What to Expect in July 2025

The BDC staff is showcasing our own talents and research far more than usual this July. This is for several reasons: we are reluctant to keep research to ourselves; over the summer months our local history programs demographic tends to be away or doing other things; it's harder for us to secure speakers; it gets a little toasty (you can read that as "very hot and muggy" if you so choose); and it's vacation time for many. Then there's always the Summer Reading Program which is a major commitment of physical space, staff time, etc. In other words, it's just harder to coordinate local history programs over the summer months. But I promised that the BDC would re-start our local history programs in the new fiscal year - and we indeed shall do so - on the second day of that new fiscal year. If turn out is slim for our July programs, it's okay. Only BDC staff feelings will get hurt. 

I will discuss the true-blue friendship of our nation's 5th President James Monroe and General Lafayette on July 2nd at 2 PM at Beaufort Branch Library. I did a lot of research about why and what happened during Lafayette's 1824-1825 visit to America before the Lafayette 200 festivities for a woman's group I am in - and I love to get double, triple, or even sometimes more value from my research. Hence the adaptation of that talk and rebranding to "fit" the Summer Reading Program theme. Bottom lines: Good research is a terrible thing to waste and the BDC always strives to cooperate with Beaufort County Library initiatives and programs when it can do so. 

On the Monday July 28, Cassandra will share her research about the colorful public art projects in Beaufort County over the past 25 years. This talk will also be held at Beaufort Branch Library - but we're going to try a late afternoon slot, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM to see how that goes. And we're going to do it on a Monday because several attendees at the anniversary edition of  "Freedom Seekers" mentioned that they worked the other days of the week - and thus had to miss our local history programs. So ... Cassi and I decided to try "Moo-fort, Mermaids and More" on a summertime Monday to accommodate.  While we love our current local history nerds, we are always hoping to add to our merry little group. Perhaps hosting an early evening program on a Monday will accomplish that, perhaps not. But "nothing ventured, nothing gained," right?

As an extra special treat, we are collaborating with the South Carolina 250, Beaufort County 250, Beaufort County Historical Society, and others to bring you a free preview of the upcoming Da' Gullah American Revolution Show by the Gullah Traveling Theater, Inc. The performance will illuminates the untold stories of the Gullah people and their vital, yet often overlooked, contributions to the American Revolution. 

There will be two free sneak peeks of the stage production: 

 

North of the Broad River: Wednesday, July 2 in the USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort, SC 29902 at 4 PM. You can pre-register through the Osher Lifelong Institute website at no charge or you can choose to attend via the first come first seated until the "Fire Marshal capacity is met" rubric. 

South of the Broad River: Wednesday, July 9 at the Christ Lutheran Church, 829 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island at 4 PM. First come, first seated until the Fire Marshal capacity is met. 

Again, the sneak peeks are free but the Gullah Traveling Theater certainly hope that these free sneak peeks will pique your curiosity to purchase a ticket to experience the full production stage show on July 19 in the May River Theater in Bluffton. 

I'll be talking about "Hurricanes in Beaufort District's Past" at the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy on July 23rd. This is another case of good research being used again and again - with updates as needed, of course. I do so love the gasp! of folks when they see the spaghetti noodle chart of tropical storm systems within 60 nautical miles of Beaufort County since the mid-19th century. 

Cassandra and Sydney will post a combined "New (and New-To-Us) Materials in the BDC" here within the next 5 to 10 days. This post will cover library materials and archival collections acquired through April through June of this year. Shortly thereafter, I will post the re-cap of our Facebook page from May 16 - June 30. 

We'll continue highlighting some of the BDC's materials that "Color Our World with History" here and on the BDC's Facebook page in cooperation with the Library's Summer Reading Program which ends on July 31.  

As reminders: We strongly encourage researchers to make appointments to visit our facility and use our resources: 843-255-6468 or bdc@bcgov.net. There's still plenty of time for you to participate in the  American Historical Association's Summer Reading Challenge. The Library system, including the Beaufort District Collection will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2025. BDC will return on Monday, July 7th.