From the BDC's Facebook Page, 1 January - 15 February, 2025

Because I was on vacation for much of December and January, the Facebook posts were few.  Then we got hit by Winter Storm Enzo for almost a week that threw everything - and I mean everything - off schedule. Thus, I'm combining January, and 1/2 of the February Facebook posts below for the somewhat monthly re-cap. I have culled most references to local history programs that have already occurred and the ones relating to the Winter Reading Program that ended on Saturday, February 15. Some wording has changed here and there as well for clarification. 

January 1, 2025 - To begin 2025 we suggest that you look back to 1863 and that Day of Jubilee, Emancipation Day. Read first person accounts of all that happened on that Red Letter Local History day in Connections. [cut-and- paste: bit.ly/36k394n ] Our local history programs for 2025 come fast and often beginning January 16th. We hope that you can join us for at least one this month. The Library system will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

February 1, 2025 - Monthly overview: The shortest month of the year is often one of the BDC's busiest. It definitely is in 2025. In case you didn't complete your Winter Reading during the recent wintry weather, there's still time. It's Black History Month so expect frequent posts about the contributions of the Gullah/Geechee people to Beaufort District's long and storied history. We will celebrate "Love in the Archives" in more ways than one - and take that love to the Books Sandwiched In series on February 10th. We also have 4 local history programs and one holiday scheduled for February covering topics from the American Revolution to the Library's current digital offerings. More details are in our Connections blog.

January 13, 2025 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday:" Today's highlight is in honor of our first local history program of 2025: A Special Place and Time by Judy Hutson. Hutson recounts tales of Palmetto Bluff in the early 20th century and the Wilson, Beach and Hutson families who lived there. The BCL is the only SCLENDS library to own copies - 2 in Local History and 1 in the BDC's permanent collection. We hope that you'll join us for an Local History Author Book Talk by Mrs. Hutson on Thursday at Hilton Head Branch Library.

January 27, 2025 - Now that we're back in the office after the winter storm - which definitely impacted my usual FB post writing schedule -- and I'm about to leave for an outreach presentation - your "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday" post comes from that upcoming presentation.

The oldest postcard in the Research Room is a "Privately Printed Card" of the Beaufort National Cemetery made between 1898 and 1901. It is one of the few PMCs that the BDC has. It features the 29-acre burial ground we know as the National Cemetery. The cemetery was established during the Civil War. Capt. Niels Christensen, superintendent from 1870 to 1876, landscaped the area, turning the burial ground into a park for residents and visitors. The Cemetery has since expanded several times.

February 3, 2025 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday" in Black History Month: Growing up on the Combahee River: An American Story by Charlotte Murray Taylor (Parker, CO: Outskirts Press, 2023) is a very personal memoir of a Black girl who was raised near the river after her young mother died shortly after giving birth. Murray Taylor grew up in the upper reaches of rural Beaufort County on Hobonny and Sugar Hill plantations. She shares reminiscences of her daily life until she went away to college. One of our bookmobiles and the BDC are the only libraries currently holding copies of this self-published work.

February 10, 2025 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday" in Black History Month - Autobiographies and Memoirs - Today's selection is With Open Arms : The Robert Middleton Story (2007). It recounts Middleton's search for his biological parents, his adoption into a warm and loving family on St. Helena Island, and his belief in God's plan for his life. The BDC and St. Helena Branch have copies to share.

January 15, 2025 - "Black History Note:" The "Winter Reading" program returns revitalized! Here are some materials about Gullah history and culture that will help you successfully complete the easy-peasy benchmark of reading for a total of 6 hours from 15 January to 15 February to be entered into the Grand Prize drawing. Note: The Winter Reading Program has ended.

January 29, 2025 - "Black History Note: Wednesday" : William Bennet, a well-regarded local Black man, was killed by a soldier who was sent to guard the town in the aftermath of the "Fire of 1907." Unfortunately, the inquest record into Bennett's death no longer survives. Read the "Fire of 1907" series and the Christensen diary entries about the Fire in the BDC's WordPress blog to learn more.

February 5, 2025 - "Black History Note:" Autobiographies & Memoirs - Lest You Forget by Wesley B. Glover, Jr. recounts his life and times from his perspective as a Black male growing up in the rural South. He shares tales of a warm family, his military service, and finding his calling as a school teacher. The BDC and the Allendale-Hampton-Jasper Regional Library have copies to share.

February 12, 2025 - "Black History Note:" - Autobiographies & Memoirs: Queen Quet is the Chieftess and Head-of-State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation. She has authored numerous books on Gullah/Geechee history and has co-authored a novella. She begins her memoir Love's Sea island Song with her roots on Polowana, St. Helena and Dataw Islands, through her early years, her enstoolment, and her journey of representing her people in the United Nations. The BCL and the State Library have copies of her book but only the BDC has a copy of the audio book narrated by the author herself.

Here is the one still relevant "This Week in the BDC" posts:

January 19, 2025 - "This Week in the BDC:" Today is the 118th anniversary of "Red Saturday." Read more about that local history red letter day in the BDC's blog.

The Library is closed on Monday, January 20th ... However ... we also have a weather forecast that might [emphasis on "might"] impact delivery of those programs. IF the Library’s customary schedule is impacted by bad weather, there will be a red bar along the top of every page of the Beaufort County Library’s website stating those schedule changes - and BDC programs previously scheduled for the dates will be cancelled.

January 30, 2025 - Cassi transcribed Fred Christensen's "Black Sunday" and his following Monday diary entries about the "Fire of 1907" to our blog.

February 9, 2025 - "This week in the BDC:" We'll be doing our regular and customary duties, plus an outreach and a local history program. On Monday, the BDC will share information about some of the autobiographies and memoirs we have at the Books Sandwiched In series sponsored by the Friends of the Beaufort Library. We'll be in the lobby so please stop by our table. On Thursday, we will host "Beaufort District's Militia in the Revolutionary War" with Rich Thomas, Chairman of Beaufort County's 250th Committee with the Beaufort County Historical Society. As we gear up for the Sesterquincentennial [a fancy word for 250], we're trying to help folks understand what happened in Beaufort District in 1775 - 1789. This lecture, co-sponsored with the Beaufort County 250th Committee, is another building block to reach our goal. As an aside: Other fancy ways of saying 250th anniversary include Bisesquicentennial, Semiquincentennial, or Quarter Millennial.

February 7, 2025 - "Finding Aid Friday" in Black History Month: Author Dorothy Sterling corresponded with the staff at the Beaufort Township Library as she was researching the life of Robert Smalls for a biography in the mid-1950s. This small archival collection consists of 7 letters and research notes.

February 14, 2025 - "Finding Aid Friday" on Valentine's Day: We have an archival collection of love letters perfect to share with you today! Mae Onthank of Seabrook, SC wrote letters to her fiancee, Billy MacLeod of Lynchburg, Virginia chronicling her life, activities, and plans for their wedding in June 1915. Give us a call 843-255-6468 or email us bdc@bcgov.net before you come to the Research Room. For those of you who find reading cursive writing challenging, Douglas MacLeod transcribed the letters for easier discovery.

Also seen on the BDC's Facebook page:

January 28, 2025 - Facebook keeps telling me that the prime time for BDC stuff to be seen is 6:00 PM. I'm going to test that theory this evening - and promote some "Short Local History Books" to help you reach the 6 hours of reading benchmark to enter the Library's "Winter Reading Program" prize drawing.

January 31, 2025 - On Wednesday, Shelly came to the BDC! Shelly is a staff recognition award bestowed by Library Director, Amanda Dickman for notable activities or projects. Our small but mighty unit received it for our sustained local history programs and community outreach successes. Going forward, our contribution to Shelly is that hot-glued acid-free (dried out and no longer usable for our usual archival purposes) Pigma pen.

But - and it is a very big BUT - we couldn't do what we do, without our program partners, viz. the Beaufort History Museum, the Beaufort County Historical Society, the Archaeological Society of South Carolina - Hilton Head Chapter, and the Beaufort County 250th Committee, the cooperation of the staff in the Branch Libraries, and all the generous and knowledgeable presenters who donate their services to the Library's special local history collection and archives unit. Go us! By the way - we did NOT intentionally coordinate our outfits today. It just sort of happened - which is kind of scary.

February 4, 2025 - You may recall that Winter Storm Enzo messed with our local history program schedule. We've got a new date for Tendaji Bailey's "A Song for Betty: Ancestors, Archives & Art" presentation. It will be held 3 weeks from today at the St. Helena Branch Library.

February 6, 2025 - You have about 10 days left to get those 6 hours of reading to finish the Winter Reading program - and though you don't have to read something about local history, it surely would be nice of you to do so from our standpoint. Might I suggest Shrimp Tales: Small Bites of History by Beverly Bowers Jennings - seeing as how she'll present her book at the end of the month - or one of the other books on the flyer "Shrimp & Shrimping in the Lowcountry"?

February 6, 2025 - Lafayette was a "big deal" in 1825 when he dropped by Beaufort for a few hours AND he'll be a "big deal" next month at a variety of events and educational opportunities sponsored by a host of local organizations in concert with the Historic Beaufort Foundation. Save the dates for the fun! For more details about the Library's events ; For more details about all that is planned.