Martin Luther King, Jr. at Penn Center

Martin Luther King, Jr., 26 March 1964

Beaufort District is a uniquely historic place with a broad, multifaceted, story to tell and share. You may have noticed that the Reconstruction Era National Monument is about to celebrate its first anniversary on 12 January. Some call Reconstruction the "first Civil Rights Movement." The Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century was founded upon Reconstruction ideals and constitutional amendments. And Beaufort played a role in both developments. 

For 13 years, one man had the most recognized face and most resounding voice advocating equal rights for all United States citizens. From the age of 26 until his untimely death by assassination at the hands of James Earl Ray, Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated for fair and equal application of all US laws and full benefits of citizenship for minorities.  


Sometimes we forget how national figures touch -- and are touched by -- places we drive by on a daily basis. In the vast universe of resources about the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968), there is a small gem of a booklet that every person visiting or living in Beaufort County should read. Penn Center, then known as Penn Community Services, was just such a place for Martin Luther King, Jr. and other members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. "I Will Not Be Silent and I will be Heard:" Martin Luther King, Jr. by J. Tracy Power (Columbia, SC: South Carolina Dept. of Archives & History, Public Programs Division, c1993) is available in the BDC Research Room as well as from the Local History sections at your favorite Beaufort County Branch Library.

Chapter 4 of Penn Center: A History Preserved by Orville Vernon Burton is dedicated to the discussion of Penn Center's role in the Civil Rights Movement. This book is also available in the BDC Research Room as well as from the Local History sections at your favorite Beaufort County Branch Library.

The Library has a Martin Luther King, Jr. Pinterest style page of books and articles. 

Drop by our Research Room to see a small display of BDC materials relating to Dr. King's experience at Penn Center. Please note: The Library will be closed Mon., January 15th for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Regular hours resume on Tues., January 16th.

Image: Courtesy of the Library of Congress  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003688129/ 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Rested and Wrote at Penn Center

This post was last updated on 10 January 2024.  

Martin Luther King, Jr.
Photograph by Marion S. Tikosko, 1964.
Library of Congress

Many folks are not aware that King used to visit Penn Center for respite from his public political activities campaigning for Civil Rights during the 1960s. It is said that he wrote much of his "I Have a Dream" speech at Penn Center. You can view that historic speech online.

To celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we suggest one item of particular local historical interest. For more information about his visits to our area, please check out I will not be silent and I will be heard: Martin Luther King Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Penn Center, 1964-1967 by J. Tracy Power. The booklet is available through the SCLENDS consortium catalog.

Interested in the role that one of the first schools organized to educate formerly enslaved people played from 1862 until the present day? We suggest that you read Penn Center: A History Preserved by Orville Vernon Burton to learn more about this highly significant local institution.

For those who want to dig even deeper, we have the microfilm series of the Penn School Papers in the BDC along with a number of other materials about Penn Center.

The Beaufort County Library has lots more about Martin Luther King, Jr., too!  Hoopla, our digital service, has a suggested list of 21,915 ebooks, movies, and audiobooks about him with materials for kids, teens, and grown-ups. 

Just remember that if you want to come into the BDC to read the contents of the King, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968) vertical file we have, you'll need to make an appointment directly with BDC staff. Contact us: 843-255-6468 or email bdc@bcgov.net. Please understand that BDC staff makes an effort to respond to inquiries within 72 hours of receipt by staff of the request. This means, of course, that we do not monitor incoming on weekends or on County holidays. 

A heads up: The Library system, including the BDC, will be closed on Monday, January 15th, 2024 in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. - gmc

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

The Library system, including the Beaufort District Collection Research Room, will be closed Monday, January 19th to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Regular hours resume Tuesday, January 20th.

To learn more about King's time in Beaufort County read the small gem of a booklet "I Will Not Be Silent and I Will Be Heard:" Martin Luther King, Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Penn Center, 1964 - 1967 by J. Tracy Power. Copies are available in the local history sections at the branch libraries, call number 323.4 POW. We've recently added the newest history of Penn Center: A History Preserved, too, local history section, call number 370.9757 BUR. For those who want to dig even deeper, we have the microfilm series of the Penn School Papers in the BDC along with a number of other materials about one of the first schools organized to educate formerly enslaved people.

50 Years Later: "I Have a Dream" Speech

People throughout the world are honoring the 50th Anniversary of the "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom" at which Martin Luther King, Jr. was the final speaker at the event - because no one else wanted to go last.  It is ironic that arguably his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream” does not contain that phrase – as Martin Luther King, Jr., went off script and spoke extemporaneously when the "I have a dream" cadence begins.    Many folks are not aware that King used to visit Penn Center for respite from his public political activities campaigning for Civil Rights during the 1960s. For information about his visits to our area, please check out I will not be silent and I will be heard: Martin Luther King Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Penn Center, 1964-1967 by J. Tracy Power available at all our library branches under call number 323.4 POW.  You'll need to come to the BDC to read the contents of the King, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968) vertical file.  Be sure to peruse Maria Benac’s From the Beacon article about Library books on the March onWashington.  Learn more about this man who helped change the course of  history in our country at  your favorite branch of the Beaufort County Library.   The History Channel has posted a 2:33 minute video "Bet You Didn't Know: March on Washington" at http://www.history.com/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-march-on-washington that is well worth a few minutes of your time to view. Source: Bet You Didn't Know: March on Washington. (2013). The History Channel website. Retrieved 11:58, August 27, 2013, from http://www.history.comhttp://www.history.com/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-march-on-washington.