Highlights of Native American Heritage in the BDC Display Case

I assign BDC staff to create displays for a number of reasons:  1) to get acquainted with the scope of BDC holdings yet 2) explore BDC resources more deeply re: a particular topic or theme 3) to ascertain their creativity 4) learn their writing style; and 5) assess how their brain works. But there's also the dividend to me that I can do other tasks instead of thinking about how to stock the display case on a recurrent basis. While it is true that I too re-discover materials to highlight when I choose a "new" topic to cover, it's good for other staff to explore our holdings. Sometimes my staff "see" connections that I do not. When Jalen arrived, he was assigned the November 2023 display case on the topic of Native Americans. Below is Jalen Lugo's first entry for the Connections blog, edited of course, by me. -- Grace Cordial

My first two months working at the BDC have been quite eventful. I knew about the size of the collection, but I did not begin to comprehend the sheer amount of information it presented. Every day I find, at the very least, 5 items or topics that I never heard about, or had little knowledge regarding it. Whether it be through an event, by Grace informing me, or through my own research I find that the BDC contains a wealth of knowledge that few seem to know of and fewer still take advantage of it.

Most customers who come to the BDC do not visit for the purpose of researching a historical topic such as the Catawba or “Tuscarora” Barnwell, but instead come to research the genealogical side of things. Surprisingly, or at least to me, the BDC contains fantastic sources of information regarding genealogy as well as containing records and historical items from Beaufort District's history. Below, for the Indigenous Peoples month during November, are 11 items that I found the most interesting and were proper for the display case. 

The Catawba Indian Nation of the Carolinas by Thomas J. Blumer attempts to restore the legacy of the Catawba Indians. The Catawba are referred to under different names, many times being used in tandem with Chicora. What made this stand out over other items was that the Catawba are the only federally recognized found in South Carolina. There are nine state recognized Native American tribes found in South Carolina, but the Catawba are the only federally recognized tribe.

Lowcountry SC Ethnohistory: A Guide to Indian and Afro-American Sources by Alexander Moore is a guide to finding sources and items that may help on someone’s journey to discovering the roots of their past. It contains a decent amount of sources that one may use to discover their past, something that is difficult because of the deconstruction of Native American culture and identity and the slave trade. Because of European colonization, the Native Americans were forced to move out of their original homes and areas or face extinction. Those that were brought to the “new world” through enslavement have also lost their cultural identities because of the way Europeans kept track of their enslaved peoples. Most documents, if any, that contain any information on enslaved people is just an inventory because they were considered property, so the most you will discover on these documents is a first name and who their previous masters were.

The Yamassee Indians from Florida to South Carolina edited by Denise I. Bossy contains information regarding the Yamassee Indians from a cultural perspective. Chapter authors discuss who the Yamassee were, what they accomplished, and how they reacted to the continuing discrimination and slave trade the Europeans established which ultimately led to war in 1715.

Lore can be defined in different ways, one being tall tales that are passed down from generation to generation, and another as a way to describe the history of a people or topic. South Carolina Indian Lore by Bert W. Bierer uses the term “lore” to describe cultural identity of the Native Americans, and what made them so important. It contains information on shell mounds or shell middens, pottery, and how they acted together as a people.

Sea Island Secrets, a Journey Through Time: 4000 years of history uncovered in the South Carolina Lowcountry is a DVD. This documentary features shell middens, essentially garbage heaps left by Native Americans. Shell middens are found all through the lowcountry. Famed archaeologist Dr. Chester DePratter and others describe what they discovered while examining the coast and shorelines of South Carolina and Georgia. I chose this item to represent the variety of materials formats housed in the Research Room.

Volumes in Historical Archaeology XXI: The Search for Altamaha by William Green is a report of about enduring signs of Native American activity and habitation that led to the rediscovery of the Yamasee Altamaha settlement.  It also contains initial thoughts and theories of what could be found and where it could be found. I chose this because I love reading about archaeological excavations and discoveries. I even like the repetitiveness of some of the details. It reminds me of Indiana Jones or Drake from Uncharted - archaeologists who, although far-fetched, do their research, complete excavations, and then go out on daring adventures, searching for lost cities and treasure. 

The Indian Slave Trade by Alan Gallay outlines the fall of the Native Americans to the European Slave Trade and how Native Americans initially reacted and handled the situation. What makes this book interesting is that it is totally unbiased with the information it presents and thorough. Not only did Indians participate in the slave trade by selling members of other groups to Europeans; they also were sold into slavery by Europeans. The Indian slave trade has largely been left out of high school and college textbooks. This book helps to rectify that omission.

Scouting the Inland Passage is a map showing passages used by the Indians, landmarks, and trading paths. I selected it for its graphical appeal.

Yamassee Native American Indians: Culture, Heritage & Practices by Bih Mico-Grand Chief Se’Khu Hadjo Gentle outlines the story of the Yamassee, what they accomplished, and who they are. The author argues that atrocities in the past almost wiped out the tribe making it very important for current members to share their traditional knowledge and way of life.  

I opened The Catawba Indians the People of the River by Douglas Summers Brown to the page that has an image of the Catawba Indians attending a Christian church. I don’t understand why the Catawba, or any Indian people, would want to go to the church of the people that stole their land and killed them. Why I find this so surprising is because in Puerto Rico, we are taught about the Native Americans whom the Spanish enslaved or killed. The Spanish tried to convert the Indians into the Catholic Religion but because of their resolve and the idea that someone else chose this for them, they decided that they would rather fight back and die rather than lose their identity to a people who enslaved them and took their resources. 

Indian Arrowheads and Spearheads in the Carolinas by Bert W. Bierer is a field guide of information ranging from Clovis Points (9000 to 17000 years ago) to Nodena Points (400 to 600 years ago). I am fascinated that archaeologists were not only able to find these artifacts but be able to identify them. One would think that with all the time that has passed, these small items would deteriorate into an unidentifiable rock. I am glad that they have not.   

BDC Posts to Facebook, October 16 - November 15, 2023

As you are likely aware, we celebrate a lot of themes during October and in November we honor Native American Heritage Month. Accordingly, you'll see references in our Facebook posts to National Archives Month, Family History Month, Gullah Geechee Heritage Month, and program reminders. 

Here's what I wrote for Facebook from mid-October to mid-November: 

October 16: "Uniquely BDC:" Materials Monday in Archives Month - Archives by their very nature are unique collections of materials created or compiled by an individual or an organization for a particular purpose. The BDC Research Room has about 200 such collections ranging in size from the contents of one folder to about 150,000 items in many archival boxes. We have posted some Finding Aids online; we have those Finding Aids and more in a binder in the Research Room; and we continue to work from the inventory list to arrange and describe what remains unarranged and described. Unfortunately, the BDC's archival collections are not listed with other BDC materials in the joint SCLends catalog. So ... if you have a question about our holdings, when it comes to Archives, it's best to contact us directly and ask: bdc@bcgov.net or 843-255-6468.

October 23: "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday": Plantations are still on my mind after Kayleigh Vaughn's enlightening presentations earlier this week. So I went in search of uniquely BDC plantation related materials - and found one to highlight for you today.

The BDC Research Room is the only place within the SCLENDS consortium that you can find this "Rough Map of Eustis Plantation on Ladies Island SC" originally drawn by George Gage in 1876 and filed at the Beaufort County register of deeds in 1879 but copied here by F.H. Swain on 22 January [19]08. It certainly looks like the reason for the map was to separate the plantation into lots for sale. In 1876 $10 an acre seems to be the going price. Even with calculating for the 1876 value of a dollar into 2023 dollars ($10 = $287. 65), just you try buying a 22+ Acre waterfront lot on Lady's Island for $6328.30 today! Make an appointment and Jalen and I will be happy to bring Map #276 to the public area of the Research Room for you to see up close and personal.

Another factor to note for Archives Month: This map was laminated probably long before I came to work in 1999. Once thought to help preserve and protect important documents, lamination as a preservation practice was stopped by the early 1980s as we learned how dangerous and destructive the fusing of plastics into historic documents was. Though the service is still available through many vendors for personal use, archivists definitely don't apply the process to any materials within our safekeeping and do not recommend that anyone else does so either. The saddest fact is that lamination, like light damage, cannot be undone. (If you'd like to geek out: Lamination vs. Encapsulation is a good summary of the difference between encapsulation - which the BDC does now -- and lamination - which no reputable special collections does any longer.)

October 30: "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday:" Another specific to the BDC map about plantations concerns those on Daufuskie Island. Historian Rebecca Starr shared a map of "Former Plantation Boundaries (Pre-Civil War)" that shows the location of 10 plantations: Fripp; Martinangel; Benji's Point; Maryfield; Web; Cooper River; Haig Point; Melrose; Oakridge; and Blood Point on the 5000 acre sea island. Most of the names sound quite familiar to current Beaufort County residents. It's map 4-1 of the Daufuskie Island Plan 1984 draft document appearing on pages 66-67. We also have the map separately encapsulated with call number BDC Map 484 for our Research Room customers to use.

The "Daufuskie Island Plan 1984" was put together by the Beaufort County Joint Planning Committee in reaction to applications by the Daufuskie Island Land Trust, Inc. and the Maryfield Subdivision for development permission for individual homes. At that time the JPC reckoned that the population on Daufuskie Island would reach just over 10,000 by 2020. Man, oh man! was that an over-projection. The US Census Bureau only counted 557 people on Daufuskie in 2020. Some of the plantations were indeed developed - and some went bust - and some land is tied up with heirs property issues - and some areas remain largely undeveloped.

November 6: "Uniquely BCL:" Sea Island Secrets, A Journey Through Time, an official 2011 selection for the Beaufort International Film Festival, is a documentary that illuminates 4000 years of history layered in the marshes of Beaufort District. Mike Hudson, Gibbes McDowell and archaeologist Dr. Chester DePratter examined our changing shoreline and discovered artifacts of Native American habitation in the marshlands from at least 2000 years before the common era. Only the BDC and BCL's local history sections have DVDs of the film to share.

November 13: "Uniquely BDC:" The Search for Altamaha : the Archaeology and Ethnohistory of an Early 18th Century Yamasee Indian Town by William Green (1992) ultimately resulted in the creation of one of Beaufort County's Passive Parks. Learn more about the Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve.

October 17: The BDC is on the road ... again. This time to St. Helena Branch Library for the Beaufort County Library premiere of "Plantation Profiles" with Kayleigh Vaughn of the Morris Center for Lowcountry History. Come learn about a bit of local history about plantations such as Auldbrass; Belfair; Frogmore; Rose Hill; Tomotley; Honey Horn; Hobonny; Newport; Twickenham; Haig Point; and Oldfield. We'll open the doors at 1:30 for first come seating. If this afternoon is not good for you, make plans to head South of the Broad River to Bluffton Branch for the reprise on Thursday morning, October 19th. Doors open for the Bluffton Branch session's first come, first seated lecture at 10:30 AM. Both sessions are tri-sponsored by the BDC, Beaufort History Museum and the Beaufort County Historical Society.

October 18: Session #1 of "Plantation Profiles" was a success! The assembled enjoyed Kayleigh Vaughn's talk about some of the area's best known plantations, their respective histories, and the people who owned and/or lived on them before the 20th century. We're doing it again tomorrow morning at the Bluffton Branch Library. Hope to see you there: doors open at 10:30 AM; Program starts at 11.

October 18: More photos from session #1. We hope to see all y'all South of the Broad folks at Bluffton Branch in the morning for Session 2 of "Plantation Profiles" with Kayleigh Vaughn.

October 19: This morning is your last chance to hear Kayleigh Vaughn's history of some of the best known plantations in Beaufort District: Auldbrass, Belfair, Frogmore, Rose Hill, Tomotley, Honey Horn, Hobonny, Newport, Twickenham, Haig Point, and Oldfield. Doors open for seating at 10:30 AM at the Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way. This local history program is co-sponsored by the BDC, Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort History Museum. Check out the "Plantation Profiles" album!

October 20: Our next local history program - on Friday, November 3rd - is about a Civil War Union unit, the 79th New York Highlanders. Feel free to join us beginning at 1:30 PM for Tom Vaselopulos' lecture "Kilted Warriors." This time the BDC and BHM will be at the Beaufort Branch.

November 3: Jalen, the Beaufort History Museum folks, and I hope to see you in the Beaufort Branch Meeting Room this afternoon for "Kilted Warriors" with Tom Vaselopulos.

November 4: It's a busy Saturday today. Meet us at the Arsenal. Head to the Waterfront Park for the Friends of the Beaufort Library Book Sale either before or after you visit the BHM's Civil War Encampment.

November 4: All set up for our day in the '60s - the 1860's that is!

November 9: We hope to see you later this morning at the Hilton Head Branch Library for "Snake Bit" with Robert Lanham.

October 18: "Black History Note" in "Gullah Geechee Heritage Month: "The term “Gullah” or “Geechee” describes a unique group of African Americans descended from enslaved Africans who have had a profound and enduring impact on Beaufort County’s local history and way of life.

October 25: "Black History Note" in Gullah Geechee Heritage Month: Praise houses were once common on the Sea Island where spontaneous local meetings during the week supplemented Sunday services as well as a location where grievances could be aired and mediated. Learn more about this important feature in Gullah culture in our WordPress blog.

November 1: "Black History Note:" Given that language development reflects historical development, South Carolina experienced a diverse influx of cultures and languages from the onset. SC's language patterns and choice of words was influenced by Native Americans, enslaved African Americans, and a plethora of European peoples—Scots-Irish, English, Jewish, German, and Huguenots chief among them. Nichols tells the richly complex story of language contact from groups representing three continents and myriad cultures. In examining how South Carolinians spoke in public and private during the grim years of settlement, we glean much about how they developed a common culture while still honoring as best they could the heritages and tongues of their ancestors. Nichols pays particular attention to the development of the Gullah language among the coastal African American peoples and the ways in which this language—and others of South Carolina's early inhabitants—continues to influence the communication and culture of the state's current populations.

You can set up an appointment to come read our copy [of Voices of Our Ancestors: Language Contact in Early South Carolina by Patricia Causey Nichols (2009) ] in the Research Room or you can borrow one from the SCLENDS consortium.

November 8: "Black History Note:" South Carolina’s Blacks and Native Americans, 1776 - 1976 by Marianna W. Davis and the Bicentennial Project Editorial Board (1976) was an overview of the contributions made by African Americans and Native peoples upon the state's political, religious, educational, artistic, occupational, sports and community history to honor of the nation's 200th birthday. Raymond H. Williams of Beaufort was on the State Human Affairs Commission led by James E. Clyburn at the time the book was published. You can check out a copy from one of our partners in the SCLENDS consortium or you can set up an appointment to visit the Research Room to read this book: 843-255-6468 or bdc@bcgov.net.

November 15: "Black History Note:" The archaeological study Cultural Resources Investigations at Penn Center 2010 by Carl Steen and his Diachronic Research Foundation (2011) begins as almost all of the archaeological studies in the Research Room begin - with the pre-historic Native American peoples who left behind remains of their culture and lives under the sandy soil of the area. The purpose of the study was to explore the history of the proposed sites for a health center and a branch of the Beaufort County Library on St. Helena Island. The document contains lots of color photographs of the dig and artifacts found. BTW: This is another item that could also be an "Uniquely BDC" selection this month.

October 19: It's Great Southeast Shakeout, earthquake preparedness day! Most folks are unaware of the fact that South Carolina quivers rather often. As far as historical seismic events go, the two Palmetto State earthquakes to know are Charleston (1886) and Union (1913). By far, the Earthquake of 1886 had more impact on Beaufort County. Read Connections to learn more.

October 24: It's Family History Month - and there's never a wrong time to find and share compelling stories from your family history. Perhaps you'll find "How to Write a Family History or Memoir" helpful. I wrote this Connections post a few years ago in response to a customer inquiry.

October 25: It is with sadness that we learned of the death of Douglas W. Bostick, historian, author, raconteur, and Executive Director of the the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. We enjoyed his trips down to Beaufort to talk about Carolina Day and South Carolina's Revolutionary War history and the occasional lunch through the years. May he rest in peace.

October 26: In honor of Pat Conroy.

October 31: Happy Halloween from Jalen and me! Check out the Ghost stories we have posted on the BDCBCL blog. Read about Gauche the Huguenot Ghost; "The Roast Ghost"; Library Gremlins; Hags; Land's End Light and a Haunting on Ribaut Road.

November 1: Overview

November 2: Perhaps your commemoration of All Souls Day today, aka the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, can include a visit to one or more of Beaufort District's many cemeteries. We have a list of some of those cemeteries to help you on our Links, Lists & Finding Aids blog.

November 2: Beloved BDC docent Kathy Mitchell just finished adding 1283 more souls to the BCL's obituary index that she found published in the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet newspapers of 1995.

November 5: "This Week in the BDC" is a bit unusual. We're open regular hours Monday, Nov. 6th; Tuesday, Nov. 7th and Wednesday, Nov. 8th. We are accepting appointments for Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 7th - though do go do your civic duty as an American citizen and South Carolina resident first - and for Wednesday, Nov. 8th.

We host author Robert Lanham for "Snake Bit" on Thursday, Nov. 9th at Hilton Head Branch. Jalen and I hope that you'll be able to join us if you live South of the Broad River.

Please note: The Library is closed for two days this Veterans Day holiday. County policy says that when a holiday falls on a Saturday, the holiday is observed on Friday, November 10th - which is good for most of the County's employees but not for those who might work weekend and night time hours. Therefore, the Library Board of Trustees has agreed to also let library staff have Saturday, November 11th off for traditional Veterans Day this year. When the Libraries shutdown at their regular time on Thursday, staff won't return until Monday, November 13th. (Election Day tally by Jernej Furman).

November 10: Reminder: The Library is closed today and tomorrow to observe Veterans Day 2023.