"Waving the Red Shirts of Redemption" Local History Program July 12th

The Beaufort District Collections second contribution to the Library's summer activities delves into an exploration of the collaboration among disparate groups to create a Fusion political movement in the early 1870s. It's a topic that deserves more focus than it usually receives. 

As you are probably aware, Reconstruction Era politics was a rough and tumble and often violent affair. National Park Service Historian Nathan Betcher will discuss the political turbulence of the ten years between the end of the Civil War and the election of 1876. Radical Republicans, Independent Republicans, Straight-out Democrats and Fusion Democrats all vied for votes and dominance. Scandals, malfeasance, and charges of voter fraud were rife. Local players included William Whipper and Robert Smalls. 

We are pleased to offer “Waving the Red Shirts of Redemption: Reconstruction Era Politics and the South Carolina Election of 1876” with Nathan Betcher (NPS) as an "Historically Speaking" Extra during Summer Reading Program 2023 on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 in the Beaufort Branch Library's Theresa Dunn Meeting Room, 311 Scott Street, beginning at 2:00 pm. This free program will be a "First Come, First Seated" local history opportunity.  

About the Speaker: 

Nathan Betcher is the Historian for Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in Beaufort, South Carolina. At the park, he is responsible for research into the people and places of Reconstruction, coordinating activities of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, and is responsible for all resource management at the park in accordance with Section 106 and NEPA. He holds a Red Card as an All-Hazards Resource Advisor (READ) and has been on multiple hurricane damage assessment teams as a READ. He has also completed the ARPA For Cultural Resources Professionals and NEPA/Section 106 in-resident courses. 

​​​​​​​Nathan spent ten years in the Army on active duty as an Armored Crewman, where his Army assignments took him overseas to South Korea, Germany, Iraq, and multiple duty stations in the US.  After leaving active duty, he returned to school to finish his degrees, and transitioned to the Army Reserve as a Civil Affairs Specialist.  He holds two BAs, one in History and the other in Political Science from the University of Kentucky, and earned his MS in Historic Preservation from the Clemson/College of Charleston historic preservation program.  During his time in graduate school, he did internships at Grand Canyon National Park and Ft. Sumter & Ft. Moultrie National Historical Park.  

Nathan started his Park Service career in 2018 as the Historian at Ft. Sumter and Ft. Moultrie NHP and the Charles Pinckney NHS, both located in the greater Charleston SC area.  He transferred in 2021 to Reconstruction Era NHP to build a Resources Program at the park.  In 2022 Nathan was selected into the first cohort of Army Monuments Officers – the first group of Soldiers tasked with protecting cultural heritage in the Army since the famed “Monuments Men” of World War 2.   

During his free time, Nathan loves to travel with his wife Bailey who is also completely committed to spoiling their dog, Abby.