Local History Programs in February 2024 - updated

The BDC has its fingers crossed that we do not get any more ice storms this winter so that we can continue bringing what we hope are interesting, engaging, and educational local history programs around the Beaufort County Library system in February. 

Thursday, February 13, 2025 - "Beaufort District's Militia in the Revolutionary War" with Rich Thomas | Historically Speaking 6.5 co-sponsored by the BDC, Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort County 250 Committee | St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, 11 AM | First come; first seated. Doors open at 10:30 AM.

Program Summary: Rich Thomas will discuss the role and actions of the "Beaufort District Militia in the Revolutionary War." British inroads into South Carolina following the 1778 Capture of Savannah were repeatedly confounded by the resourceful militia forces of Beaufort District, north and south of the Broad. Trace their activities and learn more about some of the individuals whose courage and dedication had a direct impact on the Continental Army’s success in gaining independence from English rule.

Speaker Biography: Richard Thomas is an experienced global business executive and successful entrepreneur having served as CEO, President or Executive Vice President in seven different ventures in four diverse industries. He is very involved in local historical organizations such as the Heritage Library, Santa Elena Foundation, and Friends of Honey Hill Board. He is Chairman of the Beaufort County 250 Committee responsible for planning local celebrations of the nation's Semiquincentennial. He wrote Backwater Frontier: Beaufort County, South Carolina at the Forefront of American History (2018). His current research interest is focused on the early colonial period of St. Helena and Prince William's parishes in Beaufort District.   

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - "Archives Adventures (Continued)" with Cassandra Knoppel | BDC@ Beaufort Branch, 311 Scott Street, 3 PM | First come; first seated. Doors open at 2:30 PM.

Program Summary: Library Specialist, Cassandra Knoppel continues to discover (or re-discover) treasures in the Research Room as we acquire new-to-us materials and bring some more order to the back rooms of the BDC. She'll update attendees on what she's learned the past 6 months and share some of the interesting items she's processed since July. 

Speaker Biography: Cassandra Knoppel has a dual undergraduate degree in Historic Preservation and Art History. She is currently going to Library School at USC concentrating on the Archives track. She re-joined the BDC staff in January 2024, after serving as the Preservation & Education Program Coordinator at Historic Beaufort Foundation. She is an area native who graduated from Battery Creek High School.

Thursday, February 20, 2025 - "Setting Sail: Your Map to Online Library Resources" with BCL's Digital Resources Librarian, Alyssa Krob and BDC Manager, Grace Cordial | BDC@ Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road, 11 AM | First come; first seated. Doors open at 10:30 AM.

Program Summary: The Beaufort County Library offers a lot of "stuff" online. The "Past & Present: BCL's Digital Collections" will highlight the Library services and information you can find online from the Library. Alyssa Krob will show you how to access archived information, peer-reviewed databases, and recommended local history reads! Grace Cordial will highlight the 9 historical  digital collections and blogs we share online. We hope that attendees will learn something new about the library services currently available to our cardholders.

Speaker Biographies: Both speakers are degreed librarians on the staff of Beaufort County Library.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025 - "A Song for Betty: Ancestors, Archives & Art" with Tendaji Bailey.  BDC@ St. Helena Branch Library, 2 PM |First come; first seated. Doors open at 1:30 PM.

Program Summary: Emerging artist, Tendaji Bailey will share how he turned his research about a family tragedy into art through a lecture and musical performance. 
 
Speaker Biography: Tendaji Bailey is a Gullah Geechee native of Port Royal & St Helena Island, SC in Beaufort County.  He is of and very involved with Gullah related organizations and is a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association of Interpreters.

 

Thursday, February 27, 2025 - "Shrimp Tales: Small Bites of History Author Book Talk" with Beverly Jennings. BDC@ Hilton Head Branch Library, 1 PM |First come; first seated. Doors open at 12:30 PM.

Program Summary: Shrimp Tales by Beverly Jennings tells the story of shrimp: its industry, its people, its life, and its importance to the folks of the Sea Islands. With chapters specifically dedicated to Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Port Royal, Jennings tells us of the work of the earliest shrimpers, the different types of nets and boats used over the years, and how the shrimp empire was born. The book is filled with photographs, maps, vintage advertisements, and portraits. Visually appealing and thorough in its information, Shrimp Tales is an all-around interesting read that celebrates the people and industry that has kept our little corner of the world thriving for so long.

Speaker Biography: Beverly Bowers Jennings has loved the sea since age 6 when her father built a white rowboat named Little Fish for her. A Master Naturalist, Jennings has designed exhibits for the Port Royal Sound Maritime Center and Coastal Discovery Museum.  She has been featured on Walter Edgar's Journal, Local Life Magazine and SCETV's By The River series. 

Reminder: The Beaufort County Library system will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025 in honor of our Presidents.