Summer Reading Display: "Color Our World with History" by Sydney Whiteside

HAPPY SUMMER!!! The summer reading theme for 2025 is "Color Our World," and to honor this, the display case will be full of colorful items from the Beaufort District Collection. Since the summer reading program runs 31 May through 31 July this year, this specific display will remain intact for the months of June and July. You can look forward to our next display featuring items related to our FY26 local history programs roster in the months of August and September.

While some of the titles in our collection are BDC exclusives, many of our titles are available for checkout through the Beaufort County Library System! All of our materials are searchable on the SCLENDS catalog. With each title I mention today, I will include a link to its SCLENDS page and I will also state whether the title is available for checkout or exclusive to the BDC.

Without further ado, let's color our world with history!

Indigo: In Search of the Color That Seduced the World (2011) was written by Catherine E. McKinley who happens to have a very personal connection to indigo and its lengthy history. Many of her ancestor’s lives surrounded around indigo. Her Jewish ancestors traded indigo, her Scottish ancestors wore indigo, and her African ancestors were traded alongside indigo on Saharan trade routes. McKinley not only completed extensive research on the history of indigo, but she learned even more about her own family along the way. Indigo: In Search of the Color That Seduced the World is a book that not only covers the ancient history of indigo, but it also covers its importance in religion, fashion and its prominent correlation to slavery. This title is available for checkout through the Beaufort Country Library System. 

Marsh Color: Celebrating the Unique Beauty of our Coastal Landscape by Eric John Einhorn (2020) is an incredible title that captures the beauty of the Lowcountry. You may be thinking: why would I want to look at multiple pictures of the same marsh? You will never see the same sight twice, that is why! Every moonrise, sunset, or sullen storm will be entirely different. Einhorn has a gift for capturing these magnificent moments that accentuate the natural beauty of the Sea Islands and showing first hand how mother nature "colors our world". This title is available for checkout through the Beaufort Country Library System. 

The Green Book of South Carolina: Guide to African American Cultural Sites by Hub City Press (2022) is a collaboration between Hub City Press, the WeGOJA Foundation, and the International African American Museum that highlights the rich African American history throughout the state of South Carolina. This is a great resource for tourists or anyone who is interested in learning more about prominent moments and locations in South Carolina history. It is divided into three sections: Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry. Each section comes with a suggested day trip layout that helps travelers to effectively plan their stops across the state. This title is available for checkout through the Beaufort Country Library System. 

Blue Roots: African American Folk Magic of the Gullah People by Roger Pinckney (1998) tells the tales of Gullah culture from the days of slavery to modern day. The Lowcountry of South Carolina is home to Gullah descendants who have carried on many different Gullah traditions since before our country was even founded. Many of these traditions were built upon practices such as herbalism and spiritualism; there are even tales of black magic being practiced throughout Gullah history. From roots in Africa to religious and spiritual beliefs, Blue Roots provides a compelling conspectus on the legends and lore of Gullah history. This title is available for checkout through the Beaufort Country Library System. 

The Black Border: Gullah Stories of the Carolina Coast (with a glossary) by Ambrose Elliott Gonzales (1922) is a collection of Gullah stories . You may be asking, why is the fact that there is a glossary in this book so clearly indicated? That is because the stories are told through Gullah language. Gonzales begins with a forward that details the history of Gullah culture and how their language came to be. Though the base of the language is English, it is heavily influenced by creole as well as different West African languages. The incorporation of a glossary helps readers who are unfamiliar with the language to have a better understanding of certain words or phrases. This title is full of emotional stories that depict what life was like for Gullah families leading up to the early twentieth century. This title is available for checkout through the Beaufort Country Library System. 

It is impossible to talk about art and Beaufort history without mentioning the talented Jonathan Green. Green is a Lowcountry native whose work is inspired by Gullah culture. He is known for portraying different everyday aspects of his culture through an abstract and colorful lens. His work is featured in multiple different museums up and down the East Coast. The BDC holds a plethora of titles that highlight Green's work; to show how Jonathan Green "colors our world," I have chosen two of his pieces that can be found in Gullah Images: The Art of Jonathan Green, which is available for checkout through the Beaufort Country Library System.

The piece to the left is titled The Wedding. This piece was crafted in 1988 utilizing oil on Masonite. You can see a couple on a front porch getting married while being surrounded by their friends and family. Green is known for transforming his life experiences into art, this may lead the viewer to wonder whose wedding this piece may be depicting.

One of my favorite aspects of Green's work is his incorporation of different patterns in his pieces. From stripes, to plaid, to polka dots, you will see it all creatively placed throughout his work.

To the right is Autumn Sunrise. This piece was painted in 1994 with oil on a canvas. In front of the most beautiful, colorful sunrise and ocean view, you see two women standing before the water. The woman to the left looks to have a fishing pole in her hand while the one to the right is facing toward the ocean. It is difficult to see, but there is a third woman who is in between and further away than the other two women. Her blouse is almost the color of the sea, causing her to almost blend in. Was this intentional on Green's part? If so, what was the reason? These are the moments when I wish I could talk to the artist and ask all the questions!

Adventures in Green Places by Herbert Ravenel Sass (1935) follows Sass on his journey through the lands of the Lowcountry. Through the marshes, lagoons, and gardens of the Sea Islands, Sass records every sight and sound he comes across along with every thought that crosses his mind. I love being able to view the world through a different set of eyes, and that is exactly what this book provides. From fairies and dragons to ghosts and goddesses, Sass takes the reader on a whimsical excursion of his environment. My favorite line comes from the chapter titled "The Garden Naturalist" on page 134:

"Nature-- wild Nature-- dwells in gardens just as she dwells in the tangled woods, in the deeps of the sea, and on the heights of the mountains; and the wilder the garden, the more you will see of her there"

- Herbert Ravenel Sass, Adventures in Green Places, 1935.

This title is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. Adventures in Green Places is available for checkout through the Beaufort Country Library System.

Vivid: Living Life in Full Color: Images and Writings from Around the World, Passionately Explored by Jeffrey Keefer (2019) is exactly what the title implies: vivid. Keefer is known for his "eye-popping" placement of color in his photography. Having moved around the East coast and traveled across Europe, Keefer had acquired an abundance of prepossessing photos; but the most beautiful ones come from his favorite place: Hilton Head Island. Keefer and his family have a special place in their hearts for the community of Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island, where many of the photos in his book happen to be from (including the front cover). This title is a BDC exclusive; if you are interested in learning more, see the end of this post for how to make an appointment!

If you happened to have read my "All Things New" display from January, you may already know that Historic Beaufort County: An Illustrated History by Michael C. Taylor (2005) was the first book I read from our collection. The front cover (designed by Mira Scott) displays a beautiful combination of different spots around Beaufort County. While sifting through our vertical file of artists, VF ARTISTS, I stumbled upon a copy of this image labeled with numbers that correspond to a handwritten legend. I loved being able to see where each image is located; visiting each place would make for a great day trip!

Shrimp: The Endless Quest for Pink Gold (2009) was written by Anne Rudloe, a marine biologist, and her husband Jack Rudloe, a naturalist. The couple came together to co-write this deep dive into all things shrimp. Did you know that there are 4,000 different species of shrimp? That is the kind of fascinating facts you will learn in this book! From the history of shrimp, to shrimping, and the biology of shrimp, you are sure to learn something new about appealing (and peeling) prawns. This title is a BDC exclusive; if you are interested in learning more, see the end of this post for how to make an appointment!

Red Hills and Cotton: An Upcountry Memory (1960) was written by Ben Robertson, an author, journalist, and World War II correspondent that traveled all across the globe. Robertson was born and raised in Calhoun (now Clemson), South Carolina, where he developed a great love for his country and community. He went on to write and publish three books, each very personal to him and his experiences. Red Hills and Cotton in particular is a reflection of his upbringing in the Deep South and how he came to both love and question the progression of the South. This title is available for checkout through the Beaufort Country Library System. 

Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America’s Most Notorious Pirates by Eric Jay Dolin (2018) is a thrilling chronicle of the history of pirates that readers are sure to get hooked on (pun intended)! This title specifically narrows in on the 'Golden Age' of pirates in the Americas which spans from the late seventeenth century to the early eighteenth century. In the early stages of American Colonization, settlers formed an alliance with the pirates of the sea in a stand against the British Crown. Suddenly, when the pirates were no longer needed, the colonists turned against them. This riveting title tells the tales of some of the most famous pirates in history along with their nemesis counterparts. This title is available for checkout through the Beaufort Country Library System. 

To further display the beauty of Beaufort, I have chosen three postcards from our Russell J. Arnsberger Postcard Collection that show just how colorful our seaside town can get. Each postcard displays a different variation of sunrise and sunset in Beaufort County.

The first is captioned "Greeting from Hunting Island State Park, Beaufort, S.C."

Next, we have "Upper Bay Street, Beaufort, S.C." which was printed in 1914.

Finally, we have "Beaufort Bay, Looking East, Beaufort, S.C." with correspondence postmarked March 1923.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our new research room display! I hope that these colorful pieces have encouraged you to expand your reading selections for this years summer reading program. If you are interested in a title that is exclusive to the BDC, please see below for how to make an appointment to come in and view it. Happy reading!

If you are interested in any of the materials I have shared today, or wish to explore our collection for yourself, walk-ins are sometimes accepted but appointments are encouraged. To make an appointment, send an email to bdc@bcgov.net or give us a call at 843-255-6468. I hope to hear from you soon! 

Please note this schedule change: The Library system will be closed on Thursday, June 19, 2025 in honor of Juneteenth.