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.