Summer 2026 BDC Local History Programs

Though we have concluded "Historically Speaking" season 7 and season 9 of our joint series with the Beaufort History Museum, the BDC does not stop presenting local history programs over the summer months. I will grant you, though, that the BDC does tend to scale back during June, July and August on account of Summer Reading Program and the fact that many local residents go to cooler climes during the dog days of August. This depletes our local history nerd pool of potential program attendees. So we have planned only a few local history programs for summer 2026.  

Just as a reminder: Local History Programs sponsored by the Beaufort District Collection are designed to open dialog about local topics of a historical, genealogical, cultural or environmental nature (50 or more years ago so we "cut off" around 1976) and to publicize the amount, breadth, and depth of our library resources on these topics. Programs are not intended to be the final word on any particular topic, issue, or philosophical discussion relating to the history, culture or environment of our area. We make no claims other than to offer opportunities for you to learn more and/or proffer suggestions about possible materials for your further self-education. It's hard to meet those criteria when your target demographic is away in the mountains, lazing along the river, playing in the ocean or just refusing to leave their air conditioned homes. 

We have only two programs on the calendar before Labor Day 2026. 

Monday, June 22, 2026 - "Brits in the BDC"  with BDC Manager Grace Cordial | 5:30 PM | BDC@ Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street | No registration required. Seating begins at 5 PM. 

Join me to learn a little colonial history while exploring the British-related resources available for researchers in the Beaufort District Collection. 

Wednesday, July 7, 2026 - "Travel Narratives about the Gullah-Geechee in Beaufort County" with Malik Raymond, PhD | 2:00 PM | BDC@ Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street | No registration required. Seating begins at 1:30 PM. 

Dr. Raymond will discuss 19th century travelogues related to the local Gullah-Geechee people on his summer hiatus from teaching.

How much of yourself do you bring when you visit a new place? Or when revisiting that place? How informed are the places that you visit shaped by your understandings, or larger ones floating in the world around you?

Dr. Raymond's presentation will feature the experiences of various visitors and commentators who visited Beaufort County and the Gullah-Geechee people of the region over the centuries. These travels will be contextualized with larger social events and movements across the country (and world), as well as having their stories contrasted with stories from Beaufort County community that both bolster and counter the traveler narratives.

Speaker Bio: Malik Raymond is from Statesboro, Georgia and graduated from Georgia Southern University before obtaining his PhD from Purdue University. He now currently teaches in the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Grand Valley State University. He first visited the Beaufort District Collection's archives in the Spring of 2024 and has since made semi-frequent visits for his research, and to say "hi!"

We do hope that you'll be able to attend one or both of our summertime local history programs.

BTW: I wrote a post about "Travel Writings in the Research Room" on 13 April 2026 in case you'd like to explore our offerings before or after Dr. Raymond's presentation.