Materials about Hilton Head Island in the BDC

Last updated: 15 March 2023 - gmc 

As most readers of this blog already know, "the Beaufort District Collection (BDC) exists to acquire, preserve, maintain and make accessible a research collection of permanent value which records the history, culture, and environment of our part of the South Carolina lowcountry."

Our goal is to bring the past to the present by managing the BDC research room, stocking the local history sections at the branch libraries with appropriate materials customers can check out and review at their leisure, posting useful local history content on the web via our part of the Library’s website and writing this blog, and coordinating local history programs throughout the Library system. In other words, the BDC serves the Beaufort County Library as a separate division, quite apart from the Beaufort Branch Library.

(Indeed, we share the 311 Scott Street building with the Beaufort Branch Library, but so does Library Administration, Technical Services, the Interlibrary Loan department, the IT folks, and the "Friends of the Beaufort County Library" organization. Do any of these departments/groups concentrate all their efforts on just Beaufort Branch Library? No. And neither does the BDC. The 7 functions simply share one very overcrowded street address. However, the challenges of having so many separate functions coming out of one overcrowded building is a topic for another day!)

Yes, the BDC collects materials about Hilton Head Island and other localities south of the Broad River just as it collects materials about Big Estates, Bluffton, and Gopher Hill as part of the historical story of Beaufort District.

A particular treasure of the BDC is the Nancy Ciehanski Papers, an archival collection that illuminates Mrs. Ciehanski's active involvement in creating the Town of Hilton Head Island 26 years ago. The State recognized the historical value in making her papers accessible for present and future study when they awarded us a SHRAB grant in 2004 to do the necessary archival arrangement work to help researchers learn more about creating a new town in a booming coastal area.

You can learn about some of the materials we make available through the Beaufort District Collection and its services about the “History of Hilton Head Island” sitting right there at your computer.

Please investigate how the BDC helps the customers at all the branch libraries learn about the history, culture, and environment of the wonderful place we all live. As always, call us at 843-255-6468 or e-mail us at bdc@bcgov.net if you have any questions.

Take-Home Preservation Principles: Environment! Environment! Environment!

Please note: This post was updated 13 April 2020. All information and links were accurate as of this date.- Kristi Marshall

Heat, humidity, and frequent afternoon showers characterize our summer months here in the southeastern United States. Let's face it, it simply doesn't feel like summer until the high temperatures hit the mid 90s Fahrenheit (F) and the humidity hovers 95% - 100%! In contrast, most dwellings and public offices keep their thermostat set from 65-75 degrees F. Often, the most brutal part of summer is adapting your body to your surrounding conditions. Thankfully, sweating, shivering, and incalculable clothing options make these transitions more bearable. (But really, that's another story.) The real question is how does the heat and humidity affect our treasured paper-based possessions?

You may be surprised to learn that the most important thing you can do to protect your family papers, books, and photos is to place them in a controlled and stable environment. No, the attic is not an option; it is possible for summer temperatures in your attic to reach 150 degrees F. No, your basement or crawl space is not an option either; humidity and moisture collect here creating a breeding ground for mold and insects. When storing your family keepsakes, locate an area of your home that will not suffer extreme fluctuations in either temperature or humidity. A shelf within an interior hallway or an entry way closet is a very good option in most households.

The ideal temperature is 68 degrees F and allows for a three degree fluctuation in either direction. The ideal relative humidity (RH) is 40%, and, again, allows for a three percent fluctuation.

Recent trends in energy conservation as well as personal preferred comfort levels may leave you wary to run for the thermostat. Too costly and too cold may not be an option for you, and that's a-okay with us! Few people choose to maintain archival environmental standards within their own homes. However, just making the move from your attic to a room that has 75 degree F and 60% RH conditions can increase the life of your treasures by 4 times. Moving to an environment with ideal conditions, like here at the Beaufort District Collection, can increase the life of your paper artifacts up to 10 times!

So, get those treasures out of the attic, basement, or crawl space! When selecting the ideal location and environment, keep in mind:

• Sunlight. Keep your family treasures out of direct sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) from sunlight can cause fading.
• Dust. Dust your collection frequently. By keeping the area clean, you can prevent most common insect infestations.
• Book Support. Store your books upright supported by book ends. If a book is too large or already damaged, store it flat. Never stack more than 3 books high!
• Staples & Paper Clips. Remove all staples and paper clips from your paper items before storing them. By carefully removing these metal items you will prevent rust from damaging (or further damaging) the paper. Use a spatula--not a regular office staple remover. (Call us, we can tell you where to order one.)
• Tape. Avoid using tape to make repairs. The sticky side of tape contains acid that can "eat" paper. There is no such thing as acid-free tape, regardless what the manufacturer or supply house tells you.
• Pencils. Pens and markers also contain acid, so play it safe and stick to pencils.

For more information about protecting your personal archival collections, check out these articles from The Library of Congress:

Preserving Works on Paper: Manuscripts, Drawings, Prints, Posters, Maps, Documents

The Deterioration and Preservation of Paper: Some Essential Facts
The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Vertical Files 101

Last updated: 21 July 2026 -gmc

A vertical file is a collection of articles, pamphlets, clippings, programs, menus, posters, etc. that is maintained (often within a library or archives setting) to answer brief questions or to provide points of information not easily located. (Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary).

Uses of Historical Vertical Files 

It used to be that vertical files were physical ephemera, materials such as newspaper and article clippings, brochures, ticket stubs, programs from community events, photographs, pamphlets, etc. that were meant to be kept for short periods and then discarded. In the pre-internet days, students often had to do prepare reports on current events or topics. When librarians noticed that the same subject came up several times within a short period of time, voilà, there would soon be a folder of  relevant resources about the "topic of the day" to share with the students. Every so often, someone would clean out the "topic of the day" file, add newer materials, remove out of date materials, and decide when to discard the file.  

A different process is used in special collections and archives unit with vertical files. Our topics of interest tend to endure across years, decades and even centuries. Because of the mission of the BDC, our vertical files are focused on a limited range of topics within a specific geographical area. Historical vertical files are created and then meant to be maintained, added to, and preserved indefinitely for the future. We collect and maintain over 1,600 vertical files on historical, cultural, or environmental topics that directly relate to people, places, issues, organizations, themes, eras, or issues of local importance in the Research Room. 

We do not have the resources to inventory every item in a vertical file so it is very important that customers keep the materials in order as some items are unique. The contents of our vertical files has helped many an historian, genealogist, writer and the BDC staff do research over the years. In my case, the vertical files have inspired a good deal of social media posts and formed the foundation of some of the presentations I have done for BDC local history programs or for community groups.   

The vertical file array continues to evolve. We add new vertical file titles as we need them. We might re-label a specific vertical file, or create several new vertical files from one that has grown too large for the folders, but we never, ever destroy contents of historical vertical files. The number will only keep growing as the breadth, depth and scope of 21st century life unfolds.

Key points for you to remember: 

• BDC Vertical Files are "Forever."
• Historical vertical files are the core of the entire BDC. Their contents cannot be replaced. 
• BDC historical vertical files are used a lot by BDC staff and customers. 
  

You can use the key words "vertical file" in the catalog search box or use the format term "Continuing Resources" in the catalog to limit results to bring up the entire gamut of titles within the BDC Vertical File Collection. I think that you'll find the scope of the folder titles within the vertical files interesting, if not, breath-taking. 1600 files and counting is a lot of folder titles!

Call us or e-mail us if you have questions about the contents of a particular vertical file. Our telephone number is 843-255-6468. Our e-mail address is: bdc@bcgov.net.

How Does the BDC Grow?

The Beaufort District Collection continues to expand and collect new materials on a daily basis. We stay up to date with what's hitting the shelves of the local book store and publishing market. We scan local and state newspapers and magazines to collect priceless research resources for our vertical files. We accept materials from generous local, state, and even worldwide donors. But what exactly are we looking for? In case you haven't made it in to visit, haven't perused our website, and haven't yet checked out the left panel of our blog (check it out now for some really neat resources!!!), let's recap our mission statement:

The purpose of the Beaufort District Collection is to acquire, preserve, maintain and make accessible a research collection of permanent value which records the history, culture and environment of the area of lowcountry South Carolina known as the old historic Beaufort District.

Now that we remember what the Beaufort District Collection is "all about," let's talk collection development. To decide if a particular item should be included in our collection we start by examining the content of the material. How much of the material is dedicated specifically to the "old historic Beaufort District?"After we decide to include a particular item into this carefully selected and maintained archival collection, the content of the material will decide how many we need and which branches (if any!) will receive additional copies for their Local History section.

Don't forget that although materials found in the Beaufort District Collection are not available for checkout, many materials of interest can be found in your Beaufort County Library branch's Local History section. Search the online catalog or ask your reference librarian for details!The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Links updated and verified by Kristi Marshall on April 9, 2020.

"4 and No More!" Call before you bring a group!

The BDC welcomes all visitors and researchers over the age of 12 years. We're glad to have you come use our resources and expertise. However, please be aware that we are operating under severe space constraints this summer. We want to help you explore all the wonderful documents and materials we take care of here. Yet there is little elbow room left to sit down or stretch out materials in front of you. We will do our best to be creative and come up with a mutually beneficial solution to the severe space constraints but there are no guarantees that we will be able to accommodate groups larger than 4 people. As always, the BDC staff will do our best to help you.

If you are part of a group call (843) 255-6468 to make advance arrangements.
If you hear of a group of folks planning to come to use the BDC (e.g., a class, summer institute group, a busload of tourists, etc.), please advise them to call us at (843) 255-6468 to make advance arrangements.
If you want the litany of reasons why this researcher limitation is in place until the relocation of the BDC to the 2nd floor in the Beaufort Branch Library building, call us at (843) 255-6468.

We’re open for business – we just can’t get too much of it at the same time.
The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Last updated by Kristi Marshall on April 9, 2020.

A Long Distance Relationship That Lasts

...previously on "As The Research Continues"...

SEAN: Don't worry Lucinda! We can always make a trip to Beaufort County to explore their District Collection's holdings. We can really make this work!!!
LUCINDA: Sean, it's hopeless! [crying] Beaufort is too far away! I may never find the information I need!
SEAN: [solemn, walks to the door] Well, Lucinda, I guess this is it. [opens the door and takes a step out] If you decide to make the trip, call me. [walks out without a backward glance]

**cue heartbreaking music**

Don't let long distance research ruin your life!
The Beaufort District Collection can help you!!!

Reference Service Basics

Free Services

• Find out what’s in the collection. Give us a call, send us an email, or surf our website to see if we have the right materials to answer your questions.
• Telephone consultations are always free! Call (843) 255-6468, Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 5:00pm.
• Visit our online catalog via the Beaufort County Library website. It’s open 24/7/365!
• Browse our Online Obituary Index, and Local History Materials. It’s open 24/7/365!

Fee Based Services
for folks who want us to help them from afar

If you’re asking us to do too much of your work for you, we’ll tell you up front! Please don’t offend us by offering to pay more or ask for “extra special” services. Our services are always of the highest quality, and therefore “extra special” by very definition!

• We answer one question at a time & each question is subject to the minimal fee.
• Fees are incurred as soon as we roll up our sleeves and get to researching.
• You can count on our researching abilities. Rest assured that if an answer exists, we will do our absolute best to find it for you! Remember, however, we can only work for about one hour on your task & sometimes there is no concrete answer to be had.

(For example, if your ancestor was born “outside the sheets in 1865,” we may not have any resources within our collections to document who sired him/her! In fact, SC didn’t even have official birth certificates until 1915!)

• All replies incur the same fees whether they be replies in the affirmative ("yes, we found what you were looking for") or the negative ("with apologies, no records exist.") “No” or “Insufficient documentation to support your contention” is an answer – just not the one that you may have been hoping to get.

Regretfully, staff at the BDC will not do any of the following:

Make up or create records
Take photographs of headstones, historic sites, or historic houses
Visit cemeteries
Wander around the county looking for records
Provide supporting research reports or documentation by fax, e-mail, scanning or over the telephone

Estimated Turn-Around Time Frame

We try to complete our reference services within two weeks of agreeing to tackle your request. Remember, that it takes time to perform the high quality research work that we do. Please note that our first priority is to assist customers who personally visit the BDC. We do not guarantee delivery of the research report or supporting documentation within 14 days. Rest assured, however, that providing quality research with supporting documentation and customer satisfaction is our goal! We request that you please be patient.

Don't Forget:

Since all replies are sent via USPS mail, it is essential that we have your current mailing address. Fees are to be paid by return mail as soon as you receive a formal reply from staff of the Beaufort County Library.

Fees

Fees are based upon residency, the number of questions asked, and the number of necessary photocopies made to sufficiently support the research.

Beaufort County Library Card Holders
$5.00 per question
¢50 per photocopy
Other US Residents
$10.00 per question
¢50 per photocopy
Foreign Nationals
$15.00 per question
¢50 per photocopy

Long Distance Reference Policy
Obituary Request Policy

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Celebrate National Library Week: April 13th – 19th

“First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.” --ALA.org

Celebrate National Library Week at your local library today! More information is available on the ALA National Library Week fact sheet.

Beaufort County, South Carolina Branches include: Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Lobeco, and St. Helena. Find out more information about your branch at the Beaufort County Library website.

Check us out!

Branch locations and hours
Beaufort County Library history
How to get a library card
Send a question to a reference librarian
View Beaufort County Library policies
Become a Friend of the LibraryGet a job at the Beaufort County Library

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Links updated and verified by Kristi Marshall on April 9, 2020