A subset of pictorial works [discussed in an earlier Connections post] is the coffee table book. Pretty much everyone can identify a coffee table book, one of those large, generally expensive, lavishly illustrated books intended (mostly) for casual reading. One might even think of coffee table books as picture books for adults.
The BDC buys coffee table books from time to time - provided, of course, that the subject matter meets with our collection development policy. [Read about halfway down for the BDC's section]. The locally based Lydia Inglett Publishing of Hilton Head Island seems to particularly enjoy printing and distributing coffee table books. You'll notice that company name often in this selective list of of the BDC's coffee table books that "Color Our World:"
Along Southern Roads: Images and Essays, Ramblin' Around the South by Lydia Inglett includes "Curated images from 20 of the South's best photographers." I'm sure that you'll recognize many of the places in Beaufort County and some of the essayists and photographers contained in this coffee table book.
Bluffton State of Mind: The Photography of Marge Agin: Essays by Emmett McCracken, Lisa Sulta, Courtney Hampson and Amber Kuehn by Marge Agin. Along with friends and colleagues, Marge Agin creates portraits of Bluffton and the Lowcountry that are visually entertaining and culturally vibrant. From oyster shuckers at The Bluffton Oyster Company to alligators, echos of ancient buildings and the May River, Marge’s photographic art make a bold statement for this special place of mind. Features essays by Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka, Emmett McCracken, Courtney Hampson and Amber Kuehn; illustrations by Doug Corkern; and special gallery section with separate tipped-on photographs applied.
Dataw: No Ordinary Place: The Rich History of Dataw Island, South Carolina by Dataw Historic Foundation (2015) contains over 200 images chronicling the history of this island from ten thousand years ago when it was inhabited by Native Americans, to the arrival of the Pirates, Europeans, Plantation owners and Africans, and archaeological ruins to the gated community it is today.
Fripp Island: Nature's Masterpiece by Ryan Copeland is another Lydia Inglett published book. The summary reads like a promotion for tourism (which it sort of is): "Fripp Island, South Carolina is one of those rare places where great natural beauty is combined with a lifestyle that's relaxing and exciting. Golf courses and Lowcountry creatures co-exist in harmony that speaks to the soul. Kids of all ages play, observing the ebb and flow of life lived by the tides and the surrounding sea. Generations of families savor the unspoiled shores and the ever-abundant wildlife throughout the island." The photographers are many and have captured the vistas beautifully: Diane Beck; Barbara Bell; Maggie Brashear; Don Brink; Marvin Burdette; Sara Dasheiel; Dawn Decourcey; Alicia Eatmon; Susan Elmore; Judy Elston; Kathy Folds; Peter Hamo; Dillon Hinson; Kerry Mamison; Ernie Kale; Candi Knight; Katy Laetsch; Valerie Lapolla; Elizabeth MacMaster; Julie Mong; Marsha Neuman; Kimberly O'Day; Barbara Planchon; Kelly Rabah; Lauren Rabil; The Salisbury's ; Shell Suber; Kelly Taylor; Jason Torrance; Kathy & David Tugman; Brenda Welter; Kaye Wood; and Amy Woods. The essayists are Cassandra King; Barb Vining Robinson; Page Putnam Miller; Ryan Copeland; Judy Elston; Susan Price; Marsha Neuman and Jackie Swick.
Marsh Color : Celebrating the Unique Beauty of Our Coastal Landscape by Eric John Einhorn (2020) was also published by Lydia Inglett. This one has chapters entitled Clouds; Sky; Marsh; Pure color and Reflections. All the photographs are taken from the same spot at different times to show how changeable the timeless landscape can be.
Shrimp, Collards and Grits : Recipes, Stories and Art from the Creeks and Gardens of the Lowcountry by Patricia Branning is a coffee table book with almost 200 recipes, and 150 fine art paintings that supplement stories gathered to help celebrate Beaufort's tricentennial year. View the work of noted by Southern artists Ray Ellis, Nancy Ricker Rhett among others. Two-time James Beard Award winner Nathalie Dupree opined: "A charming storyteller who combines the unmistakable Southern cadence of stories swapped across the dinner table with delicious Southern recipes. You get generous servings of each and both are delicious!"
I bought South: What It Means To Be Here in Heart or in Spirit by Wendy Nielsen Pollitzer (2015) for the collection because the author is a longtime resident of Beaufort County. The essays and photographs are meant to clarify that the South is more than just a direction.
Still Standing : The Beauty of Southern Trees by Gary Mullane (2018) captures the essence of our woods. Oaks, loblolly pines, red cedars, and palmettos are featured in this coffee-table book by a photographer, author, arborist, and real estate agent who lives on Hilton Head Island.
Vivid: Living Life in Full Color : Images and Writings from Around the World, Passionately Explored by Jeffrey Keefer (2019) uses "eye-popping" placement of color in his photography. One of his favorite places, Hilton Head Island, is frequently featured in this book - including the front cover. BTW: The BDC is the only library in SCLENDS to have a copy of this title.
What It Means to Be Here: Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, the Lowcountry and Beyond: The Photography of Marge Agin (2015) is representative of the coffee table genre. Photographer Marge Agin makes pictures of the lush landscape, waterways, light, and nature to serve as a point of pride for current residents as well as to attract tourists and potential future residents to the area. This facet of the book is underlined by essays penned by Lisa Sulka, the Mayor and Courtney Hampson, Director of Marketing for Palmetto Bluff, a nearby exclusive gated community.
Here's how my former assistant Olivia Santos described Where Have All the Shrimp Boats Gone? : A 100-year History of the Shrimping Industry in the South Carolina Lowcountry by Woody Collins and Laura Von Harten (2020) in a Connections blog post in 2023: "This book highlights exactly what the title asks its readers: Where did the shrimp boats come from, where have they gone, and where are they going? Collins begins where much of our human history starts; with the native populations in the area and the later arrival of European colonizers. He discusses how the shrimp boat came to be, its original role, and the progression from a focus on oysters to a focus on shrimp. According to Captain Collins, 'Hilton Head and Beaufort were two different worlds in those days.' Therefore, he divided his book into separate chapters about Port Royal, Beaufort, and Hilton Head respectfully. Each location is analyzed by its past history, the current state of the industry, and what the future may hold. A fierce industry by nature, shrimping and its workers are celebrated, and it is discussed how the industry has changed over time."
Wild Island Nature: Hunting Island State Park and Saint Phillips Island : The Beauty and History of our Changing Islands by Carol Corbin; Foreword by Tony Mills (2021) is yet another Lydia Inglett publication. Author Carol Corbin, the Friends of Hunting Island and park staff share observations and information about the historical and cultural significance of these ever changing barrier islands, as well as their important natural habitats. You'll even see a few images from the BDC in this combination image and history title.
Up Here : The Hunting Island Lighthouse and Its Lightkeepers by Theodore Panayotoff (2024) recounts the fascinating history of a local landmark. Ted Panayotoff has been involved with lighthouses most of his life. When he relocated to Beaufort in 2016, this former Naval Officer took on the Directorship of the Lighthouse Committee of the Friends of Hunting Island State Park and has continued his research about the structure ever since. The Lighthouse was built in 1859, then demolished just a few years later during the Civil War to prevent use by Union troops. Included here, shown for the first time, are the architectural drawings by Johannes Pelz when the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1873. You’ll learn about its lightkeepers and how they lived, surviving all manner of adventures, storms and hurricanes. With its dramatic black and white coloring and moveable design, the lighthouse has witnessed the Atlantic waves caress the shores and storms unleash their fury. Amid this chaos, the Hunting Island Lighthouse remains resolute, a symbol of enduring hope and guidance.
We could discover whether or not several books by Suzanne Linder would be more aptly classified as coffee-table books but our cataloger has not added "Coffee table books" as a subject in the MARC records.
All but Vivid are can be borrowed from one or more local history sections at the Branch Libraries.
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