12 October 2024

Honoring Contributions of the Gullah Geechee People

October is Gullah Geechee Heritage Month. The Library honors Gullah Geechee heritage with special collections of Gullah Geechee heritage in the BDC and at the St. Helena Branch Library.

The BDC’s primary focus is geography. We collect a host of materials about a variety of topics within a defined geographical area – in other words, Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties. Collecting materials of and about Gullah heritage began more than 100 years ago. Some are very rare. A few can be found nowhere else. Overall, about 20% of BDC holdings relate in some manner to Gullah Geechee heritage. The BDC is acknowledged for having one of the largest collections of Gullah related materials in the Southeast. 

In contrast, the Gullah Geechee Reference collection at St. Helena Branch covers only one topic: Gullah Geechee culture as expressed throughout the southeastern United States. The secondary materials in St. Helena Branch’s reference collection extend also to the culture’s African roots.  

While there is some overlap in individual titles held, the two units are quite distinct. Both are maintained in recognition of the contribution of the Gullah Geechee people to our nation’s history.

We have posted some information and guides about Gullah culture online: 

Praise Houses in Gullah Religion and Social Practices

Gullah Culture: A Preliminary List

Beaufort History Moment: Gullah Food [video] with Emory Campbell

Beaufort History Moment: Gullah Language [video] with Emory Campbell

Sweetgrass Baskets in the Lowcountry 

 If you're looking for the best reads, pick a title or two from this flyer to begin (or continue) your journey learning about a fascinating - and local - culture.

and there's even more reading recommendations in honor of Gullah/Geechee Heritage Month on the Library's website. 

Reminder: The Library will be closed on Monday, October 14, 2024 for Staff Training. 

Second Reminder: The Beaufort History Museum/ Beaufort County Library Local History series Season 8 kicks off on Tuesday

"The History of the Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority, 1954 - " with Tricia Kilgore

BHM/BCL Local History Series 8.1A
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior, Road | 2 PM | First come, first seated. Door opens at 1:30 PM

BHM/BCL Local History Series 8.1B
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way | 2 PM | First come, first seated. Door opens at 1:30 PM

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