4th Annual Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Celebrate Archives Month with us by joining the annual Behind-the-Scenes Tour. This is the only time that individual members of the public can go into the stacks, processing, and storage areas to see some of our many treasures.  This year the focus is on our “Civil War Treasures.” Anyone over age 12 is welcomed to come on the tour but space is limited. Call 255-6468 to reserve a spot.  

During the tour, participants will get to see some rare materials: 

 

“Civil War Treasures of the Beaufort District Collection

Sat., Oct. 12, 2013

2:00—3:00 pm

Reservations: 255-6468

HBF: Fall Festival of Homes

Our partner in the "One County Reads the Civil War" project, Historic Beaufort Foundation invites visitors to explore Beaufort from a rare vantage point: a selection of private homes, gardens, and plantations normally not open to the public welcome visitors inside. The houses represent three centuries of Beaufort architecture for which the city is justly famous. These self-paced walking tours offer a distinctive opportunity to observe how contemporary lifestyles are lived within the framework of our unmatched architectural heritage. The tours occur October 25 - 27, 2013.

You can download an electronic version of the brochure at http://www.historicbeaufort.org/fall-festival.php. To receive a brochure from Historic Beaufort Foundation in the mail please send your mailing address to:  events@historicbeaufort.org.

BDC Focus Shifts for October

September was a whirlwind of visitors, lectures, events, discussion groups, and performances for the Beaufort District Collection.  We have reached almost 4 times the usual and customary volume of BDC customers with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History's “Civil War 150” exhibit and supplemental programs during September.  Traditionally, October is quite busy as we highlight three annual commemorations in the special collections and archives unit of the Library system: Archives Month; Archaeology Month; and Family History Month.

 

Although the centerpiece of our efforts, the “Civil War 150: Exploring the War and Its Meaning through the Words of Those Who Lived It” traveling exhibit has moved along to its next destination (South Hamilton, MA), the Library system and its partners have plenty more Civil War related activities scheduled through the end of October. Details are available on our website: www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/civilwar.

The BDC has one final contribution to the “One County Reads the Civil War” project: the 4th annual Behind-the-Scenes Tour to celebrate Archives Month. Each year the tour features a different theme.  Fittingly, staff will highlight significant Civil War items within our collection this year on Sat., Oct. 12th at 2 pm.  The tour will last about 1 hour 30 minutes.  30 lucky people will learn how we care for the materials within the special collections and archives unit, how we share some of those materials in the Research Room and through the online “Virtual BDC,” and will have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with some of our Civil War related treasures.   

Although we do group tours (5 – 15 persons being the ideal) by prior arrangement throughout the year, this will be the only tour offered to individual members of the general public in 2013. There is no charge to attend. There are only a few slots left for those individuals over age 12 who are interested in learning about what we have, what we do, and how we share what we have with the community – and indeed, in some cases, the world!   Contact cseabrook@bcgov.net or call 255-6468 to register. 

The Beaufort County Planning Department and Beaufort County Library have co-sponsored Archaeology Month programs during October for almost a decade now.  This year we are very pleased to be collaborating with the Hilton Head Chapter of the Archaeology Society of South Carolina. Two of the Archaeology Month events are being held in the Beaufort District Collection.  On Tues., Oct. 15th,  archaeologist Helena Ferguson will talk about efforts to raise public awareness about the value of archaeology.  A few days later, on Saturday, Oct. 19th, Dr. Jon Leader and Dr. Eric Poplin will identify objects for the public during the “What the Heck Is It?” session from Noon to 4 pm. 

We have copies of the 2013 Archaeology Month poster, “Public Archaeology in South Carolina” in the BDC Research Room to give away.  Drop by during our regular hours of operation, Mondays through Fridays, 10 am – 5 pm to pick up one.

The inaugural Arkhaois Cultural and Archaeology Film Festival gets underway at the Coligny Theatre on Hilton Head Island, Oct. 24 – Oct. 26.  The South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, Coastal Discovery Museum, the Humanities Council of South Carolina, and the Arts Commission of South Carolina hope to turn this into an annual event on Hilton Head Island.  More than 30 films are set for screening.   

All of these Archaeology Month events are free and open to the general public. 

October is also Family History Month.  Approximately 35 – 40% of our Research Room and e-mail customers are interested in exploring their roots.  This can be rather challenging as so many of our government records were lost in 1865. 

The Library system provides access to Ancestry Library Edition year-round to support genealogical research.  Although the BDC concentrates on genealogical materials relating to our immediate area, we try to guide anyone interested in pursuing this avocation to appropriate sources of additional information.  To facilitate researchers, we offer occasional genealogy workshops, one-on-one research appointments, and telephone reference interviews by prior arrangement throughout the year.  Because time and staff are in short supply, we will focus on Family History Month primarily through the BDC’s social media this year.  Since 2008 we have made almost 100 posts about family history and genealogical matters to our blog, www.beaufortdistrictcollectionconnections.blogspot.com. On our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/BDC.BCL (case-sensitive), expect to see a genealogy hint or tip every weekday during October.

We hope that you will continue to support the efforts and programs of the Library system as we note Archives Month, Archaeology Month, Family History Month, and conclude the “One County Reads the Civil War” project. 

Civil War Project Continues

If you missed coming by to see the physical Civil War 150: Exploring the War and Its Meaning Through the Words of Those Who Lived It, there is a virtual exhibit at http://www.gilderlehrman.org/sites/all/themes/gli/panels/civilwar150/online-exhibition.php with audio clips of dramatic readings of documents featured in the exhibit.  The Virtual Civil War 150 online exhibition also allows you to enlarge a document, generates a transcript of the document, some include an audio clip of a dramatic reading of the document, and provides context for the document. 

Although the BDC's programming for the Civil War 150 exhibit is over, the Library system and our partners still have lots of programs, tours, and exhibits going on for residents and visitors to see and do. For example, Beaufort Branch has the Let's Talk About It series from the Humanities Council of South Carolina during October. Films are being shown at Bluffton Branch and St. Helena Branch. Hilton Head Branch Library has a Civil War crafts session. 

For details of what is happening, when, and where, check out the Library's online calendars:
Week of Sept. 29 - Oct. 5: http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/bcl_calendar/2013-W40
Week of Oct. 6 - Oct. 12: http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/bcl_calendar/2013-W41
Week of Oct. 13 - Oct. 19: http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/bcl_calendar/2013-W42
Week of Oct. 20 - Oct. 26: http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/bcl_calendar/2013-W43

There is still time to use your vouchers for a discount on admission on select tours, exhibits and programs at some of our partnered institutions.  For example, Coastal Discovery Museum offers tours of historic forts on Hilton Head Island on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Reservations are required: 689-6767.  Historic Beaufort Foundation offers a tour of the John Mark Verdier House Museum, Mondays through Saturdays.  The Bluffton Historical Preservation Society offers tours of the Heyward House and Old Towne Bluffton.  The Beaufort History Museum opens its "First South Carolina Volunteers" exhibit on Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 to Noon; 2 - 4 pm.  Check the Library's calendar or the Library Events Newsletter for details.

Your attendance at any of the One County Reads the Civil War programs, tours, exhibits, discussion and crafts sessions, or performances affirms that the humanities and public libraries inspire, engage, and enhance community life.  

 

   

Busy, Busy October

Hilton Head Island is having a party this week to commemorate Capt. Hilton's voyage 350 years ago and the founding of the Town of Hilton Head Island in 1983.  For details and a list of events - including History Day - see http://celebrationhhi.org/.  (You may recall that Capt. Hilton weighed anchor at several of the branch libraries during the summer. We knew that the Civil War project would take up all available time.)

October is traditionally a busy month for the Beaufort District Collection as we celebrate Archives Month, Archaeology Month and Family History Month.  The Library system is
also still holding programs, discussion groups, films, events, and performances relating to the One County Reads the Civil War project. During October, we'll be highlighting all four of these topics with a post every couple of days or so.

Stay Tuned!

Bye-Bye "Civil War 150" ... but

What a fabulous and hectic time we've had bringing Civil War150 to the community. We thank the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, The Library of America, and the National Endowment for the Humanities for awarding us the opportunity to share this national traveling exhibit with you during the Sesquicentennial period. We are extremely grateful for the incredible cooperation we got from The Humanities Council of South Carolina, Beaufort County Historical Society, Arts Council of Beaufort County, Beaufort History Museum, Bluffton Historical Preservation Society, Coastal Discovery Museum, Friends of the Beaufort Library, Heritage Library Foundation, Historic Beaufort Foundation, and the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce for our part of the project. 

We know that opinions about Civil War 150  have been quite varied - as widely as the demographics of the people in our library service area should indicate.  Our goal was to support informed civic discourse and to provide an insightful barely-beyond-the-cradle-to-almost-in-the-grave enlightening experience for our diverse community. We wanted to encourage thoughtful consideration to the complex issues of the war by exposing our community to a variety of viewpoints about the Civil War (AKA War of the Rebellion, War Between the States, War of Northern Aggression, Second American Revolution) and I feel that the series thus far has certainly pushed us all in that direction.   If you participated in any of our offerings thus far and think otherwise, please speak now by commenting to this blog entry.  

The last chance to view the Civil War150 exhibit in Beaufort County is this Mon., Sept. 30, 10 am – 5 pm.  Charmaine and I pack up the exhibit and ship it out first thing on Tuesday morning.  This will also be the last chance you will have to pick up a discount voucher for select tours and exhibits from our partners.  (Remember: the vouchers expire on Halloween).  We would love for you to come visit the exhibit on Monday and share any final comments or observations about this phase of the "One County Reads the Civil War" project in our guest register.  

Don't forget to view items from Dr. Robert Lisle's personal collection relating to Civil War era photography in the BDC Research Room.  

Even so, please, do not think that we are completely done with the Civil War yet!  Even the BDC has one final Civil War related event coming up in October.  

Saturday, October 12, 2013 - 2:00pm – 3:30pm

October is South Carolina Archives Month. To celebrate, the Beaufort District Collection staff will show participants what goes on behind the locked door – and how we work every day to safeguard, preserve, and share our community’s history and culture. This year the tour will feature significant Civil War related materials in our holdings. Free for anyone over age 12 with an interest in documents of local history and what we do here.  Limit of 30 participants. Sign up with: cseabrook@bcgov.net; 255-6468

The Library system and our partners continue providing even more programs during October.

  

• For information about the other displays about Civil War history continuing through October (or later), click here.
• For other lectures and presentations, many sponsored by our sister cultural heritage agencies in the Beaufort County Historical Resources Consortium, click here.  
• For participating tours, click here.   (Discount vouchers on admission expire Oct. 31st so make your plans to use them before they run out).
• The major Library system initiative for October is the "Let's Talk about It": Making Sense of the American Civil War" series being held Oct. 3 - 24 at the Beaufort Branch Library.  For details about this series and book and author discussions, click here.  
• The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns series continues at Bluffton Branch Library.  St. Helena Branch Library shows Death and the Civil War, Birth of a Nation, and Midnight Ramble in their own Civil War related film series.  For the film series and discussion sessions, click here.
• There are still Youth and Children events, too.  For details, click here.

The BDC shifts gears for October to highlight archaeology month related programs with the Beaufort County Planning Department and the Hilton Head Chapter of the Archaeological Society of South Carolina.

“Sharing Our Past: Public Archaeology in South Carolina” with Helena Ferguson

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location: Beaufort District Collection

South Carolina Archaeology Public Outreach Division (SCAPOD) co-founder Helena Ferguson will discuss the organizations highlighted on the 2013 Archaeology Month poster. Each one has chosen to share South Carolina’s amazing archaeological heritage through public education and/or outreach to the general public. Come join us to learn of the breadth and scope of archaeological research here in our own state. The free lecture is co-sponsored by the Hilton Head Chapter of the Archaeology Society of SC and Beaufort County Planning Department in honor of Archaeology Month.

“What the Heck Is It?”

Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location: Beaufort District Collection

Two of South Carolina's most prominent archaeologists, Dr. Jon Leader and Dr. Eric Poplin, will be on hand to identify your personal mystery artifacts. Anyone owning an artifact with an unknown provenance, date of origin, or description is invited to bring it for identification. Co-sponsored by Hilton Head Chapter of the Archaeology Society of SC and Beaufort County Planning Department in honor of Archaeology Month 2013. Free. All ages welcome to bring artifacts for identification. Free.  Contact information: dwayne.pickett@gmail.com Website: http://www.assc.net/chapters/hilton-head-chapter

In November, we bring a memoir writing workshop as our contribution to the Library system's MakerSpaces Initiative.

“Write Your Story a Moment at a Time: A Memoir-Writing Workshop” featuring Library Archives

Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Location: Beaufort District Collection

Susan Kammeraad-Campbell, publisher of Joggling Board Press, has heard just about every pitch for a memoir or family history imaginable. She's developed a technique for guiding writers through the process of writing true stories others will actually want to read. It worked for Teresa Bruce, co-presenter and author of The Other Mother: a Remoir, used the Byrne Miller papers archived in the Beaufort District Collection as both source and inspiration. Free. Anyone over age 12 is welcomed to attend. Details: cseabrook@bcgov.net; 255-6468

Find out what's on offer in the Beaufort County Library system by downloading our newsletter from our homepage.

Thank You! Humanities Council of South Carolina

The Humanities Council of South Carolina is sponsoring aspects of our "One County Reads the Civil War" project, both directly and indirectly.  The Humanities CouncilSC is a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture and heritage.

More than a few of our programs are being headed by recognized SC Humanities Scholars. In fact, Dr. Stephen Wise who was our reception speaker on Sept. 14th is a 2013 recipient of the Governor's Award for the Humanities. Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in community-based programs that promote public understanding of ideas and issues related to the humanities; excellence defining South Carolina’s cultural life to the nation or world; and exemplary support for public humanities programs.

Ron Roth, Dr. Will Goins, Dr. David Thompson, Jim Jordan, and Joe McGill are all SC Humanities Scholars involved in programs during the series at the Library or with one of our partners. For example, Joe McGill held a program on Slave Dwellings for the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society on Sept. 5th.  McGill is leading a discussion of the film Glory! at the USC-B Center for the Arts on Friday evening, Sept. 20th, and then it's on to the encampment of the United States Colored Troops, 10 am - 4 pm, in the Naval Heritage Park in Port Royal. The Beaufort History Museum is sponsoring Glory! and the USCT encampment - both of which are open to the public - and free! of charge.

The "Let's Talk About It" series being held at Beaufort Branch during October is funded by the HumanitiesCouncilSC. Details and registration:  (843) 255-6458.

Thank you Humanities CouncilSC! Your help has been instrumental in both the BDC's "Civil War 150" and the Library system's "One County Reads the Civil War" project.

Reminder: Readings Discussion Groups

In popular memory, the Civil War is often seen as having been fought solely between the North and the South over the issues of slavery or state’s rights. During the course of the war, however, both the Union and Confederacy faced numerous internal divisions. They were divided by fierce controversies over conscription, the curtailment of civil liberties, and the unequal economic burdens of war. One’s experience of the war often depended on where one and the members of one’s family were physically located. In no manner was the Civil War a civil war.

The Library wants to explore just how and why the United States was interrupted for four long years and why the Civil War was certainly not a civil war. The readings and discussion groups dig even deeper into first person accounts about the circumstances of the Civil War, their perceptions of the war, and ultimately their understandings about the war. 

1) Join Grace Cordial, the Library's local history librarian and archivist to discuss the Civil War experience as seen through the letters, reports, and testimony of Confederate residents, the enslaved, Northern teachers and missionaries, and members of the military in Beaufort District, 1861– 1865. Free. Contact information: gracec@bcgov.net; 255-6468 

“In Their Own Words: Beaufort District during the Civil War”
Wed., Sept. 25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way
Thurs., Sept. 26 | 5:30 – 6:30 pm| Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, 1st Floor

The Beaufort Branch book club blog has the readings list and questions for "In Their Own Words" discussion sessions.  Alternatively, you can access PDF documents for the discussion groups at http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/sites/default/files/documents/Civil%20War%20in%20Beaufort%20District%20Discussion%20Groups.pdf (the readings) and http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/sites/default/files/documents/Questions_In_Their_Own_Words.pdf (the questions).  

Please note: The lists look far more daunting than they actually are as many of the readings are less than 5 pages in length.  No registration is required although the leader has the expectation that participants will be familiar with the assigned materials. Each session is a discussion group, not a lecture or presentation by the discussion group leader. The same material will be covered in both sessions.

2) In October, Beaufort Branch is hosting the "Let's Talk About It" series for those who enjoy digging deeper into other aspects of the Civil War.  Registration is required for this five-part series; books will be provided. For more information or to register, contact the Beaufort Branch Library (843)255-6458.

Sept. 18: Newspapers & Medicine

September 18th is a busy day for the BDC! We're running 2 BDC@ programs.  

First up - at 1:00 pm  - is New South & Civil War Newspapers with Kate Boyd and Craig Keeney in the BDC Research Room.  

Although it is not practical nor cost-effective to put everything on the internet, libraries are leading the way to preserving and sharing significant items of cultural heritage in new and exciting ways.

The "Civil War 150" exhibit from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in partnership with The Library of America and with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities currently on display in the BDC - and the readings for "In Their Own Words" on Sept. 25 &26 - include extracts from period newspapers because newspapers offer us a unique window onto the world of local events--deaths, marriages, fires, elections, school recitals and town meetings--as well as providing us with state, national and international contexts. What newspapers chose to cover or ignore can provide insights into what a community is thinking and what it values. Because newspapers of the Civil War-era were quite different from those of today, with no photographs and minimal headlines, just how did people keep up with the events of the Civil War?  

The BDC has several runs of local newspapers on microfilm that were published here during the Civil War: New South; Free South; and the Palmetto Herald.  One of those Federal occupation newspapers, the New South, has been digitized and is available online through the University of South Carolina at http://library.sc.edu/digital/collections/newsouth.html.  From 1862 through 1867 when it ceased publication, the New South offered a glimpse into an era of unprecedented social upheaval in Beaufort District as well as in the South.  

On Wed., Sept 18th at 1 pm, the two people who were critical in making online access to the New South a reality, project co-coordinators Kate Boyd and Craig Keeney of the University of South Carolina, will be in the BDC to tell us how - and why - they undertook this project and how the New South relates to their other projects. They will share information about other on-going Civil War related digitization efforts at the state and national level. Please join us.   

(Ssshhhh: There will be a special cultural heritage show-and-tell during the preceding the Boyd and Keeney's presentation!).   

In the early evening, don't forget that you have another chance to observe the marvelous "Doc Dave" at work. A highly experienced living historian, he's on call to treat worms, dysentery, or amputate a limb (should that become necessary!).   Meet us Wed., Sept. 18th at 6 pm for another BDC@ St. Helena Branch Library program.

Roth on BVA at Arsenal

We hope to see you there!

Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, the Constitution, Newspapers, and Medicine

It's going to be an exciting week!    

Tues., Sept. 17th:  Ron Roth will be at the BDC@ the Arsenal at 7:00 pm to talk about the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery - in its former quarters. This "Civil War 150" program is co-sponsored by the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce.  

Roth is former director and CEO of the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania, and director of the Nebraska Museum of Art of the University of Nebraska.  He has curated or co-curated numerous exhibitions from the Patriotic Paintings of N.C. Wyeth to a major exhibition with international glass artist Dale Chihuly. More recently as an independent curator and consultant he researched and wrote the script for the permanent exhibition area of the Central Pennsylvania African American Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania and its exhibit on the Underground Railroad in central Pennsylvania.  Most recently he curated and designed an exhibition for the Historic Beaufort Foundation in Beaufort, South Carolina, on the history of the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, one of the United State’s first organized, military units.

As an educator he has made many presentations for diverse audiences including high schools, universities, service clubs, Elder Hostel and most recently the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the University of South Carolina, Beaufort.  

He wrote and narrated a popular statewide weekly radio program on the arts for Nebraska Public Radio, and has been a seasonal historian and licensed battlefield guide for the Gettysburg National Military Park. His publications include non-fiction, fiction, poetry, museum catalogues and educational publications.  He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio,  and a Masters-At-Teaching degree in Museum Studies from George Washington University, Washington D.C.

Tues., Sept. 17th is also Constitution Day.  View an online stream from the US National Archives, The State of the Constitution: What Americans Really Know.     In partnership with the Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier, our program will feature real-time audience polling as we explore common perceptions (and misconceptions) of U.S. constitutional law. Watch live online at www.ustream.tv/usnationalarchives at 7:30 pm  - but only if you simply cannot attend the BDC's own "Civil War 150" program about the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery with SC Humanities scholar (and Beaufort County resident) Ron Roth at the Arsenal at 7:00 pm. 

An alternate way to acknowledge Constitution Day is to take the HISTORY® Test your history and civics knowledge with the Citizenship Quiz!

HISTORY® challenges all American students to take the Citizenship Quiz, and test your knowledge of U.S. history and civics. The Citizenship Quiz is based on the 100 questions on the official test for those becoming new citizens. Visit HISTORY® online to take the Citizenship Quiz! For teachers: You will also find an exciting interactive online board game, teacher's guides, and related activities for the classroom.

Wed., Sept. 18th: Kate Boyd and Craig Keeney on Civil War Newspapers in the BDC Research Room at 1:00 pm and a reprise of "Civil War Medicine" with Dave Smoot when the BDC travels to St. Helena Branch Library at 6:00 pm.

Thurs., Sept. 19th: Dave Smoot does a presentation about the medical care received by Stonewall Jackson after the battle of Chancellorsville for the Beaufort County Historical Society meeting.   

By the way, the Virginia Military Institute Archives has a wonderful digital collection about Gen. Jackson as does the Civil War Trust.