disinterred by order of Kearney and accompanied by Walker across the Isthmus of Panama (Construction of the Panama Canal did not begin until 30 years later) with the goal of reburying Stuart at West Point. Upon reaching Beaufort, Walker asked Mrs. Stuart for her permission to do so. Stuart's mother said "No." She is said to have explained to Capt. Walker that in 1837 her son had given her instructions: "When I am dead, bury me by the side of my grandmother in the Beaufort churchyard." One of his cousins provides a slightly different version of this family story, viz. Stuart said: "Mother, when I die, please bury me in old St. Helena. You know how I love to go there and hear the birds sing in those big trees." Regardless of his specific instructions, Stuart's body lies peacefully in lot C-5 in the Parish Church of St. Helena churchyard today.

Beaufort County Library https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/catalog/lcdl:126711

Over time tombstone inscriptions erode away. We are lucky that Heyward and Smith transcribed the grave markers in the St. Helena Churchyard almost a hundred years ago. His tombstone reads: 

Brev- Capt- James- Stuart / Reg- Mounted Rifles U.S.A. / Who "fell mortally wounded / in Battle with the Indians in / Oregon While leading his men / gallantly to Victory / June 17 - 1851 / Gen. Jones report / He was a gifted, accomplished, and noble Hearted gentleman [Side] "Brevit 2nd Lieut / James Stuart/ One of the storming party / was the first to mount / every battery from / Chapultepec to the City / " Gen. Smith's report / dated City of Mexico / Sept 19, 1847 / Son of / John A. and Claudia S Stuart / Born in Beaufort S C. / July 12-1825 / Graduated at West Point / June 1846 / Fought six Battles in Mexico / and died June 18- 1851

The South Carolina legislature honored his memory with a ceremonial sword, one of four Calhoun swords crafted by Ames Manufacturing Company, that was presented to his eldest brother in 1852. That sword is reputedly still in the possession of the Stuart Family.  

Sources informing this post:

"Beaufort's Galaxy of Great Men" by Gilbert P. Voigt [presented before] the Beaufort County Historical Society, June 19th, 1956, Beaufort County Historical Society Papers, #27.

Old Churchyard Cemetery of St. Helena's Episcopal Church, Beaufort, South Carolina ... edited and published by parishioners James Cawood Presgraves and S. Louise Presgraves (Type personally hand-set and pages hand-fed by the Editors, and Printed on their 19th century hand printing press at Beaufort, SC, 1987).

South Carolina in the Mexican War: A History of the Palmetto Regiment of Volunteers, 1846-1917 by Jack Allen Meyer, (Columbia, SC: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 1996).

Magnolia Cemetery: An Interpretation of Some of Its Monuments and Inscriptions, with a Reminiscence of Captain James Stuart, a Notice of John Allan Stuart, and a Tribute to the People of Beaufort by Benjamin R. Stuart ( Charleston, S.C. : Kahrs & Welch, Print, 1896).

The Story of an American Family by Stephen B. Barnwell (Marquette, Michigan: Self-published, 1969). 

Compiled archive of Beaufort Gazette newspaper columns written by Gerhard Spieler, 1972 - 2007:

• "Captain Stuart: A Soldier's Life, A Soldier's Death" by Gerhard Spieler, Beaufort Gazette, December 12, 1974, p. 7-B.
•  "Mexican War Veterans Honored in St. Helena's Churchyard," by Gerhard Spieler, Beaufort Gazette, November 12, 1996, p. 5A.
•  "Revisiting the Death of Capt. James R. Stuart" by Gerhard Spieler, Beaufort Gazette, February 18, 2007, p. 3C.
• "Continuing the Story of Captain Stuart" by Gerhard Spieler, Beaufort Gazette, February 25, 2007, p. 3C.
•  "Bringing Stuart Back Completely Full Circle" by Gerhard Spieler, Beaufort Gazette, June 17, 2007, p. 3C.

"Inscriptions from St. Helena Churchyard, Beaufort, South Carolina" by Marie H. Heyward and Alice R.H. Smith, South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, volume 32: July 1931, p.218.
 
"Rest in Peace, Capt. Stuart: A War Hero from Another Century was Buried in Phoenix, then Seemingly Disappeared" by Bill Miller, Mail Tribune (Medford, Oregon), May 6, 2007 in the BDC's STUART FAMILY vertical file.

Library Enters Phase 3 - and What That Means for You

Update: 18 June 2020 5:00 PM - The Beaufort District Collection is closed until further notice. 

The Library enters Phase 3 of its re-opening plan on Monday, June 15, 2020. If you're on the Library's e-mail blast list, you got the news last night. If not, you may want to sign up to get on that list for future notices about Library operations as we are not out of the COVID-19 health alerts situation yet. And for those who missed the e-blast, here's the text:

The Beaufort County Library system is pleased to announce that its branches will reopen to the public with new protocols starting Monday, June 15. In the interest of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting County employees and the public, library administration has announced several temporary changes to operations that are in line with the public health guidelines put forth by DHEC and the CDC. Read full details on the Beaufort County Government site.

• All library branches will reopen to their normal opening hours but will close at 4:00pm daily to ensure proper cleaning and sanitizing
• Bookmobiles will resume service to a limited number of stops starting July 6th. Check our Bookmobile page for the latest updates and the July route schedule (coming soon)
• Visits to the Beaufort District Collection (BDC) will be available by appointment only (Update 18 June 2020 - all prior appointments are cancelled until further notice. The Research Room is closed into the foreseeable future.) 
• Curbside service will continue [with an expansion to all] open hours

Our library buildings have been deep-cleaned and surfaces continue to be sanitized daily.

Employees have been provided with cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, and face coverings, which they are required to wear in the workplace.

The following changes have been implemented:

•                      All visitors to County buildings (including library branches) will be required to wear a face covering while there

•                      Restrictions on the number of customers allowed in facilities pursuant to state/local recommendations

•                      Cough-guards installed at service counters

•                      Floor markers and signs displayed

•                      Furniture arranged to allow for social distancing

Library services:

• Books and movies can be checked out at service desks and self-checkout machines
• Public restrooms will be open
• Public computers are not available at this time
• Copier/scan/fax/email self-service machines will be available
• Library meeting rooms are not available at this time
• Library programs (for youth & adults) are suspended until further notice

Library cardholders can continue to access the library’s online resources such as Hoopla, cloudLibrary, Flipster Digital Magazines, Lynda.com Online Learning Suite and Ancestry.com Library Edition.

We thank you for your patience, support, and understanding as we closely monitor COVID-19 developments and work to mitigate issues related to the temporary closure and reopening of our library system.

 (Update 18 June 2020 - the Research Room is closed until further notice.) 
As regards the operations of the Beaufort District Collection's physical facility, the primary goal I have is that you get the information you need while limiting actual visits to the Research Room as much as possible. This is to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 among ourselves and to others with whom we come into contact. So here's what to expect about Beaufort District Collection operations starting Monday and continuing until further notice:

1. Access to the Research Room is by appointment only until further notice.
2. You must contact me personally (gracec@bcgov.net) or call me at 843-255-6446 in advance to schedule an appointment to come into the Research Room. If I don't answer the telephone, please leave a message so I can engage with you as soon as practical.
3. I promise to respond to you within 72 hours (unless I am on leave) to discuss your needs and what we have in the BDC to help you. You might be surprised by how much I can help without you having to enter the Research Room.
4. Let's conduct as much business as possible through the telephone (843-255-6446) or via e-mail (gracec@bcgov.net). 
5. I will schedule one appointment per time slot followed with gaps for cleaning surfaces in between appointments in order to minimize the risk for other Research Room customers and BDC staff.
6. I am willing to do as little as one hour or as many as 8 hours within the 9 AM to 5 PM usual and customary day operations schedule - though you should note that access into the Library building will cease at 4 PM until further notice. We can talk about a mutually acceptable date and time during the follow-up telephone call or e-mail.
7. You must wear a mask at all times while in the Library building until further notice. Please note: There will be no relaxing of this County mandate inside the Research Room.
8. Please wash your hands before you come into the Research Room. Let's start off as safely as possible.
9. Hand sanitizer will be available for use inside the Research Room but customers must allow the hand sanitizer to completely dry and evaporate before handling any of the materials.
10. Materials used will be quarantined for 7 days after use. Only the customer who has used them in the preceding week can access those materials before the end of the 7 day quarantine. Any use begins a new 7 day quarantine period.   
11. Materials taken from the shelves in the public area of the Research Room will also be quarantined for the 7 day period. 
12. Please place materials used on the burgundy book cart or materials table in the public area of the Research Room. 
13. The very well attended BDC Local history program series are suspended until further notice - which I must admit makes me sad. Please know that I am working with our partners Beaufort History Museum, Beaufort County Historical Society, Coastal Discovery Museum, and the Family History Center of the International African American Museum to see if there is a practical way to deliver an abbreviated series to you in the Fall. It's too early to tell how our joint efforts will turn out.

I hope to see you soon. 

2020's Version of a Summer Tradition

Because of the continuing impact of the worldwide health crisis, we cannot follow up last year's  fabulously successful summer reading program effort with a similar one this year. Instead Beaufort County Library will focus on the core of what we do, that is promote and encourage reading for all ages while our partner, the Beaufort County School District, concentrates on creating content to spread the joy of learning, reading, writing and communicating to their students.  The BCSD has chosen "Once Upon a Summer in Beaufort" as the theme for the joint campaign, June 1 through August 2, 2020. 

Summer 2020 Joint BCSD & BCL Program

The Beaufort District Collection will contribute in our own unique way by promoting reading materials in this collection. Books are the foundation of the Beaufort District Collection. We have books dating from 1760 up to those published last week to share inside the Research Room and through the Local History sections of the branch libraries. And if this were a normal year, some of those books would be the basis for BDC Author Book Talk programs. But this is not a normal year and that hurts because I do so love to see folks at our local history programs! We must deal with the reality that it may be quite some time before we can gather together to explore local history in that way again.

So what can be done and be done consistently over the course of the next several months? Librarians can look to the center of our service philosophy and practice to contribute to the well-being of our community by promoting the practice of reading. Thus, expect to see a variety of local history books and printed materials promoted here in Connections, on the Library's Local History Reading Suggestions webpage, and on the BDC's Facebook page over the course of the summer.