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.