"Tide of Death" returns to Beaufort Branch

Local History Program reminder - and it's on the 131st anniversary of the most devastating natural disaster yet to befall Beaufort District -
 

BDC Research Room Display: Local History Program Topics

My display case for August and September is about upcoming local history topics.  Each book or visual item represents a topic that will be covered at one (or more) upcoming local history programs in one of the three series that the BDC coordinates: BDC@ The Branches in which it's a BDC standalone program; "Historically Speaking" co-sponsored by the Beaufort County Historical Society which is now in Season 6; and the Beaufort History Museum/Beaufort County Library Local History series that the BDC coordinates which is now in Season 8.  

Shelf One:

The cover of Art in South Carolina (1970) just so happens to be a color depiction of Ribault's Column as envisioned by Jacques LeMoyne in the 17th century. He was part of Jean Ribaut's Expedition. We are thrilled to host Larry Koolkin on September 5, 2024 at Beaufort Branch in collaboration with the Beaufort County Historical Society for "Jacques LeMoyne, the First European Artist to Visually Document the New World." 

The archaeological study The Search for Altamaha is representing a BDC@ The Branches talk by Nick Linville at Hilton Head Branch Library on November 22nd. Nick will share the captivating stories he has uncovered through his years of research into three cultural preserves in the area: South Bluff Heritage Preserve on Coosaw Island, Altamaha Towne in Okatee, and Green’s Shell Enclosure on Hilton Head Island. From Native American archaeological sites to historic colonial plantations, enslaved quarters, and freedman homesteads, this presentation explores the deep layers of the past that are right here in Beaufort County. 

Shelf Two: 

The "Glimpses into the Past" title covers all three series that the BDC coordinates. I use it to indicate any free local history programs offered by our unit.

The Storm Swept Coast booklet cover on the back wall is representing the latest iteration of  the "Tide of Death: The Sea Island Hurricane of 1893" lecture that I will be doing at Beaufort Branch on Wed., August 28th at 5:30 PM.  The personal accounts of what happened that night are riveting. This is a standalone BDC@ The Branches presentation.

You can see a published obituary for Sheriff Matty White propped up. I found it in our own obituary files. Sheriff White is the topic of Neil Baxley's presentation for the "Historically Speaking" series brought to you by the BDC and the Beaufort County Historical Society. In the early 20th century, Beaufort County was riddled with violence and crime. Into the breach stepped lawman Matty White. Famed for his sporting skills and owner of a “fine pack of dogs,” White saw much during his tenure as a policeman, deputy sheriff, and sheriff (1912-1920): fires, murders, public executions and threats of lynchings and race riots. 

Water, Water, Everywhere ... And Not a Drop to Drink (1962) stands in for the two sessions in October at which Tricia Kilgore will share the "History of the Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority." Most of us simply don't consider how we get our water and how we dispose of our human bodily waste. When she presented this session in April, we had all manner of technology issues (I think we got to a Plan D that afternoon) but what a trooper she was.  Her presentation was so very interesting and deserves a re-do at St. Helena and further extension into the Bluffton Branch Library. Kilgore will present at St. Helena Branch on October 15th and at Bluffton Branch on October 22nd. She also brings along some nifty "show-and-tell" objects. The Beaufort History Museum is co-sponsoring these sessions with the BDC. 

Unfortunately, we had to postpone Ted Panayotoff's Author Book Talk about Up Here: The Hunting Island Lighthouse and Its Lighkeepers due to Tropical Storm Debby. Ted's talk has been re-scheduled to September 24th at Hilton Head Branch Library beginning at 1 PM. Up Here is a standalone BDC@ The Branches session. 

Shelf Three:  

South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Battlefield History by John W. Gordon is representing two lectures: "Beaufort in the American Revolution" by Rich Thomas in February and a lecture in April about the "Influence of Geology on the American Revolutionary War" by Tom Burnett. Thomas' talk will be "Historically Speaking" 6.5 while Burnett's talk is lecture 8.6 in the Beaufort History Museum/Beaufort County Library local history series that the BDC coordinates. 

We'll lucky to have book author Peggy Pickett present in Woman's History Month. She will share information about "Eliza Lucas Pinckney's Revolutionary War." One of her sons, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, left his plantation on Pinckney Island in her care while he was off at the Continental Congresses and fighting for independence from Great Britain. Her book is Eliza Lucas Pinckney: Colonial Plantation Manager and Mother of American Patriots, 1722-1793. This is also a BHM/BCL/BDC session.

Marching with Sherman Through Georgia and the Carolinas with the 154th New York by Mark H. Dunkleman is standing in for two different sessions about the local Civil War era. On December 5th, Ben Parten will discuss the African American view of  Sherman's March to the Sea and across Beaufort District at Beaufort Branch as part of the BCHS/BDC "Historically Speaking" series; On January 28th, Neil Baxley will focus in on one of the engagements of that military march across South Carolina, Ferguson's Branch, at the Bluffton Branch Library as part of the BHM/BCL/BDC local history series. 

Shelf Four:

Though we're not quite sure what exactly we will do on the topic of Lafayette's visit to Beaufort in 1825, we are part of a consortium of local agencies helping Historic Beaufort Foundation mark the momentous occasion. We're getting help from the Beaufort Branch's Youth and Adult services librarians in planning something special - and free to all - in mid-March.

Standing up in the back is a copy of Beaufort Gazette article published on New Year's Day 1942 that states "Beaufort Lost 2 Citizens at Pearl Harbor." We are pleased that Mary Dorsey returns to share what she's learned about the man for whom Beaufort's American Legion Post 207 is named.  BHM is co-sponsoring the session at St. Helena Branch Library. 

And last but not least on the shelf is the Soil Survey of Beaufort and Jasper Counties, South Carolina (1979). On Earth Day 2025, we will have Dr. Randy James present "Why Look Up When You Can Look Down? The Fascinating Soils of Beaufort District" as part of the BHM/BCL local history series. This session will be held at the St. Helena Branch Library. 

Nothing in the display case represents the "Behind the Scenes Tour of the BDC" during National Library Week. We're only planning on one session in 2025. We're also trying to arrange a presentation about an historic murder; a history of Parris Island; and perhaps another session related to the American Revolution since we are doing our best to highlight the course of the Revolutionary War more frequently as we near the big celebration on July 4th, 2026. You'll hear more about those when I have the arrangements nailed down. 

"Historically Speaking" 6.1: Le Moyne with Larry Koolkin

The BDC and Beaufort County Historical Society's joint "Historically Speaking" series returns for a sixth season. It kicks off with a discussion on Thursday, September 5, 2024 about an important artist who depicted Native Americans in the 16th century. 

Jacques Le Moyne (de Morgues) was the first European artist to journey to what is now the continental United States.  He was tasked, by French King Charles IX, with the purpose of recording its wonders in pencil and paint.  Le Moyne’s images, which survive today through a spectacular series of 42 engravings, provide a rare glimpse of Native American life at the pivotal time of first contact with Europeans.

In 1564, Le Moyne and 300 other Protestants landed off the coast of La Florida near today’s Jacksonville.  They hoped to establish the first permanent European settlement in what would become the United States.  A year later the attempt, known as Fort Caroline, was ended violently by the Spanish from St. Augustine, led by Pedro Menendez.  Luckily Le Moyne was one of the few colonists to escape alive, returning back across the Atlantic to create dozens of illustrations of the local flora and fauna that he saw firsthand.  Although the originals have not survived, their engravings by Flemish master engraver Theodor de Bry have. 

Le Moyne is still recognized today (under the name James Morgan) as an early and influential London botanical painter.

Speaker Bio: 

“I’m definitely a glass-half-full kind of person” says Larry Koolkin…

Larry and his late wife Lainie had lived in the New England for decades.  But in 2012 they found Beaufort by chance, and decided to retire here from Vermont. 

His first career, of 35 years, focused on applied information technology, finance, and international business - including senior positions at Norwich University, MIT’s Project Athena, Bermuda’s Ernst & Young International and Ross Capital Markets, and Prague based Springboard Technology Ventures.  As a technology entrepreneur, he helped to successfully launch and manage half dozen high tech and museum services businesses.  

In 2005, after a successful entrepreneurial technology career, volunteering led to a staff position at Boston's Museum of Science.  Being invited to join their Exhibits Department was all it took to start a new career, which would include a Special Projects role at Vermont’s Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.

Moving to Beaufort renewed Larry’s latent interest in history, especially that of the 16^th century and the early period of European discovery and colonization in the New World.  And what better place than Beaufort for such an interest!

Since arriving, Larry has been a member of the Beaufort County Historic Preservation Review Board, Chair of the Santa Elena History Center’s Exhibits Committee, a member of the Beaufort History Museum’s Board and Chair of both BHM’s Exhibits and Collections Committees,  a member of Fort Freemont’s Advisory Board, and a Board member of the Archaeology Research Trust – who supports the activities of USC’s South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA). 

Larry has earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Applied Computer Science, and a graduate degree in Museum Studies.

Re-cap of July 2024 Facebook Posts

We had a pretty successful "Adventures Begin in the Library" season in June and July. We highlighted “Adventure” in our materials for our social media posts, in our display case, and through three programs that had 46 people attend. 

Thanks to Deb Henderson for tag-teaming with me about Library services in Bluffton Branch; Cassi did a great job explaining some of her own adventures with the BDC’s archival materials; and Meg Gaillard and her crew gave us a great tour of colonial Fort Frederick. Our Facebook posts during July frequently related to "adventure." 

Black History Notes: 

July 3 - "Black History Note:" Beaufort District’s Signer of the Declaration of Independence embodies the essential paradox of American history: Thomas Heyward, Jr., "Beaufort District's most ardent Patriot," was stridently in favor of independence and self-determination yet enslaved hundreds of people of African descent on his prosperous plantations. Learn more about Heyward in Connections.

Reminder: All units of the Library system will be closed tomorrow, July 4th. Regular operations resume Friday, July 5th.

July 10 - "Black History Note:" Civil War Times Magazine has an article "A Slave's Great Adventure" about the same person featured in Captain of the Planter by Dorothy Sterling (1958). That man with guts of steel was Robert Smalls.

As most of you know Smalls steamed the Planter into the Union's naval line under the nose of the Confederates in Charleston Harbor in 1862. Though the man and his feat were nationally famous during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras, Dorothy Sterling (1913-2008) was the first author in the 20th century to take note of the significance of the act in her book. We have letters between Sterling and Beaufort Township Library staff from 1955 to 1956 in the Research Room as Sterling was doing her due diligence trying to separate fact from fiction and reconcile conflicting accounts of some of the details of Smalls' life before the book's publication. The Dorothy Sterling Letters Finding Aid is in the BDCBCL: Lists, Links and Finding Aids blog.

July 17 - "Black History Note:" School Acres: An Adventure in Rural Education by Rossa B. Cooley (1930) describes her time as Principal of Penn Normal and Industrial Agriculture School. She and Grace B. House were recruited from Hampton Institute following the death of Laura Towne. Cooley and House believed in "two principles of progressive education: leaning for living and learning by doing." They did much more than teach: they tried to improve life on St. Helena Island for the Black residents by providing child care services, introducing new cash crops and scientific farming methods, and setting up a credit cooperative for local farmers. The ladies were forced into retirement in 1944 and within a few years, Penn School ceased to operate as a school.

July 24 - "Black History Note:" Mary Long's Yesteryear was a series of programs about the history of South Carolina. All were part of the ETV Adventure series. Continuing the theme of Penn School, the BCL has multiple copies of the DVDs of "Penn School: An Experiment in Freedom"(2005; 1990) that you can borrow from one of our local history sections. OR you can stream it on the PBS website.

July 31 - Our final "adventure" of the Summer Reading Program re: "Black History Note" is another ETV Video Adventure DVD. Verve salutes South Carolina's rich tradition of African-American arts. Among the seven contemporary South Carolina artists featured is former St. Helena Island resident indigo processor and batik artist Arianne King-Comer. The BCL is the only SCLENDS library system to still have copies of this video disc. We have a DVD in the BDC plus a few in the Branch Local History collections for one to borrow. The program does not appear to be available for streaming.

Don't forget to turn in your SRP completed gameboard to your closest Branch Library before the end of today's business. Doing so will mean that your name will be in the pot for the Grand Prize Drawing.

Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday

July 8 - "Uniquely BDC in 'Adventure Begins at Your Library':" The Port Royal Sound Foundation and the Beaufort County School District have sponsored the River of Words series for a few years now. In the 2015 issue - which only the BDC has and will have in perpetuity as the permanent part of the BCL - a fifth grader wrote about her "Pinckney Island Adventure."

July 15 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday:" Shrimp Boats are Coming by local author Robert L. Chaplin, Jr. (2002) is a light-hearted adventure novel that tells of love, friendship, and competition in a small coastal town. A married couple buy and operate a shrimp boat and there's a mysterious death aboard. The BDC is the only SCLENDS library to have this title.

July 22 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday:" Two Faces of Paradise by Charles McLaughlin is a fictionalized account of a real adventure on Capers Island. Ann and Susan go to the barrier island with Uncle Charlie for the day. They have engine trouble and are marooned. Long delayed, the Beaufort rescue boats begin searching for them. All's well that ends well. The BDC is the only SCLENDS Library to have a copy of this title.

July 29 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday" - As our final "unique" adventure, I will use an inset on Map 685 entitled "Historic Beaufort Gem of the South Carolina Sea Islands" by Marie Fenner (1970). The map has a lot of border images. In the bottom left corner is "England: Cap't. William Hilton, Commander, Capt. Anthony Long and Pete Fabian on the ship Adventure explored Port Royale waterways ; landed Saint Ellens, September 14, 1663." [Aren't all those variant spellings fun?]

Local History Programs

July 12 - I'm sure that Cassandra will talk about at least a few of the Finding Aids she's edited and created since she came aboard in January. Come see her shine later this month.

July 21 - "This Week in the BDC:" Don't forget that Cassandra will be sharing what she's found and learned on Wednesday evening. No need to register. We'll open the doors for seating at 5 PM.

July 29 - Cassandra and I will be heading over to Fort Frederick later this morning ... Tour starts at 10 AM - in case you'd like to join us!

July 26 - Finally got some photos posted for our June 22nd program at Bluffton Branch

Finding Aid Fridays

July 26 - "Finding Aid Friday:" One of the archival collections Cassandra highlighted in her presentation "Adventures in the Archives" earlier this week was a conveyance from 1869. It is one of a very few deeds which we have in the Research Room.

Just Because

July 3 - Enjoy your Independence Day. We'll be back in the office on Friday, July 5th.

July 7 - It's Shark Week.

July 16 - It's National Snake Day. One of the brochures we have in our SNAKES vertical file, "Common Snakes of SC (1977)," just so happens to be part of the State Library's State Documents Collection. Take a look-see to educate yourself re: venomous and non-venomous snakes you might encounter here in the Palmetto State.

July 18 - Just for fun: Beaufort District newspapers of the past (and present) have fairly traditional names. (I'd vote for the Bluffton Eccentric published between June 1987 and December 1991 as the best local newspaper title). However, Amber Paranick of the Library of Congress wrote about some funny newspaper titles that are to be found within the Chronicling America database that you might enjoy.

July 23 - On 19 July 2024, Library marketing sent out the BDC local history e-newsletter to subscribers. If you want to get this news quicker (that is, before it is reposted to Connections and then to our Facebook page), go to the Library's subscribe page, enter your email address, name, and check the Local History box to get on the BDC's email distribution list.

July 25 - We're always adding materials about the people and history of our geographically defined scope. Here's what came in since Valentine's Day.

July 27 - Heads up: The Lowcountry Digital Library (LCDL - as well as SCDL) has a planned IT outage scheduled for today, Saturday, July 27 from 7:00am – 7:00pm. This means that the BDC's digital collections hosted thereon will not be available for at least 12 hours today. (Fingers crossed that all goes well and the LCDL is back up and running at 7:01 pm.) Note: It did.

Also, please join us Monday morning for a tour of Fort Frederick with Heritage Trust's archaeologist Meg Gaillard.

July 28 - Thomas Heyward, Jr., son of Daniel Heyward and his wife Mary Miles Heyward, was born at Old House Plantation, St. Luke’s Parish, 278 years ago today. Learn more about his life and times on our Links & List blog.

Hurricane Debby Causes Closure

The Beaufort District Collection will be closed on Tuesday, August 6th and Wednesday, August 7th along with the other units of the Beaufort County Library as a consequence of Tropical Storm Debby's visit to our area. Please monitor the Beaufort County Library website and social media for any scheduling updates as authorities determine the extent of any damage.   

We postponed Ted Panayotoff's Book Talk about the Hunting Island Lighthouse until a future date - TBD. 

Stay safe! 

BDC Monthly Overview for August 2024

Latest update: 5 August 2024 10 AM

The Up Here Author Book Talk with Ted Panayotoff is postponed due to inclement weather. We will reschedule. Stay safe. - gmc

We do so hope that you enjoyed your Library adventures during Summer Reading Program 2024. Though SRP has ended, our own quest to bring local history to the residents and visitors of Beaufort County continues. 

We're excited about introducing the new Port Royal Branch staff to the array of BDC services and programs on August 1st. 

We have two local history programs set for this month. 

1) We're on the road to Hilton Head Branch Library on Tuesday, August 6th to host an author book talk about the history of the Hunting Island Lighthouse. We do so hope that you'll be able to start your National Lighthouse Day celebration with us. Theodore ("Ted") Panayotoff has been involved with lighthouses most of his life. When he relocated to Beaufort in 2016, this former Naval Officer took on the Directorship of the Lighthouse Committee of the Friends of Hunting Island State Park and has continued his research about the structure ever since. Come learn about the fascinating history and steadfast keepers of one of Beaufort County's most recognized and beloved landmarks. 

This free local history program will be first come; first seated. Doors will
open for seating at 12:30 PM. The Author Book Talk is scheduled to begin at 1 PM. 

Because of the local history program - and the amount of travel, set up and take down time involved, the Research Room will be closed to walk-in customers on August 6th. 

2) On the evening of August 28, I will do the latest version of my talk about the Great Sea Island Hurricane at the Beaufort Branch. That meeting room has a capacity of 90 people, somewhat quashed in. 

First come, first seated and we'll open the doors for seating at 5 PM. Program starts at 5:30 PM.  

If you haven't caught this well-used lecture before, or if you haven't heard it within the past 3 years (it changes a bit every time), then you may want to try to catch it this time. It will be the last "showing" in 2024. 

BTW: We'll stop accepting walk-ins at 3:30 PM on August 28th as we'll need to set up the Beaufort Meeting Room for the "Tide of Death" lecture. 

Otherwise, we'll just be tootling along with regular tasks, our projects, and doing our best to help you discover more about Beaufort District's history through time via our collections, our social media, and our program offerings. 

We hope to have a new BDC Circulation Assistant on the job soon. And in case you've missed the announcement, Port Royal Branch Library will be opening on Wed., August 21st. Grand Opening ribbon cutting will be on Saturday, August 24th. Get the details on the Library's website.