"Historically Speaking" Series Reservation

Season 3 of the "Historically Speaking" series opens with Dr. Mollie Barnes’ presentation "Reading Between Lines and Across Rivers: Charlotte Forten and Harriet Tubman, June 1863."

Professor Barnes is Associate Professor of American Literature at USCB. This lecture is sure to be a nice complement to the engaging "Women of Reconstruction" lecture about Laura Towne, Charlotte Forten, and Susie King Taylor that Suzie Parker Devoe did last season.

We are pleased to have the Beaufort County Historical Society and the Institute for the Study of the Reconstruction Era as co-sponsors of this local history program.

Delivery of this session will be unique - and multi-faceted - for BDC Local History groupies! 

1) A few folks will be able to attend the lecture in person. 

2) More folks will be able to live stream the lecture on their personal electronic devices the day of the event.

3) Even more folks will be able to watch the recording later on their personal electronic devices on the day and time most appropriate for them. 

Please note: Limited Reserved Seating Opens at Midnight Thursday, September 30th! 

35 lucky people will get the opportunity to reserve a seat in Room 100, CFA (Center for the Arts), 805 Carteret St, Beaufort for the live presentation set to occur at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 14th.  Sign up for one of those 35 seats at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reading-between-lines-and-across-rivers-charlotte-forten-harriet-tubman-tickets-176618128577 beginning at midnight on Thursday, September 30th. 

You should get a screen that looks like this: 

If you click the "Remind Me" button shown in red, you can register for a reminder to be sent to your email inbox one hour before registration opens. Reservations will be closed when full. 

But let's just say that you are still a bit leery of in-person events. We have a URL for that, too.

The link is https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/7ed3329806ca4f5cab909350c4f942cf.

But here's the fine print that you must read and understand! That link is not currently active. This is what you will see until 10:30 AM on October 14th (all things going as planned) 

At 10:30 on Thursday, October 14, 2021 (30 minutes before the lecture is set to begin), the link will let people in the room so you can make sure you're connected and happy and ready to tune in. Once you're in the virtual waiting room, you'll be prompted to type your name so that the USCB folks transmitting and recording the session can see who is who and then you can turn your videos/microphones on if you please. But in certain parts of the County (like from my house on Lady's Island) it's usually better to mute your video and mute your audio in order to have sufficient bandwidth to watch Dr. Barnes without aggravating buffering.  

Let's say that for some reason the Live Stream doesn't stream live as planned. There's yet another way to see and learn from Professor Barnes - you will be able to watch a recording of her "Historically Speaking 3.1" lecture once it gets posted within a few days after the live presentation. 

"Tide of Death" (version 2021) ends soon

Watch it - and send your questions to me at gracec@bcgov.net - before we take it down at the end of this month. (We want to clear the air space for our upcoming October 2021 programs). 

Schools Related Vertical Files in the Research Room

As COVID-19 concerns continue to interfere with normal operations at some local K-12 schools, I've decided to write about some of the school related materials we share through the Research Room. Today's post will focus on the vertical files we have about individual public and private schools throughout Beaufort District's history. Just be aware that this list is may not be complete.

Some of the schools are no longer in operation while others have just come into existence over the past few years. Some are publically funded schools. Some are private institutions. The vertical file contents vary widely. Some of the vertical files contain a lot of clippings; some of the vertical files have only a sheet or two. Some school vertical file have articles, pamphlets, newsletters and/or programs held at the individual schools through time gathered from a variety of places at a variety of times. The files for the schools that my children attended 15 - 20 years ago are the fattest because I picked up hand-outs about those schools whenever I attended any of their school activities and events. Thus, collection has been hit-or-miss and inconsistent across schools and time. Dates for a school's years of operation are given when research has been done. Going forward, any newly created vertical files will include the dates of the school when possible. As of this writing we have over 50 specific school vertical files. I've decided to arrange the schools into two broad categories: Public Schools and Private Schools. 

Public Schools: Beaufort County Training School ; Beaufort Elementary School ; Beaufort Middle School; Beaufort High School;  Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence; Bluffton Middle School; Bluffton High School; Bridges Preparatory School; Broad River Elementary School; Coosa Elementary School; Daufuskie Island Elementary School; Hardeeville Consolidated School; H.E. McCracken Middle School; Hilton Head Elementary School; Hilton Head Middle School; Hilton Head High School; Humanities School of Beaufort; James J. Davis Elementary School; Joseph S. Shanklin Sr. Elementary School; Lady's Island Elementary School; Lady's Island Middle School; Lobeco Graded School; Mary Fields Elementary School, 1934 - 1997; May River High School, 2016 - ; M.C. Riley Elementary School; Mossy Oaks Elementary School; Port Royal Elementary School; River Ridge Academy, 2015 -  ; Robert Smalls Schools, 1925- 1984; Robert Smalls Elementary School; Robert Smalls Middle School; Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts and Sciences, 2012 -  ;  Shell Point Elementary School; St. Helena Elementary School; St. Helena High School, 1954 - 1971; Whale Branch Early College High School; Whale Branch Elementary School; and Whale Branch Middle School. 

Private Schools: Beaufort Academy; Beaufort College;  Eleanor Christensen Montessori School;  Harbison Institute; Heritage Academy; Hilton Head Christian Academy; Hilton Head Preparatory School; John Paul II Catholic School;  Mather School; Okatie Academy and Child Development Center; Penn School, 1862 - 1948; Sea Pines Montessori Academy; Sheldon Academy; and St. Peter's Catholic School.  

Make an appointment to visit the Research Room and staff will be happy to share the contents of the Schools vertical files with you. Please give us at least several days notice in order to have the best odds of getting your preferred date and time. Into the foreseeable future, the BDC will be offering 3 appointment slots per work day: 10 to Noon; 1 - 3 and 3 - 5 provided that the slot you request isn't already spoken for on the BDC's calendar. 

BDC Local History Programs are Evolving ...

Beaufort District Collection Local History Program plans are evolving as we navigate all that COVID-19 and the vaccination controversy have wrought. Please note: Until further notice, all visitors to the Library must be properly masked and socially distance from others. 

As you are likely aware, COVID-19 mitigation efforts have affected Library operations and Library program efforts since mid-March 2020. For example, the Summer Reading Program programs in 2020 and 2021 were held outdoors or were virtual events. In the case of the BDC's programs we had to postpone or cancel programs previously scheduled to be held in April and May 2020. 

Last summer, the Beaufort County Historical Society and the BDC decided to forge ahead with an all virtual Season 2 of the Historically Speaking series, acquiring new skills in the process. The online attendance numbers proved good. More than 800 people viewed the three lectures that we were able to post. One lecture had to be postponed due to scheduling conflicts and staff shortages. At the same time, the Beaufort History Museum and the Library suspended our joint Local History series for the July 2020-June 2021 season by mutual agreement. 

So... yes things have indeed been quite different since the first COVID-19 shutdown in mid-March 2020.

Under normal pre-COVID conditions, the BDC  manages three sets of programs: 1) stand alone BDC local history programs which are generally how-to or instructional in nature (e.g. how to use the "Freedmen's Bureau Records"); 2) the "Historically Speaking" series held with the Beaufort County Historical Society; and 3) the "Local History" series co-sponsored by the Beaufort County Library and the Beaufort History Museum that began in 2016. 

Together and separately each organization has been pondering our respective ways forward to a return on in-person programs since June 2020. Plans were steaming ahead: We had our speakers on topics we felt of interest to our community; We had reserved the rooms for August, September, October and December 2021. Unfortunately, the spread of COVID-19 in Beaufort County has not lessened, indeed it has grown larger which makes it even scarier for us to host in-person events - even if we had done so at a very reduced room capacity standard to observe health and safety protocols. 

This fourth surge has nixed most of those plans. 

The first program affected was "Tide of Death." 

I try to give the "Tide of Death" presentation at least once every three to four years in one or more library locations. 2021 meant that it was about time to do it again. I had planned to do an in-person event on August 27th, the hurricane's anniversary. When it became obvious that  an in-person program could not happen, Thomas Schotter of the Library's Marketing and Communications unit recorded me talking about the biggest, baddest hurricane to strike Beaufort District in its long and storied history. We recorded it on August 20th in the BDC "studio." We posted it on August 27th. Just between us: We probably should have spent a bit more time editing the raw footage but staff shortages and schedules just did not allow either of us that opportunity. The presentation has been running on the Library's YouTube Channel for a couple of weeks now. It will remain available at least to the end of this month. (I do so hope that you watch it and let me know if you came away knowing more about the Great Sea Island Hurricane than when you began.)

There are 4 programs on the calendar between September and December. Due to the surging infection rate in Beaufort County, at least 3 of those programs now require implementation of some on alternate plans of delivery to you. On the plus side, this old dog is having to learn new tricks and acquiring new skills even at this late stage in my professional career.  

September's program is postponed until November. 

I had planned to offer an in-person Author Book Talk with Dr. Eric Plaag about his Means of Grace: A History of the Robertville Baptist Church on September 16th. Then we decided to record his talk while he was going to be in the area. Then his visit to the lowcountry was postponed. Then Dr. Eric Plaag, Thomas Schotter, and I got our thinking caps out again.  Thomas and I tested the technology on September 10th and we think that we'll be able to pull it off come mid-November. (We cannot do it any sooner than that due to conflicting schedules.) That means we're going to try the BDC's first ever LIVE YouTube program about Means of Grace on 15 November. I am grateful for the cooperation of the Beaufort County Historical Society, and Carolina Historical Consulting, LLC in making this happen for us. 

To participate in the LIVE event one will have to get the URL from us. Be sure to sign up for the BDC's e-mail distribution list to get the URL link and notice for the live and virtual event. All other viewers will be able to access the recording through Library's YouTube Channel within a day or two after the live and virtual event. 

Programs planned for October will be delivered remotely, more or less on schedule. 

October had two programs on the calendar: one "Historically Speaking" session with the Beaufort County Historical Society and the Season 5 opener in the Beaufort History Museum/Beaufort County Library series.

Season 3 of the "Historically Speaking" series was set to open with Dr. Molly Barnes of the University of South Carolina Beaufort with "Reading Between Lines and Across Rivers: Charlotte Forten and Harriet Tubman, June 1863." We are in the process of finalizing where, when and how precisely this session co-sponsored by the Beaufort County Historical Society, USCB's Institute for the Study of Reconstruction and the BDC will be shared - but shared it will be. 

Neil Baxley is the featured speaker for the BHM/BCL series a few days later in October. His topic is "Duels in Beaufort District." Just as in the case of Dr. Plaag's and Dr. Barnes' sessions, we spent a lot of time debating what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. We made a decision last week: "Duels in Beaufort District" will be recorded inside the BDC's temporary "studio," edited, and then posted on the Library's YouTube Channel a few weeks later. 

I think that local history program groupies should get a little something extra for your faithfulness.  

One of the things that we have tried to do since having to go virtual with our programs is to let the  membership of the respective sponsoring organizations get the link before we publicize it more broadly on our respective Facebook pages and websites.

If you want to see the program before we make the link open to the general public on the Library's website, here in Connections or on the BDC's Facebook page, you'll need to either already be on the BDC's list or you'll have to subscribe the the BDC's newsletter before early October. Just be sure to check the "Beaufort District Collection" box.

November will now have the program about Means of Grace mentioned above. 

The program scheduled for December is - as of this writing - planning to be held with a live audience assembled in the Beaufort Branch Meeting Room.

Our fingers remain crossed that by December all health concerns related to COVID spread will have abated and we can gather together in the Beaufort Branch Meeting Room for a lecture about the the history of the New York Highlanders during the Civil War with Tom Vaselopulos as part of the Beaufort History Museum's Encampment weekend.  Of course, all of these plans are subject to change as we do not know what further impacts vaccination rates and COVID-19 spread may have on us over the course of the next several months. 

Re-cap of August 2021 Facebook Posts

For those of you who do not participate on Facebook, here is a re-cap of the BDC's August 2021 posts: 

Book Drop Blitz

The Beaufort County School District, the Pat Conroy Literary Center, and the Beaufort County Library teamed up to sponsor the "Book Drop Blitz" in July and August 2021. Some of the posts this month concern one or more titles that were given away.

August 1 - This week the "Book Drop Blitz" featured title is Sea Island's Secret a mystery set on Hilton Head Island by Susan Dimond Riley. If the copies for distribution run out, you can always read the e-book on Hoopla.

August 3 - Reading Sea Island's Secret? Brothers Thomas and Percival Drayton did fight on opposite sides during the Civil War. They are among the Legendary Locals of Hilton Head discussed by Barbara Muller. Check out a copy from one of the Local History sections today.

August 5 - Learn more about the history of Hilton Head Island, the setting of Sea Island's Secret with these books:

August 6 - "The Battle of Port Royal Sound, 1861" was among the most significant events ever in Beaufort District's long and storied history. Learn more:

August 7 - Today is National Lighthouse Day. Even if some of the action in The Sea Island's Secret didn't happen at the Leamington Light, I'd suggest that you check out the Connections post "Celebrating Beaufort District's Lighthouses and Range Lights" today. It's newly updated.

August 8 - P is for Palmetto is this week's Book Drop Blitz featured title. The BDC has a lot of items with "palmetto" in their titles. Expect to see a few this week.

August 9 - "P" is for "Property Map of Palmetto Dunes", Map 195 in the Research Room. It was probably made during the 1970s. Palmetto Dunes, an upscale housing development on Hilton Head Island, was created on land that was purchased for $1000 an acre in 1967. If you look closely at the lower left of the map, you'll see some handwritten notes about the 60 rooms that were planned for the Palmetto Dunes Inn and the 40 rental units planned for the Water Oak Villas. These notes make this map unique.

August 10 - P is for the Palmetto Volunteers, a regiment that served with distinction in the Mexican War. Among those who bravely fought was Capt. James A. Stuart, a son of John Allan and Claudia Smith Stuart (whose letters were discussed in my FB post on 2 August 2021 below). Read more about the dashing life and death of this young man in Connections. It's another "True Tale" brought to you by the BDC.

August 11 - "P is for Palmetto" Black History Note: African-Americans in the Palmetto State was put together by the SC Department of Education in 1994 to support instruction about Black History in the K-12 public schools. Thematically it covers historical periods and some of the many contributions of Black South Carolinians to religion, literature, performing arts, visual arts, the military, and the Civil Rights Movement. Among the Beaufort District related people or places mentioned are the 1st SC Volunteers (USCT); Reconstruction Era figures such as Robert Smalls, Thomas Miller, Richard Gleaves, and William Whipper; Mather and Penn School and 'Smokin' Joe" Frazier, a 20th century Olympic champion and World Heavyweight boxer.

August 12 - "P" is for Palmetto Post, a newspaper published in Port Royal from 1882 until it moved to Beaufort in 1906. It ceased publication in 1907. S.H. Rodgers, the so-called "Palmetto Poet" was the newspaper's editor. You can read and roll the Palmetto Post on microfilm in the BDC Research Room. You can check out Rodgers' poems published in the paper and from his diary, his words of wisdom, and selected editorials from the newspaper in the book Palmetto Poet : S.H. Rodgers edited by Walter Rodgers.

August 12 - The Palmetto Post mentioned earlier today has its obituaries listed in the Online Obituary Index already. It was among the first newspapers - if not the first - that Mrs. Adams indexed more than two decades ago. Since then the work has continued with the help of other Beloved BDC Docents Carole Holland, Jan Johnson, Merle Hoagland, Laura Lewis, and Nelson Brown. Work proceeds slowly with the hope of eventually getting to March 31, 2015 when our newspaper back files on microfilm run out.

August 13 - One of the running jokes in library services is the customer who comes in and asks for the blue book. In this instance, that blue book is Palmetto Braiding and Weaving by Viva J. Cooke and Julia M. Sampley (Miami, FL: E.A. Seemann Publishing, 1947). They learned how to braid and weave palmetto fronds from their mothers and wanted to pass down the arts and craft to later generations. They provide patterns for making hats, baskets and purses with the naturally abundant material.

Behind the Scenes Activities

August 19 - Among the many tasks performed in the Research Room is maintenance of the 2500+ vertical files.

The Circle Unbroken in the Book Drop Blitz sent me to the BDC's "Sweet Grass Baskets" vertical file for material to create FB posts about the book's topic. This in turn led me to several uncited clippings in the vertical file. I don't like for details to be omitted so I did a little research.

Through the power of the internet, the magazine's title and the help of the magazine's editor, I now know that "Baskets of Atlantic Canada" appeared in the November/December 2001 issue of Saltscapes on pp. 22-26. It was the 6th issue from volume 2 of the magazine's backfiles. I wrote the citation along the bottom of the final page of the photocopy so that even 50 years from now the source will be known.

Jodi Delong, the magazine's editor, sent me the direct link to the article in the Saltscapes database to share with you. The local history connection for us is on page 26 of the article.

I have no doubts that this photocopy came from one of former Interim Library Director Hillary Barnwell's annual sojourns to Nova Scotia. It still makes me smile to think of her and her dedication to Beaufort County Library and public library services.

August 12 - I am proud to announce that there are now 885 new listings in the Online Obituary Index for the 1985 Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet newspapers thanks to the work of Beloved BDC Docent (and former Library co-worker) Kathy Mitchell. She agreed earlier this year to take on the tasks of reading the newspaper microfilms in search of obituaries for local people and then indexing the items for posting into the Online Obituary Index.

This dedicated group have together created a database of entries for more than 25,000 people whose deaths were noted in the local newspapers since 1882.

Please note: The index gives the person's name and the citation for the obituary in the newspaper. The actual published obituaries are available inside the Research Room - just remember that limited access continues due to staff shortage and the small physical size of the public area of the Research Room. bdc@bcgov.net; 843-255-6446

August 17 - In response to a reference question a few weeks ago, I put together a highly selective list of books that might help you write up your family history. Please note: None of these items are available in the BDC Research Room. Check out the post in Connections, the BDC's longest running blog.

August 2 - "Materials Monday : Letters" In honor of the most recent Local History Red Letter day, i.e., the 177th anniversary of the launch of the "Bluffton Movement," today's featured item is the Reeves Collection of Stuart Family Papers. In it are a few letters written by Robert Barnwell Rhett to his sister Claudia Smith Stuart, wife of Charles Allan Stuart, the first editor of the Charleston Mercury newspaper. Learn more in Connections and read the Finding Aid on the BDC's WordPress blog. BTW: His handwriting is really hard to read.

August 9 - "Materials Monday : Letters" "Letters to the Editor" in local newspapers can be very informative about government operations and/or local issues. This letter in the March 3, 1875 issue of the Beaufort Tribune submitted by Justice attempts to explain why County Treasurer George Holmes won't pay the teachers. The issue festers for another two months or so until Robert Smalls gets the State Legislature to front Beaufort County $10K to cover the teachers' payroll.

Though we have the Beaufort Tribune on microfilm in the Research Room, it is usually more efficient to use the Chronicling America website that shares digital images of select newspapers. One can put in search terms in the digital newspapers; with microfilm it's a "read and roll" process. But - and it's a big but - microfilm remains superior as frequent readers of this page know for the reasons I have expressed in former posts here.

Former BDC assistant Lori Setterstrom did this research earlier this year. I asked her to find some interesting letters to the editor as fodder for this weekly post. Since school is again in session, I chose to work in her work now as the 2021-2022 school year begins.

August 16 - "Materials Monday : Letters" The New Testament has a lot of letters written by the Apostle Paul to various groups of Christians throughout the Roman Empire. Epistle is just a fancy word for a "letter as a literary work" meant to reach a broad audience. In the Gullah De Nyew Testament, the opening paragraph of the book of First Corinthians goes like this:

"Paul Fus Letta Ta Dem Een Corinth

A Paul, wa God call fa be postle ob Jedus Christ cause dat wa God wahn, da write dis yah letta, long wid broda Sosthenes...."

We have plenty of copies to share in the Local History sections as well as a permanent copy in the Research Room.

August 4 - "Black History Note:" Here's a bit of tourism history for you. There was a long period when Black people could not travel as easily as many other Americans could. Beginning in 1936, the Green Book led African American tourists to accommodations, restaurants and other businesses that accepted Black clientele during the days of segregation. If you watched the movie Green Book (2018) starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen, you may recall that there were a lot of places where the world famous pianist, Donald Walbridge Shirley (1927-2013) portrayed by Ali, was not welcomed. You can read the Negro Travelers' Green Book for 1956 online courtesy of the South Carolina Digital Library. There are no listings of "Hotels - Motels - Tourists Homes - Restaurants" for Beaufort in 1956. Read more about the history of the Green Books in the Library of Congress Magazine. The Library has multiple copies of the Green Book movie on DVD for you to borrow. You can listen to the movie soundtrack on Hoopla.

August 18 - "Black History Note:" ... and something of a mystery. While working on behalf of an off-site customer looking for an article, I came across two supplements to the Beaufort Gazette in September 1913 written for the Black community labeled vol. 1, Numbers 10 and 11. I didn't find any earlier issues before 5 September 1913 nor any later issues after 12 September 1913 on the microfilm. It's a shame that the issues did not survive to be microfilmed during the 1960s. There is a treasure trove of information in just the two issues we have. For example, the Caffey-Bell wedding at the Tabernacle Baptist Church sounds like it was a lovely affair.

Days of Commemoration

August 3 - It's National Watermelon Day! [Here's an image] from our Donner Collection hosted online by the Lowcountry Digital Library [to celebrate.]

August 14 - August 14, 1945 was met with a "spirit of overwhelming joy." The Empire of Japan was defeated by the Allied Powers. The then weekly Beaufort Gazette (the County's only newspaper) in its 17 August 1945 issue reported how the people of Beaufort celebrated the end of World War II.

August 17 - Q: What South Carolina plant fits in your hand?

A: A palm-etto tree!

It's National Tell-A-Joke Day! There's nothing in the rules that says it has to be a good joke. Indeed, there are no rules at all! Make someone smile today with a good - or not so good - joke. If you want to learn more about our state tree, check out its entry in the South Carolina Encyclopedia.

August 25 - "Black History Note:" Celebrate the National Park Service's birthday by visiting the Reconstruction Era Historical National Park right here in Beaufort County. You can learn about the history of the newly Freed people and the tumultuous times in which they lived as well as some of the enduring impacts of that history.

August 26 - Here's one "Happy Dog" from our "Phosphate, Farms and Family: The Donner Collection" to help us all celebrate "National Dog Day." Our partner, the Lowcountry Digital Library, hosts our image on their website for preservation and access purposes.

August 26 - Paraphrasing an idiom about dogs in honor of National Dog Day: "If you can't sign up for the BDC's Grace.Notes e-newsletter, then you'd better stay on the porch" with Fido here (another canine from our online Donner Digital Collection Those Donner Brothers loved their dogs.) Don't be a lazy dog. Sign up today!

August 27 - Today is a "Red Letter Local History Day" that makes me sad to commemorate. Go to our WordPress blog post to reflect about some of the known deceased who were killed during the Hurricane of 1893.

Miscellany, etc.

August 10 - I know how much some of you enjoy the BDC's local history programs. Get the inside scoop & stay informed of the BDC's news, notes and upcoming programs by subscribing to our occasional Grace.Notes newsletter. Go to the Library's Subscription page and check the "Beaufort District Collection" box to get on the email distribution list. BTW: If you've already subscribed, the system will tell you and prevent you from signing up again.

August 16 - School teachers did not make very much money in 1875 as this article from the Beaufort Tribune issue of April 14, 1875 p. 3 shows. That $10,000 that Robert Smalls got from the State Legislature to pay teachers [mentioned here on Monday, August 9th] was distributed as shown.

The BDC Research Room has some school district records on microfilm. If interested in learning more about what we have, send me an email bdc@bcgov.net or call 843-255-6446 so I can tell you more about the scope and content of those records and you can decide whether and when to schedule an appointment to read and roll through the appropriate reels of microfilm.

August 24 - There's a lot more history on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot than one might expect. Here are "100 Facts about Parris Island" to know and share. [The book cover was published in 1918 - before Marine Corps Order No. 32 officially changed the name "Paris" with one r to "Parris" with 2 rs on May 3, 1919 so technically spelling it "Paris Island" isn't wrong at the time of publication.]

August 20 - What good can come from studying history and/or earning a History degree? The American Historical Association answers that question.

August 21 - Got stinky books? Read some tips on how to tackle mold and mildew on your books with Biblio.com.

Artist Appreciation Month 

August 22 - August is Artist Appreciation Month and the BDC probably has and shares more information about local artists than you might expect.

August 28 - Sam Doyle is a local folk artist to appreciate.

August 29 - The Beaufort Art Association was established in 1957 to promote and support the visual arts and local artists. In 2019 the association donated their archives to the Library. Let the Finding Aid be your guide to determine whether or not you'd like to set up an appointment to review the collection's contents: gracec@bcgov.net; 843-255-6446.

About Hurricanes

August 15 - We're rapidly approaching the busiest part -- historically speaking -- of hurricane season in coastal South Carolina. I turned the "Tales to Tails" display into one featuring just a few of the BDC's many resources about hurricanes. Expect to see and read more about some of the items over the next few weeks.

August 23 - "Materials Monday: Letters" I recently re-discovered a photocopy of a letter from Clara Barton to Mrs. George Waterhouse written in 1894 as I was preparing to commemorate a significant Red Letter Day with you all later this week. There's more about the history of this letter in the BDC's Connections blog. BDC Vertical Files: the gift that just keeps on giving - and will continue to do so long after I am pushing up daisies!

August 24 - Why has the BDC turned into a filming studio again? Subscribe to the BDC's Grace.Notes e-newsletter to find out!

August 30 - "Materials Monday: Letters" Clara Barton understood the power of the media, oftentimes sending long, detailed circular letters to the Editors of the national newspapers. She appealed for aid for the survivors of the Great Sea Island Hurricane of 1893 relief efforts and the nation responded. Think of it as her way to begin a "Go Fund Me" campaign.

August 31 - Talking about hurricanes is, unfortunately, often timely. Louisiana was struck hard by Hurricane Ida over the weekend. It is not an uncommon event along the Gulf Coast or Southeastern United States.

The worst hurricane to slam Beaufort District - so far - was the Great Sea Island Hurricane. I made a video about this cataclysm of 1893 for the Library's YouTube Channel last week. Please note: Contemporary descriptions about the event are graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers. The video is intended for mature audiences. [It will be available only for a limited time. - gmc]