Note: Since I consider the "Archives Month" related posts the most important, they will be featured first; followed by "Black History Notes"; a "Materials Monday: Uniquely BDC" post; then I'll end with "This Week in the BDC," local history programs, and seasonal related posts. I am condensing this summary to eliminate most references to the "Creepiest" image contest. -- gmc
October 1 - Monthly Overview: October is always one of the busiest months of the year in the BDC. We celebrate Archives Month, Archaeology Month, Family History Month, Gullah Geechee Heritage Month and half of Hispanic Heritage Month in the tenth month of the Gregorian calendar. Expect to see social media posts about each and all of these topics.
We have a lot of "stuff" to do: a mandatory County training; 2 community outreach efforts; 4 local history programs; and the semi-annual Library Staff Training Day on October 14th. In addition to our regular duties and working with Research Room customers, we're still trying to find the right person to join the BDC team by reviewing applications and setting up interviews.
As of this writing, Research Room closures related to these efforts will occur on Thursday, October 3rd, Monday, October 14th, Tuesday, October 15th and Tuesday, October 22nd. But other unexpected closures can occur due to inclement weather (we're still in Hurricane Season) and staff shortage.
Archives Month - including "Finding Aid Friday" posts:
October 3 - In honor of Archives Month: We get asked about what we have to support a business' or organization's anniversary celebration on a pretty regular basis. How we answer depends on a number of factors. Learn more in Connections.
October 4 - Since it's Archives Month, it'd reflect badly on us if we do not post a new Finding Aid each week during October. Cassandra recently completed the Finding Aid for a small postcard collection about the shrimping industry that we got last year.
October 18 - "Finding Aid Friday" in American Archives Month: Cassandra just got finished processing the second oldest local garden club records. Sea Island Garden Club was first organized in 1937 - but the records the Club gave us begin 40 years later in 1977.
Perhaps some older records will surface from the personal papers of former members before the Club starts looking for materials to celebrate the SIGC's 100th anniversary. I often suggest to customers in the process of compiling materials for an organization's anniversary that they poll current members and former members - and the adult children of deceased former members - for any programs or photographs that they might have. Sometimes a documentary treasure will turn up from the ask.
I encourage donation of compiled printed histories of local organizations to the BDC for future researchers to use. Contact the BDC if your organization has something to share: bdc@bcgov.net or 843-255-6468.
October 21 - "Uniquely BDC Materials Monday" in Archives Month:" 2 of the BDC's 9 collections hosted by the Lowcountry Digital Library are stereoscope photographs from the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. Enjoy the LA Hall Collection. Ever wonder what precisely is a stereoscope? This article explains.
October 24, 3 PM - The BDC is lucky to have Laura and Val working on the merger of vertical files from Beaufort Branch and Hilton Head Branch libraries into the BDC's historically minded folders. We're in year 7 of this long term project and down from about 25 linear feet of material with approximately 6 linear feet more to go. Look how happy Laura looks to see an empty drawer! A job well done continues.
October 25 - Goal achieved for Archives Month! The 4th new archival Finding Aid has posted to our BDCBLC: Lists, Links and Finding Aids blog. The 1992 Political Campaign Information Collection contains information voluntarily submitted to the Beaufort County Library by candidates running for county and statewide office in Beaufort County. The submitted information includes candidate biographies, portraits, and campaign materials of interest to historical, political, and genealogical researchers.
October 28 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday" in Archives Month: Last week I highlighted the L.A. Hall Stereoscope Collection; This week take a look at the Civil War and Reconstruction Era Stereoscope Photographs of the Port Royal Region.
Black History Notes:
October 2 - "Black History Note:" Now that it's Hispanic Heritage Month, I offer this "fun" connection - Gullah traditions for Spanish Moss. Hoodoo Medicine by medical anthropologist Faith Mitchell describes uses for "Tillandsia usneoides" (AKA Spanish Moss, black moss, long moss, and old man's beard) that hangs down from many local trees. She mentions soaking Spanish Moss in water for an "invigorating bath; " Spanish Moss tea can help lower blood pressure; and Spanish Moss can wrap around the sprains or be mixed with clay and vinegar to help mend injured joints. (p. 74)
October 9 -"Black History Note Wednesday" in Archaeology Month: Check out one of Beaufort County's significant religious structures, Wesley United Methodist Church in Beaufort, on the "Preserving African American Spaces" StoryMap.
October 16 - "Black History Note" in Archaeology Month: The BDC has a collection of SC Archaeology Month posters that includes Expressions of African American Culture from October 2009. You can see the front - and all the wonderful information on the back - online. It has a particularly interesting article about sweet grass backets on the verso.
October 23 - "Black History Note" in Archaeology Month: The Plantation Landscape : Slaves and Freedmen at Seabrook Plantation, Hilton Head Island, S.C. by Rachel Campo (1998) is a publication of the prolific Chicora Foundation. Investigations reveal differences in the landscape architecture and material culture between the Southern slave row used before the Civil War and how the structures were used during and after the Civil War period. Recovered artifacts indicate changing lifestyles of African Americans between the antebellum and Reconstruction era periods. This research study is also available online as a PDF from the Foundation's website: in case you'd like to download a copy.
Materials Monday: Uniquely BDC
October 7 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday:" Today's featured item is by far the longest of all the Beaufort County Historical Society papers. In fact, the narrative and notes are 78 leaves, followed by 5 appendices of supplemental information. 
Appendix A is an excerpt from "The First Discovery and Natural History of Florida" by William Roberts (1763); Appendix B is a discussion of "The River Jordan and Its Location," as it relates to the early explorations along the southeastern coast; Appendix C shares information about "Father Rogel and the Jesuits" abstracted from "The Romance of the Floridas" by Michael Kenny; Appendix D is "Copies of Documents," 1557 - 1580 translated from Spanish; and Appendix E is "Tracings and Notes on Early Cartography." It includes photostats of some early maps as well. Mrs. Danner certainly did some solid research for her time. We are privileged to be the caretakers of the Beaufort County Historical Society's archive.
Heads up: There will be no "Uniquely BDC" post next week [October 14] as it's Staff Development Day and the Library system will be closed.
"This Week in the BDC" posts etc.
October 6 - This Week in the BDC: DiSC training is high on the Library Administration's priority list. I went to the 3 hour session last week; Cassandra goes this week; both of us still need to complete the supplemental survey, and next week there's a component during Staff Development Day (October 14). Alyssa Krob and I head over to the Library's newest branch, Port Royal, to talk about many of the digital collections we share online on Thursday afternoon. We're watching the Gulf tropical storm for strengthening and potential impact here. So this is just a reminder: Any changes to the Library's usual operations are posted to the system website.
October 8 - Check out all the approved historical markers in SC on this new interactive map.
October 13 - This week in the BDC: The Library is closed on Monday, October 14th for staff training. The Beaufort History Museum/BCL local history series returns for season 8 on Tuesday. Tricia Kilgore will reprise her "History of the Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority" at St. Helena Branch Library - which means that Tuesday is a program day and the BDC will be closed to walk-in customers on October 15th. [Session 8.1B will be at Bluffton Branch next week so if you live south of the Broad River, you can catch it later.] Still deciding whether or not to attend? Read Connections to learn more about the speaker and her topic.
October 19 - Today's International Archaeology Day! International Archaeology Day (IAD) is a celebration of archaeology and its contributions to society. Every October the AIA and archaeological organizations around the world present archaeological programs and activities for people of all ages and interests. Although we don't have anything special scheduled for today, we have already done 3 archaeology related programs this fiscal year and another one is set for November 22. We also have a lot of archaeology reports for local sites in the BDC Research Room.
October 21 - "This Week in the BDC" we travel south of the Broad to Bluffton Branch on Tuesday with Tricia Kilgore and her history of the BJW&SA. Most people don't think about utilities and infrastructure - until they're gone. I encourage all to join us to hear the story of Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority – because it is an overlooked but very important local history topic. Potable water and sanitation are key components in infrastructure. Without the BJW&SA or something like it, the USMC may well have left in the early 1960s and pretty much most of the development since would not have happened. The history of Beaufort County from 1950-ish to today would be far, far different without the BJWSA.
October 26 - In honor of Beaufort's most famous author [Pat Conroy].
October 27 - "This week in the BDC:" The "Witching Hour" series continues with a post at 3 AM each night until Halloween when I will announce the winner of the "Creepiest" contest. I'm doing a community outreach session at OLLI, Beaufort on Wednesday. On Friday, November 1, join us to hear Tom Vaselopulos talk about the Civil War experiences of Alexander Campbell, 79th New York (USA) and his brother, James Campbell, 1st South Carolina (CSA) in "Highlander Brother versus Brother" at 2 PM in the Beaufort Branch meeting room. The following day, Saturday, November 2, Cassandra will woman the BDC's booth at the Living History Encampment at the Arsenal while I enjoy some time with visiting grandsons. And don't forget, the Friends of the Beaufort Library [and Port Royal, and Lobeco, and St. Helena, and the BDC] Fall Book Sale is happening in the Waterfront Park, Nov. 1 - 3. We appreciate your support of the FOBL.
October 29 - Because it's Family History Month - and this online workshop is available to registrants at no change - I share this announcement from the New England Historical and Genealogical Society about a webinar its running next month [November 14, 2024 3 - 4 PM] about how to write and publish your family's history.
October 30 - Tech check done [for the "Postcards in the BDC" presentation that I did for OLLI, Beaufort].
Ghost Stories series:
October 25, 3 AM: Over the next 7 nights, the BDC will share a spirited blog post during the witching hour for your entertainment. First up: Haunting Tales of Beaufort County Ghosts featuring tragic love stories, a murdered woman, and dead soldiers.
October 26, 3 AM: Another witching hour has come and the BDC has another Beaufort County tale for you: The Legend of Gauche, the Castle's ghostly apparition.
October 27, 3 AM: Every night until the dawn of All Hallow's Eve, the BDC will post a ghostly tale at the witching hour for your entertainment. Learn about tales of the boo hag of Gullah culture.
October 28, 3 AM: Here's your BDC blog post for the witching hour entertainment. The Beaufort Branch Library is said - by some - to have gremlins. Read personal accounts by former Library employees, Michael Broam and Darlene Bauer.
October 29, 3 AM: Sometimes, a mysterious tale can be funny: The Mysterious Roast Thief.
October 30, 3 AM: We're getting closer to All Hallow's Eve. Tonight's witching hour post is ... Haunted Houses: A Personal Encounter.
October 31, 3 AM: And now, our final witching hour post about local ghosts and mysterious phenomena: The Land's End Light.
Results of the "Creepiest" Contest: October 31, 2024 - It was neck and neck until about 3:30 this afternoon when one image began to sprint to the end. ... The winner of the "Creepiest" image in the "Phosphate, Farms, and Family: The Donner Collection" is .... Woman silhouetted in doorway! Thanks to all who participated.
Posts related to local history programs in October and the Living History Encampment and lecture were made on Oct. 5, 10, 14, 15, 22, and 24. Note: I made a mistake with the link for the Facebook post on October 25. The link was supposed to go to the Haunting Tales of Beaufort County but I mistakenly linked it to the Land's End Light. Facebook won't let me correct the error now. I have corrected the link above. - gmc 6 November 2024
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