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.