Grace.Note to Local History Enthusiasts Mid-July 2024 issue

Honestly, I don't know why I haven't thought of this before now. I've decided to get double-duty out of my occasional local history newsletters by posting them henceforth a few days to a week after the issues are distributed to our subscribers. The most recent local history newsletter (what I call a "Grace.Note" - the name being suggested by a former library employee) was sent out by Library Marketing on the morning of 19 July. However, Connections gives me some extra space for some ruminating thoughts and images not included in the distributed email. 

We’re at that point in the year where everything - and everyone - is hot and sticky most of the time. I am a native coastal South Carolinian who has lived in the Palmetto State for almost my entire life. One would think that a native would be inured to the heat but alas it is not so. In spite of the heat, though, the BDC continues to offer adventures in local history!

Just remember that should your HVAC go out (and I certainly hope that it does not), your local branch library is open to all if you need a respite from the heat of the day while the AC gets fixed. And if you do go to one of our libraries to get cooled off, might I suggest that your begin (or continue) your own adventure with the long and storied history of our little part of the world by checking out what’s in its Local History section at your Branch Library? Branch staff will be delighted to take you to it. (The image is of the Local History section at Lobeco Branch Library. JSYK: Even the new Port Royal Branch will have a small LH section of materials I picked when it opens.) 

LOCAL HISTORY ADVENTURES CONTINUE

On Wednesday, July 24^th at 5:30 PM Cassandra Knoppel, the BDC’s Library Specialist, will share some of her "Adventures in the Archives" from her first 6 months on the job. Come encourage a young professional at the beginning of her career.

The following Monday, July 29^th at 10 AM, meet us at colonial Fort Frederick for a tour given by the lead archaeologist who was in charge of its preservation, Meg Gaillard. It’s been about a decade since we last visited this historic site so we hope that you can join us.

Here are the rubs:

1) You must supply your own transportation to and from the historic site.

2) Please bring your own water. Even at 10 AM, it’s likely going to be roasting. I have my fingers crossed for a fresh and cool river breeze that morning.

3) Parking is limited at and near the historic site. Please carpool if able.

Check the calendar entry for details and advisories. 

Be sure to turn in your Summer Reading Program gameboard to your home branch library on or before July 31st to be entered into the grand prize drawing.

OLYMPIC CHAMPION

With the Paris Olympics about to get underway, learn about one of Beaufort District's Olympic Gold Medalists. Joe Frazier was a 1964 Olympic boxing champion before he became the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Though he spent most of his adult life in Philadelphia, his roots run deep in Beaufort County. Learn more on the BDCBCL's WordPress blog.

NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY

We’re celebrating National Lighthouse Day a day early, on Tuesday, August 6th, with an author book talk about the Hunting Island Lighthouse and Its Keepers with Ted Panayotoff at Hilton Head Branch Library.  Can’t make the session? Then read a bit about the lights of Beaufort District in Connections. Or check out the book from the local history section at your Branch Library.

2024 - 2025 PROGRAMS ROSTER IS EVOLVING

As frequent readers may know, my mantra is "Do what you can with what you've got, where you are." Our main job in the BDC is to keep the materials safe and share what we can with researchers. Our first priority is, has been, and ever will be (at least as long as I am in charge), good stewardship of the materials entrusted to us. I've always considered the Research Room the "Alamo" of BDC services - and when times were tough (particularly during the Great Recession and the COVID pandemic) I made sure that the Research Room was protected and defended (with gratitude to the Clover Club and Friends of the Beaufort Library for always having my back in those darkest of days.) 

But let's get real: Our most popular service is our local history programs. We are very happy to have such dedicated local history enthusiasts. Just please understand that what is offered where and when depends on a whole lot of variables: BCL priorities, program topic; expected turnout; meeting room size and amenities; speaker preference; series; BDC staff stamina; size of the BDC staff; how long since we last covered the topic; etc. though we do our best to make sure that each of the larger branches with large meeting rooms (Beaufort, St. Helena, Bluffton and Hilton Head) gets at least two local history programs per July – June cycle.

We cover the whole gamut of Beaufort District’s history, from the Native Americans into the mid-20th century this cycle. No matter your favorite period of history, we’ve got something for you! Here’s what you can look forward to over the next few months:

• I’m doing the latest iteration of fan favorite, “Tide of Death: The Great Sea Island Hurricane of 1893” at Beaufort Branch on Wednesday evening, August 28 at 5:30 PM at Beaufort Branch. (Cassandra's made a recent re-discovery that will be included for the first time.) 
• Our 6th season of the “Historically Speaking” series with the Beaufort County Historical Society opens in early September with a talk by Larry Koolkin about the first European artist to visually document the New World.
• Our joint series with Beaufort History Museum – now in its 8th season - opens in October with 2 sessions (one at St. Helena Branch; the other at Bluffton Branch) the history of a key piece of local infrastructure, the Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority, by Tricia Kilgore. 

And this cycle we’ve added a new twist: We’re branching out into a bit of environmental history and its effects on the past. Keep your eyes open for details about an Earth Day 2025 program about the fascinating soils of Beaufort District and a program about how geology impacted the American Revolution in this area and beyond.

Be sure to monitor the Library system's calendar for details for all upcoming BDC local history programs because "stuff" does happen to our best laid plans from time to time. 

Want to get this news quicker? Enter your email address, name, and check the Local History box on the Library's subscribe page.