On Facebook, Nov. 16 - Dec. 15, 2023

Here's the mid-month to mid-month recap of the BDC's Facebook page posts:

Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday

November 20: "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday:" Clarence B. Moore (1852-1936) was a wealthy amateur archaeologist from Philadelphia who crisscrossed the rivers of the southeast each year in his steam-powered paddleboat, the Gopher, excavating sites near the shores in states ranging from Alabama to Tennessee. He was in Beaufort District in 1897 and 1898 exploring archaeological sites and uncovering artifacts of Native American culture. His original notebooks and personal papers are housed at Cornell University.

The BDC has a first edition of Moore's Certain Aboriginal Mounds of the Coast of South Carolina (1898) and a first edition of the Journal of The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia volume 11 (1897) courtesy of the Beaufort Township Library. Volume 11 contains Moore's work about his discoveries in Georgia, South Carolina, along the Savannah and Altamaha rivers, Alabama, and in Florida along with articles by Marquis de Nadaillac, Edward D. Cope, Henry C. Mercer, and Dr. R. W. Shufeldt (1897). Though if asked, I would bring the volumes from our storage stacks out to a researcher, their condition is not great as the paper has become quite brittle and shattered. Therefore, even inside the Research Room I would insist that customers access the digital copies of these items through the HathiTrust website at and through the Internet Archive.

You can also borrow copies of The Georgia and South Carolina Expeditions of Clarence Bloomfield Moore (1998) from other parts of the SCLENDS consortium.

November 27: "Uniquely BDC:" Take a break from all your online shopping to explore the BDC's list of links and materials about Native Americans of the Lowcountry.

December 4: "Uniquely BDC" Materials Monday: In honor of our next local history program, I want to highlight the "Men and Women of Beaufort during World War II" scrapbooks we have in our archives. These two scrapbooks contain materials from an album originally started in 1945 by former Beaufort Township Librarians Mabel Runnette and Isabelle Clift. Lee Stevenson, a library volunteer, rediscovered, reformatted and enhanced the original album with additional donations from the community from 1993 to 1995. The clippings are dated between 1941 and 1993, with most of the clippings dating between 1942 and 1945. Volume 2 contains photocopied clippings from the Beaufort Gazette, Beaufort News, Beaufort Times, and Penn School Annual Report of 1942-1943. The Finding Aid is posted online.

Local History Program Related Posts:

November 21: 16 days to our next local history program.

December 5: The Chronicling America website of historic American newspapers is changing. Check out the guide to its latest iteration. Might I suggest that given our upcoming local history program "The Bush Brothers at Pearl Harbor ... and Beyond" with Mary Dorsey that one might search on "Pearl Harbor" in the weeks following December 7, 1941 to see the contemporary coverage of that "day that will live in infamy."

December 6: [Black History Note Wednesday] Post 207 of the American Legion is named in memory of a local Black sailor killed during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Come learn about the Bush Family with Mary Dorsey tomorrow afternoon at Beaufort Branch Library. It's free; No registration required.

December 11: "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday": World War II is still on my mind because of the "Bush Brothers" local history program last week. We are the only part of the SCLENDS consortium to hold Artie M. Heape: A Lowcountry Man and His Life by Arlene Heape Hull (2011). Ours came directly from the author. Heape was born in Early Branch, Hampton County but moved to Beaufort at age 12 in 1907. He fought in three wars. He saw action in France and in Russia before being discharged for the first time from the Army. He would serve again reaching the rank of Lt. Colonel in World War II. From 1946 - 1948, he was the Chief of Police for the city of Beaufort. In 1948 he rejoined the Army for the third time serving in the Philippines, the Korean War, and Texas. He resigned from the Army in 1955 and returned to Beaufort where he lived out the rest of his 95 years. We'd be happy to let you read it in our Research Room. Contact us bdc@bcgov.net or 843-255-6468 to make the arrangements.

December 7 & 8 - I posted photos from the "Bush Brothers" program.

Black History Note Wednesdays:

November 22: "Black History Note:" The Gullah Connection Trail: A Proposal for the US National Park Service was a James Madison University Honors Program project led by Prof. Joseph Opala. Their goal was that the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Resource Study would simply be a starting point to explore their historical concept that the Gullah people of the Carolinas and Georgia were the center of a great chain of migration stretching back to West Africa and then forward to Florida, the Bahamas, Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico. Under their proposal, three sites would be hubs to explore their concept: The Charles Pinckney National Historic Site near Charleston; The Penn Center on St. Helena Island; and The Seminole National Museum of Wewoka, OK where new exhibits could illuminate the Black Seminole diaspora. If accepted as proposed the Gullah Connection Trail would consist of 37 Gullah-related sties in 6 states and 6 foreign countries. Their plan was modeled on the Underground Railroad Network across the US and Canada.

This title also happens to be an "Uniquely BDC" offering within the SCLENDS consortium.

Reminder: When the BDC closes tonight, staff won't return until Monday, November 27th. Other units of the Library will re-open for business on Saturday, November 25th.

November 29: "Black History Note:" The Indian Slave Trade: The Rise of the English Empire in the American South, 1670 - 1717 by Alan Gallay (Yale University Press, 2002) won the Bancroft Prize in American History. He examines enslavement as practiced in the Southeast: first using Native Americans, and after the Yamasee War, Africans. For the first 50 years in South Carolina's colonial history, enslaved Native Americans were the labor base. This changed around the time of the Indian uprising known as the Yamasee War. Africans became the preferred labor force in South Carolina.

He writes how "The specter of Native Americans uniting with African Americans against Europeans haunted South Carolina and Louisiana colonials. The elite of both colonies worked strenuously to keep Indians and Africans apart and mutually hostile, and to do so, they sought to impose their racial ideology on them .... In spite of these and other actions taken by British and French leaders to prevent positive interactions among Indians and Africans, the blacks had numerous occasions to forge relationships outside of those proscribed by the Europeans." (p. 345)

It's a fascinating book - and supplemental readings about the period and the practices of enslavement can be found on this flyer of materials about Dr. Henry Woodward and the Proprietary Era in South Carolina.

December 13: Ready or not, here they come -- the dreaded (or perhaps long awaited) annual Christmas letter from your relatives and friends. I am sure that those who were on Ervena Faulkner's Christmas list enjoyed receiving her Christmas Letters: An African American Story, 1968 - 2003. Check a copy out from the Local History section at your BCL branch library.

Just Because posts:

November 20: Dr. James Shinn brought members of his upper level history classes to the Research Room for a behind-the-scenes tour on Monday, November 6th. [We posted over 40 images of the class visit.]

November 28: The US Mint is asking for input about commemorative coins for our nation's Semiquincentennial in 2026. I'm a little disappointed that the DeSaussure Gold Eagle isn't among the choices, but there are indeed some interesting numismatic designs among the options. Participate. Note: The survey closes on December 3, 2023.

Two DeSaussure brothers, Henry and Daniel built up Coosawhatchie as a trading post in the 1740s. Their father, Henri, was the Huguenot immigrant via Switzerland to America, who owned a 312-acre plantation on Hilton Head Island by 1730. Henri's grandson William Henry DeSaussure was a significant political figure in South Carolina. His house in Beaufort, now gone, became the fabled Gold Eagle Tavern in the 1930s in homage to his directorship of the US Mint.

By the way, the correct mispronunciation of the family name in South Carolina is either DES-suh-soe or DES-suh-SOHR.

November 30: A sobering report that I found cited in the American Association for State and Local History weekly e-newsletter: "Does Anyone Notice Local History When There is No Local News?" As the local history librarian and archivist, I tend to take a longer range view of things as I appreciate how local newspapers serve as a vital resources for future historians and genealogists. It's why we provide as many Beaufort County based local newspapers in the Research Room for customers to use as is practical given preservation issues, digital access through other sources, microfilm equipment and formats and collecting and boxing up some currently published newspapers.

December 1: December Overview: Things usually quiet down for the BDC between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day - and I tend to take off some personal leave over the course of the period. This year seems to be no exception. Accordingly, you will see less Monday and Wednesday posts later this month.

The only program on our agenda is about a local man who was killed at Pearl Harbor - to be held, appropriately I think, Thursday, December 7th.

We've recommended a person for the Library Specialist position. We're waiting on the County's employment process to play out before we make a formal announcement of whom will be joining Jalen and me here in the Research Room.

Please note: The Library's holiday schedule will impact Research Room appointment availability. Contact us for details. As a reminder: we are unable to take same-day or walk-in appointments at this time.

December 12:

I am so excited that I can bring one of my grandchildren to see the model trains at Beaufort Branch later this week! He lives far, far away and is coming to visit me for Christmas.

December 14: In honor of perennially popular Beaufort Branch's Model Train exhibit, here's a "Very Brief History of Railroads in Beaufort District" that I wrote a few years ago. Those Bitly links take you to more information and to photographs of the Yemassee Depot circa 1900 - 1910. (The Beaufort Railroaders have done this display for the Beaufort Branch Library for a very impressive 30 years now - so long that I'd bet that some of those who came in the earliest years just might be bringing their own children - or grandchildren! - now.)

Holidays: 

November 16: Wonder if these fowl are getting nervous that Thanksgiving Day is only a week away? This images is from the BCL's Donner Collection.

November 23: We are so thankful for our customers, our docents, our colleagues, our donors, our program co-sponsors, the Friends of the Beaufort Library and our Library Board of Trustees. Enjoy your holidays. Jalen and I will!

December 10: There's still some time for you to set up a Research Appointment before we break for the holidays. Contact us: bdc@bcgov.net or 843-255-6468 to make the necessary arrangements. (PSST: Don't forget to drop by to see the model trains downstairs in the Beaufort Branch, Tuesday through Saturday.)

A notice: I am taking some personal leave this holiday season. Jalen will be in the Research Room Mondays - Fridays except for scheduled holidays to assist those interested in coming to the Research Room or those who have scheduled appointments. Please contact him at 843-255-6468 or email bdc@bcgov.net to request help or an appointment.

Jalen and I wish you all the best of the holiday season!

BDC Posts to Facebook, October 16 - November 15, 2023

As you are likely aware, we celebrate a lot of themes during October and in November we honor Native American Heritage Month. Accordingly, you'll see references in our Facebook posts to National Archives Month, Family History Month, Gullah Geechee Heritage Month, and program reminders. 

Here's what I wrote for Facebook from mid-October to mid-November: 

October 16: "Uniquely BDC:" Materials Monday in Archives Month - Archives by their very nature are unique collections of materials created or compiled by an individual or an organization for a particular purpose. The BDC Research Room has about 200 such collections ranging in size from the contents of one folder to about 150,000 items in many archival boxes. We have posted some Finding Aids online; we have those Finding Aids and more in a binder in the Research Room; and we continue to work from the inventory list to arrange and describe what remains unarranged and described. Unfortunately, the BDC's archival collections are not listed with other BDC materials in the joint SCLends catalog. So ... if you have a question about our holdings, when it comes to Archives, it's best to contact us directly and ask: bdc@bcgov.net or 843-255-6468.

October 23: "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday": Plantations are still on my mind after Kayleigh Vaughn's enlightening presentations earlier this week. So I went in search of uniquely BDC plantation related materials - and found one to highlight for you today.

The BDC Research Room is the only place within the SCLENDS consortium that you can find this "Rough Map of Eustis Plantation on Ladies Island SC" originally drawn by George Gage in 1876 and filed at the Beaufort County register of deeds in 1879 but copied here by F.H. Swain on 22 January [19]08. It certainly looks like the reason for the map was to separate the plantation into lots for sale. In 1876 $10 an acre seems to be the going price. Even with calculating for the 1876 value of a dollar into 2023 dollars ($10 = $287. 65), just you try buying a 22+ Acre waterfront lot on Lady's Island for $6328.30 today! Make an appointment and Jalen and I will be happy to bring Map #276 to the public area of the Research Room for you to see up close and personal.

Another factor to note for Archives Month: This map was laminated probably long before I came to work in 1999. Once thought to help preserve and protect important documents, lamination as a preservation practice was stopped by the early 1980s as we learned how dangerous and destructive the fusing of plastics into historic documents was. Though the service is still available through many vendors for personal use, archivists definitely don't apply the process to any materials within our safekeeping and do not recommend that anyone else does so either. The saddest fact is that lamination, like light damage, cannot be undone. (If you'd like to geek out: Lamination vs. Encapsulation is a good summary of the difference between encapsulation - which the BDC does now -- and lamination - which no reputable special collections does any longer.)

October 30: "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday:" Another specific to the BDC map about plantations concerns those on Daufuskie Island. Historian Rebecca Starr shared a map of "Former Plantation Boundaries (Pre-Civil War)" that shows the location of 10 plantations: Fripp; Martinangel; Benji's Point; Maryfield; Web; Cooper River; Haig Point; Melrose; Oakridge; and Blood Point on the 5000 acre sea island. Most of the names sound quite familiar to current Beaufort County residents. It's map 4-1 of the Daufuskie Island Plan 1984 draft document appearing on pages 66-67. We also have the map separately encapsulated with call number BDC Map 484 for our Research Room customers to use.

The "Daufuskie Island Plan 1984" was put together by the Beaufort County Joint Planning Committee in reaction to applications by the Daufuskie Island Land Trust, Inc. and the Maryfield Subdivision for development permission for individual homes. At that time the JPC reckoned that the population on Daufuskie Island would reach just over 10,000 by 2020. Man, oh man! was that an over-projection. The US Census Bureau only counted 557 people on Daufuskie in 2020. Some of the plantations were indeed developed - and some went bust - and some land is tied up with heirs property issues - and some areas remain largely undeveloped.

November 6: "Uniquely BCL:" Sea Island Secrets, A Journey Through Time, an official 2011 selection for the Beaufort International Film Festival, is a documentary that illuminates 4000 years of history layered in the marshes of Beaufort District. Mike Hudson, Gibbes McDowell and archaeologist Dr. Chester DePratter examined our changing shoreline and discovered artifacts of Native American habitation in the marshlands from at least 2000 years before the common era. Only the BDC and BCL's local history sections have DVDs of the film to share.

November 13: "Uniquely BDC:" The Search for Altamaha : the Archaeology and Ethnohistory of an Early 18th Century Yamasee Indian Town by William Green (1992) ultimately resulted in the creation of one of Beaufort County's Passive Parks. Learn more about the Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve.

October 17: The BDC is on the road ... again. This time to St. Helena Branch Library for the Beaufort County Library premiere of "Plantation Profiles" with Kayleigh Vaughn of the Morris Center for Lowcountry History. Come learn about a bit of local history about plantations such as Auldbrass; Belfair; Frogmore; Rose Hill; Tomotley; Honey Horn; Hobonny; Newport; Twickenham; Haig Point; and Oldfield. We'll open the doors at 1:30 for first come seating. If this afternoon is not good for you, make plans to head South of the Broad River to Bluffton Branch for the reprise on Thursday morning, October 19th. Doors open for the Bluffton Branch session's first come, first seated lecture at 10:30 AM. Both sessions are tri-sponsored by the BDC, Beaufort History Museum and the Beaufort County Historical Society.

October 18: Session #1 of "Plantation Profiles" was a success! The assembled enjoyed Kayleigh Vaughn's talk about some of the area's best known plantations, their respective histories, and the people who owned and/or lived on them before the 20th century. We're doing it again tomorrow morning at the Bluffton Branch Library. Hope to see you there: doors open at 10:30 AM; Program starts at 11.

October 18: More photos from session #1. We hope to see all y'all South of the Broad folks at Bluffton Branch in the morning for Session 2 of "Plantation Profiles" with Kayleigh Vaughn.

October 19: This morning is your last chance to hear Kayleigh Vaughn's history of some of the best known plantations in Beaufort District: Auldbrass, Belfair, Frogmore, Rose Hill, Tomotley, Honey Horn, Hobonny, Newport, Twickenham, Haig Point, and Oldfield. Doors open for seating at 10:30 AM at the Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way. This local history program is co-sponsored by the BDC, Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort History Museum. Check out the "Plantation Profiles" album!

October 20: Our next local history program - on Friday, November 3rd - is about a Civil War Union unit, the 79th New York Highlanders. Feel free to join us beginning at 1:30 PM for Tom Vaselopulos' lecture "Kilted Warriors." This time the BDC and BHM will be at the Beaufort Branch.

November 3: Jalen, the Beaufort History Museum folks, and I hope to see you in the Beaufort Branch Meeting Room this afternoon for "Kilted Warriors" with Tom Vaselopulos.

November 4: It's a busy Saturday today. Meet us at the Arsenal. Head to the Waterfront Park for the Friends of the Beaufort Library Book Sale either before or after you visit the BHM's Civil War Encampment.

November 4: All set up for our day in the '60s - the 1860's that is!

November 9: We hope to see you later this morning at the Hilton Head Branch Library for "Snake Bit" with Robert Lanham.

October 18: "Black History Note" in "Gullah Geechee Heritage Month: "The term “Gullah” or “Geechee” describes a unique group of African Americans descended from enslaved Africans who have had a profound and enduring impact on Beaufort County’s local history and way of life.

October 25: "Black History Note" in Gullah Geechee Heritage Month: Praise houses were once common on the Sea Island where spontaneous local meetings during the week supplemented Sunday services as well as a location where grievances could be aired and mediated. Learn more about this important feature in Gullah culture in our WordPress blog.

November 1: "Black History Note:" Given that language development reflects historical development, South Carolina experienced a diverse influx of cultures and languages from the onset. SC's language patterns and choice of words was influenced by Native Americans, enslaved African Americans, and a plethora of European peoples—Scots-Irish, English, Jewish, German, and Huguenots chief among them. Nichols tells the richly complex story of language contact from groups representing three continents and myriad cultures. In examining how South Carolinians spoke in public and private during the grim years of settlement, we glean much about how they developed a common culture while still honoring as best they could the heritages and tongues of their ancestors. Nichols pays particular attention to the development of the Gullah language among the coastal African American peoples and the ways in which this language—and others of South Carolina's early inhabitants—continues to influence the communication and culture of the state's current populations.

You can set up an appointment to come read our copy [of Voices of Our Ancestors: Language Contact in Early South Carolina by Patricia Causey Nichols (2009) ] in the Research Room or you can borrow one from the SCLENDS consortium.

November 8: "Black History Note:" South Carolina’s Blacks and Native Americans, 1776 - 1976 by Marianna W. Davis and the Bicentennial Project Editorial Board (1976) was an overview of the contributions made by African Americans and Native peoples upon the state's political, religious, educational, artistic, occupational, sports and community history to honor of the nation's 200th birthday. Raymond H. Williams of Beaufort was on the State Human Affairs Commission led by James E. Clyburn at the time the book was published. You can check out a copy from one of our partners in the SCLENDS consortium or you can set up an appointment to visit the Research Room to read this book: 843-255-6468 or bdc@bcgov.net.

November 15: "Black History Note:" The archaeological study Cultural Resources Investigations at Penn Center 2010 by Carl Steen and his Diachronic Research Foundation (2011) begins as almost all of the archaeological studies in the Research Room begin - with the pre-historic Native American peoples who left behind remains of their culture and lives under the sandy soil of the area. The purpose of the study was to explore the history of the proposed sites for a health center and a branch of the Beaufort County Library on St. Helena Island. The document contains lots of color photographs of the dig and artifacts found. BTW: This is another item that could also be an "Uniquely BDC" selection this month.

October 19: It's Great Southeast Shakeout, earthquake preparedness day! Most folks are unaware of the fact that South Carolina quivers rather often. As far as historical seismic events go, the two Palmetto State earthquakes to know are Charleston (1886) and Union (1913). By far, the Earthquake of 1886 had more impact on Beaufort County. Read Connections to learn more.

October 24: It's Family History Month - and there's never a wrong time to find and share compelling stories from your family history. Perhaps you'll find "How to Write a Family History or Memoir" helpful. I wrote this Connections post a few years ago in response to a customer inquiry.

October 25: It is with sadness that we learned of the death of Douglas W. Bostick, historian, author, raconteur, and Executive Director of the the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. We enjoyed his trips down to Beaufort to talk about Carolina Day and South Carolina's Revolutionary War history and the occasional lunch through the years. May he rest in peace.

October 26: In honor of Pat Conroy.

October 31: Happy Halloween from Jalen and me! Check out the Ghost stories we have posted on the BDCBCL blog. Read about Gauche the Huguenot Ghost; "The Roast Ghost"; Library Gremlins; Hags; Land's End Light and a Haunting on Ribaut Road.

November 1: Overview

November 2: Perhaps your commemoration of All Souls Day today, aka the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, can include a visit to one or more of Beaufort District's many cemeteries. We have a list of some of those cemeteries to help you on our Links, Lists & Finding Aids blog.

November 2: Beloved BDC docent Kathy Mitchell just finished adding 1283 more souls to the BCL's obituary index that she found published in the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet newspapers of 1995.

November 5: "This Week in the BDC" is a bit unusual. We're open regular hours Monday, Nov. 6th; Tuesday, Nov. 7th and Wednesday, Nov. 8th. We are accepting appointments for Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 7th - though do go do your civic duty as an American citizen and South Carolina resident first - and for Wednesday, Nov. 8th.

We host author Robert Lanham for "Snake Bit" on Thursday, Nov. 9th at Hilton Head Branch. Jalen and I hope that you'll be able to join us if you live South of the Broad River.

Please note: The Library is closed for two days this Veterans Day holiday. County policy says that when a holiday falls on a Saturday, the holiday is observed on Friday, November 10th - which is good for most of the County's employees but not for those who might work weekend and night time hours. Therefore, the Library Board of Trustees has agreed to also let library staff have Saturday, November 11th off for traditional Veterans Day this year. When the Libraries shutdown at their regular time on Thursday, staff won't return until Monday, November 13th. (Election Day tally by Jernej Furman).

November 10: Reminder: The Library is closed today and tomorrow to observe Veterans Day 2023.