August 2026 Facebook Recap

In case you don't follow us, here is a recap of our Facebook posts for the month of August:

August 2: The history books and popular media lead most people to believe that the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4 and immediately the delegates signed the document. The real timeline was a bit different as the National Park Service shows. The four signers from South Carolina - Beaufort's own Thomas Heyward, Jr., Edward Rutledge, Thomas Lynch, Jr. and Arthur Middleton - do so on August 2, 1776 alongside the vast majority of the other representatives from Britain's colonies along the Atlantic seaboard.

August 3: Independence (Mon)Day: Now that the BDC's involvement with the Revealing the Revolution Marker Challenge has ended, there are plenty more of American Revolution related historic sites to explore further afield. We recommend "Touring South Carolina’s Revolutionary War Sites" by Daniel W. Barefoot (1999) for an overview of South Carolina’s Revolutionary War battlefields and historic sites, including Cowpens, Ninety-Six, Camden, Eutaw Spring, and Kings Mountain. Brief biographies of key figures such as the "Swamp Fox" Francis Marion, "Gamecock" Thomas Sumter, Andrew Jackson, Henry Drayton, Charles Pinckney, and Henry Middleton are included. The BDC has a copy in our Research Room but other SCLENDS libraries have plenty of copies that you can borrow.

August 4: In 1526, Captain Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon brought a company of 550 men to what is now Beaufort County. Embark on a journey of discovery of 500 years of Spanish influence in Beaufort District! First, fuel your curiosity with our comprehensive resource guide, "The Spanish Legacy in Beaufort District History." Then, join our vibrant community at one of our upcoming local history programs!

August 5: "Black History Note Wednesday:" Work on updating the Resource Guides posted to the BDCBCL blog continues. We revised the list of materials about Rachel C. Mather's School recently. Follow the link to see the list of materials we have about this important Civil War and Reconstruction Era educator and humanitarian.

August 6: Congratulations to the "Revealing the Revolution" Challenge winner, Angela Baldree who is accepting the framed Beaufort District map from Beaufort County Historical Society President Phil Toomer. Representing the RtR team in the photo are Mary Lou Brewton, Leah Roche and me. We thank all of you who participated.

August 7: It's Finding Aid Friday! My staff tease me about my focus on disaster and death so I think that it's highly fitting that my final two "Finding Aid Friday" FB posts are about primary sources for a deeper understanding of the Hurricane of 1893. First up : George Waterhouse (1838-1894) was a local businessman who operated a storefront, warehouses, and a wharf on Bay Street. The George Waterhouse Collection contains documents, letters, and photographs related to his life and the impact of the Hurricane of 1893 on his business. Some even say that the stress caused in the aftermath of the storm led to his death the following summer.

August 7: Happy National Lighthouse Day! Go shine a light on our updated Connections post 'Celebrating Beaufort District's Lighthouses and Range Lights'.

August 10: Independence (Mon)Day: "A Historical Account of the 1780-1781 Campaigns in Southern North America" is a seminal work, penned by the controversial British officer Banastre Tarleton. The two volumes provide a meticulous chronicle of the final major battles of the American Revolutionary War. Universally reviled by the Continental Army for his brutal tactics, Tarleton's 1787 publication offers a comprehensive, extensively documented history of the war's shift from New England and New York to the southern provinces. The book features an array of primary sources, including letters, statistics, and unique maps, detailing the campaigns of Lord Cornwallis, the state of the royal armies, and pivotal battles in the southern theater. Follow Tarleton's encounters with American leaders Nathanael Greene, Francis Marion, and George Washington in this classic of military history.

August 12: "Black History Note" Wednesday - You may know Joseph William Frazier as "Joe" or "Smokin' Joe" but we know him as a native son. Like many southern Blacks of the mid-20th century he relocated to the North to improve his lot in life. He settled in Philadelphia, PA which recently relocated a statue of him to the base of the Philadelphia Art Museum. Read more about his life and boxing career in our WordPress Blog.

August 14: "Finding Aid Friday:" John J. Dale (1844-1896) was a Beaufort businessman at the time of the Sea Island Hurricane in 1893. Following the devastating hurricane, he advocated for relief efforts for affected Sea Islanders and was appointed to the Sea Island Relief Committee by Governor Benjamin Tillman. This collection of correspondence from the fall of 1893 is believed to have been written by Dale.

August 17: Independence (Mon)Day: Today, the BDC is belatedly honoring William Henry DeSaussure's 263rd Birthday. DeSaussure was born on August 16, 1763, to a local Huguenot merchant family. Before becoming a prominent SC politician and Director of the US Mint (his most famous achievements), DeSaussure was a young Patriot soldier. While fighting to defend Charleston from British forces, DeSaussure was captured in May of 1780 and imprisoned on one of the infamous prison ships. He was not yet 17 years old. DeSaussure was exchanged and released after a few months and made his way to Philadelphia where he studied law. The rest, as we say, is history! You can learn more about William Henry DeSaussure's life after the Revolutionary War, as well as the story of his family, in the DeSaussure Family Vertical File in the BDC.

August 19: "Black History Note" Wednesday - In honor of National Aviation Day, we wanted to share a snippet of a poem written by Elijah Heyward, Jr. in his book, Stories and Poems of a Gullah Native (2012). Heyward was inspired to write a series of poems on historic Black Americans while working as a teacher. One such poem is entitled "Tuskegee Airmen," where Heyward reflects on the triumph of the first Black Army aviators despite the doubt of many that Black men were capable of such pursuits. Heyward closes the poem thusly:

"The news from Tuskegee is great,
God intervened; call it fate.
Not only did the Negro fly,
They excelled with only one try."

P.S. Local history nerds are likely to know that the Lowcountry has yet another a connection to the famed Tuskegee Airmen (though not a Beaufort one)! The Airmen's advanced training took place at Walterboro Army Airfield, now the Lowcountry Regional Airport. A monument stands in Walterboro in their honor.

August 21: Fun Friday: Cassandra and Sydney have decided that on non-Finding Aid Fridays, the BDC will post something related to the Library's marketing theme for that month. This month, BCL is highlighting cookbooks, so we want to share a couple of fun ones that can be found in our collection. Today, it's the Recipe Book of Eliza Lucas Pinckney, 1756.

This delicate booklet is a host to a wide array of recipes for more than just food. You will also find remedies for illnesses, salves for rubbing furniture, oil to help your hair grow, and so much more. When it comes to curing ailments, there was nothing Eliza could not handle. She provides treatments for watery eyes, gout, sore throat, tooth aches, jaundice, and scald head, the last of which includes a salve made from mutton fat and tar drippings. Of course, inside her book there are recipes for edible items such as mince “pyes”, mushroom “catchup”, oyster “soop,” and so much more!

August 24: Independence (Mon)Day: On your next trip to Charleston, watch for the Colleton County Historic Marker about "John Laurens" within a mile or so as you cross the Harriet Tubman Bridge over the Combahee River. This local Patriot, and dear friend of Alexander Hamilton, was killed on August 27, 1782, near this site in the Battle of Combahee Ferry (also known as the Battle of Tar Bluff). The battlefield was rediscovered in 2020 by The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust.

Interested in learning more about John Laurens? Check out John Laurens and the American Revolution by Gregory D. Massey (2000) from an SCLends library or come take a look at the copy we have in the BDC!

August 26: "Black History Note" Wednesday - Earlier this month, the BDC put up a National Archives and Rightfully Hers display in the Beaufort Branch lobby which details the ratification of the 19th Amendment in August of 1920. Today, I wanted to share with you the story of the Rollin sisters, the Lowcountry's own suffragettes! Born into a Free Black family in Charleston, the sisters (Frances, Lottie, Kate, Louise, and Florence) were advocates for equity, enfranchisement, and education in Reconstruction era SC.

According to their profile in 101 Women Who Shaped South Carolina (2020), Lottie and Louise were the most active sisters in the suffragette movement. In 1869, Louise gave an address to the SC House of Representatives on the matter of women's suffrage. Lottie became secretary of the SC Women's Rights Association in 1870 and led a suffragette rally the following year.
The most famous of the sisters (especially in Beaufort) was Frances Rollin Whipper, the author of the first full length biography written by an African-American, "The Life and Public Services of Martin R. Delany." She is also the author of one of the earliest known diaries written by a Southern Black woman. Frances was married to William J. Whipper, a local politician, and they lived at 606 North Street until the marriage dissolved in 1880. Rollin then moved to Washington, DC where she worked in the District's Deeds Office with Frederick Douglass. She later returned to Beaufort where she died of tuberculosis in 1901. It is believed that Frances and William are buried in unmarked graves in the Wesley United Methodist Church yard.

August 27: I would venture to guess that the BDC's most consistently requested materials are school annuals and yearbooks. From student portraits, game highlights, and sponsor ads, yearbooks can yield a treasure trove of information!

If you are curious about what yearbooks the BDC has in our collection, please take a look at our new bdcbcl: Links, Lists, and Finding Aids blog post. We published our most up-to-date inventory of all the yearbooks and school annuals we have on our shelves and will continue to update it as more are donated. You can take a look for yourself here.

August 28: Fun Friday: This Friday, we're sharing the Recipe Book that can be found in the Dale Friedman Collection of Johnson Family Materials. This circa 1880s recipe book is signed “Eliza M. [?] Johnson” on the title page and “Florence E. Johnson” on the back cover, with the date "188[4 or 6?]." It is possible that both women collected the approximately 86 recipes (mostly handwritten) for foods and household materials that make up this book. Some recipes have sources and dates ranging from the 1840s to the 1870s, and some are even credited to fellow Beaufortonians.

One of the most common ingredients in these recipes was rice. When Cassandra was processing the collection, she counted 3 recipes for rice pudding and at least 7 different rice bread recipes. One section went thusly: "Rice Bread ~ Rice Bread ~ Rice Bread Again ~ Rice Bread Again ~ Rice Bread once more...." Cassandra's favorite was the recipe for "Rice Bread !!!!," transcribed here:

"Rice Bread !!!!
2 spoonfuls of wheat[?] flour
2" of Hominy
1" level of good brown sugar
From[?] 1 1/2 pints to a quart of rice flour
" 1 to 2 spoonfuls of yeast according to the temperature of the weather
3 [?] spoonfuls of table salt"

August 31: Independence (Mon)Day: On September 3rd, 1783, the Revolutionary War officially ended.

Many consider the Surrender at Yorktown in October of 1781 to be the end of the Revolution, but skirmishes and occupations continued into 1782. That same year, treaty negotiations began in Paris between the US and Great Britain (and other European powers), which resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Paris in the first week of September 1783.

The Treaty of Paris is one of the most important documents in US history and is called a "milestone document" by the Library of Congress. If you are interested in reading the Treaty of Paris or other documents important to our nation, consider checking out the book, Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives (2003), from an SCLends library near you!

Re-cap of the BDC Posts to Facebook during July 2026

As is my established practice, events that have taken place are generally omitted. Some of the entries have been edited for this format. - gmc

July 1 - Overview of July 2026

July 2 - Final Day to enter for the Grand Prize drawing!!! ...

July 4 - Thank you, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Beaufort District's Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Happy 250th Anniversary, America!

July 6 - Independence (Mon)Day: The Declaration of Independence included a long list of grievances against King George III and one of them arises from a political dispute in South Carolina. In 1772 Royal Governor Montagu had a hissy fit because the Commons House had sent 1500 pounds to John Wilkes' freedom of speech defense fund in England. He decided to move the Commons House of Assembly from Charles Town to the brand-new Beaufort District Courthouse. (He also hoped that the Beaufort folks would let him have one of the new mansions in town for his residence but that's a story for another day).

Montagu failed to listen to native South Carolinian Lieutenant Governor William Bull, II's advice: "Don't do it!" But Governor Montagu set the session for October 10, 1772 in Beaufort. Much to his dismay, almost every member showed up in Beaufort that day - and they were even less willing to pass that money bill he wanted during the less than one hour session.

It did not work out well for the Royal Governor. Historian Robert Weir wrote: “Ultimately his [Montagu's] clumsy handling of the affair would contribute not only to his own replacement but also to a clause in the Declaration of Independence, viz. "He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures." This is grievance clause 4 and it's sometimes referred to as the "Beaufort Clause."

Bottom line: Little old backwater Beaufort, SC had a beef with George III that was put into writing in the foundational document of the Declaration of Independence. As Dr. Rowland says "All American history begins in Beaufort South Carolina."

If you want to learn more about Beaufort's role during the lead up to the Declaration of Independence and afterwards, I heartily recommend "Beaufort and the British during the era of the American Revolution" by Robert M. Weir, 1976, an unpublished Beaufort County Historical Society Paper (#54). It's only available inside our Research Room. Contact us at 843-255-6468 or bdc@bcgov.net to set up an appointment.

July 7 - SC250 recently posted its "Discover Revolutionary South Carolina" YouTube Series… a new way to plan your next Revolutionary Road Trip! Whether you're ready to hit the road or simply want to learn more about the places that played a role in America's fight for independence, visit the SC250 YouTube Channel. Of course, we hope that you start with the Lowcountry one.

July 8 - Black History Note: Yesterday, we heard Malik Raymond discuss historic traveler's views of the local Gullah-Geechee people they met during their trips. One of the most longstanding Gullah traditions, which later became a famous souvenir from the Lowcountry, is sweetgrass baskets. Sweetgrass Baskets and the Gullah Tradition by Joyce V. Coakley (2005) estimated the start of sweetgrass basket roadside stalls (and the transition of these baskets from tools to commodities) as being sometime in the early 20th century. However, Dale Rosengarten's Row Upon Row: Sweetgrass Baskets of the South Carolina Lowcountry (1987) documented Gullah street venders of both produce and sweet grass baskets in Charleston and Savannah as beginning in the late 19th century. The sale of the baskets was a way for Gullah households to supplement their usual income from farmwork and/or to become entrepreneurs using their traditional art in the Reconstruction Era. Famous Hilton Head "sewers," as basket makers are called, were Ceasar Johnson and Beaulah Grant Kellerson. Their work is described briefly in Barnwell, Grant, and Campbell's Gullah Days (2020). Basketmaking was also taught at the Penn School as a way to keep the traditional craft alive and to generate income for both local sewers (who would sell baskets to Penn) and the institution.

If you'd like to hear more about Black Beaufortonian's entrepreneurship in other industries during the Reconstruction era, be sure to attend our next local history program: "Historic Black Businesses of Beaufort" with Dr. Chanda Powell, co-sponsored by Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, on August 24th. More details can be found on the BCL calendar.

July 9 - The 250th anniversary of the American Revolution continues all the way through the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris (1783) on 3 September 2033. That should be enough time for you to read all the non-fiction books listed in OCLC's "America's 250-Year Bookshelf" that identifies the most widely held nonfiction book about America from every year since 1776—chosen not by critics or algorithms, but by libraries. IMNSHO - It's highly appropriate that you get to start with Common Sense by Thomas Paine, America's first bestseller that helped steer the colonies to shed monarchy, too. The Library has plenty of copies in a variety formats.

July 13 - Independence (Mon)Day: Report of Findings : The Search for Fort Balfour and Coosawhatchie Battlefield by Steven D. Smith (2005) was done at the Lowcountry Council of Government's request in preparation of the 22.5 mile scenic and historic trail through Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties, highlighting events and sites associated with the American Revolution.

The combined historical, map, and archaeological evidence strongly points to a wooded area in Pocotaligo at the intersection of Highways 21 and 17. The team believed that it is "most likely" located under the Church property or modern four-lane highway at that intersection.

We have other materials in the Research Room about Fort Balfour to share with you. Contact us to learn more: 843-255-6468 or bdc@bcgov.net.

Heads up: The BDC is hosting author Dik Dasso in November. The subject of his book, Col. William Harden, captures Fort Balfour and destroys it before British reinforcements could arrive in the Spring of 1781.

July 14 - One month - or 23 working days - left to tame my chaotic desk of legendary status among my colleagues, scribble down that long-promised mythical operations manual, and bid adieu to the responsibilities for the BDC with a light heart. Can I adult for that long? Now that remains to be seen .

July 15 - "Black History Note" Wednesday : We recently updated the article and bibliography about sweetgrass baskets on our BDCBCL: Links, Lists and Finding Aids blog.

July 16 - In honor of National Snake Day, I'd like to highlight how the timber rattlesnake became a symbol of the American Revolution.

Perhaps you've seen this flag with the coiled rattlesnake and the words "Dont Tread on Me." Christopher Gadsden, leader of South Carolina's Patriot movement, designed the flag in 1775 to emphasize the defiance of the colonists against the British government. Some say Gadsden modeled his flag after Benjamin Franklin's "Join or Die" illustration published in the Pennsylvania Gazette issue of 9 May 1754 that is acknowledged as one of the first political cartoons published in an American newspaper. Using a timber rattlesnake made perfect sense as it was found in all the original thirteen colonies and is (still) known as a creature best left alone to do its own snake-y stuff without interference.

Like the "Join or Die" cartoon, this flag has been used by a range of political and cultural groups, from libertarians to anti-government activists, with interpretations that vary widely depending upon who is using it at the time and what message the group is trying to advance.

July 17 - Now that the 70th Annual Water Festival is officially open for business, we want to share this gem of an image with you. Meet Benjamin Bookworm, the Beaufort County Library's entry in the 1974 Water Festival Novelty Boat Race. This cool pic is just one of hundreds hidden in the library's own archives. The back of the photo says it's an official US Marine Corps snap taken by Photographer Berryman on July 17, 1974 (#1738). But, um, who are the Marines rowing Benjamin along the Beaufort River? And, more importantly, what's the deal with "Ret SL?"

July 18 - The Summer Reading Program continues - and as Sydney notes, the BDC has considerable archaeological reports and surveys of Beaufort County properties to share in our Research Room. Perhaps we have one that covers your planned development area.

July 20 - AM Independence (Mon)Day: Francis Marion, a pivotal figure in the American Revolution, is meticulously examined by author and archaeologist Steven D. Smith. Through a multidisciplinary approach, combining documentary, material, and cultural evidence with folk and oral history traditions, Smith delves into Marion's leadership of a guerrilla band of rebels and their impact on a South Carolina community that resisted British rule and ultimately achieved independence. Francis Marion and the Snow's Island Community is available in the BDC and other SCLENDS libraries.

July 20 - PM One month to the BDC's next local history program. With the 500th anniversary of European exploration of what became the southeastern coast of North America upon us, Chris Allen will reprise his talk about how our area got notice on the world's map 500 and more years ago. He's got some great visuals - and his talks are always lively. Please pencil "Beaufort Before Britain" into your calendars for Thursday, August 20 at Hilton Head Branch. The program will begin at 2 PM.

July 21 - The National Trust Weekly asked this Question of the Month in its latest newsletter: What is your favorite historic lighthouse? We think that all our BDC FB page followers should answer "Hunting Island Lighthouse" and send that answer to email@savingplaces.org. The image is from our Lucille Hasell Culp Digital Collection.

July 22 - AM Happy National Hot Dog Day! Sydney dug up a retro ad from the June 30, 1960 Beaufort Gazette and we're dying over the olives on hot dogs - no thanks! I prefer a mustard and slaw, Sydney's all about horseradish and raw onions, and Cassi's a fan of mustard, sauerkraut, and French's crunchy onions. What about you? What's your hot dog style?

July 22 - PM "Black History Note": Laura Towne, a Pioneering Educator of Freed People at Penn School (1825-1901). Read a brief essay and explore online resources and materials from the BDC and BCL Branches to learn more about this influential local figure during Reconstruction and beyond. PS: It has been our practice to update the content we post on the BDCBCL blog at least once every three years.

July 23 -  AM You have until 31 July to earn the Revealing the Revolution car sticker and challenge coin as part of the Library's America250 program that the BDC and our friends of the Beaufort County Historical Society have devised - and to complete your Summer Reading Program game sheet that the Library system put together. Don't delay. Get cracking on these fun tasks today!

July 23 - PM Optimizing storage is a deliberate process, as our staff carefully consider shelving materials, placement, and collection storage to mitigate risks and facilitate care. We are grateful to the Public Library Foundation for providing a new storage shelf, which will enable us to expand our collection within our spatial constraints. As funds become available, we will add more shelves to accommodate our growing poster and map case collections. It is worth noting that our relocation to the 2nd floor, which took 9 years and 16 days to materialize, has enabled us to optimize our space utilization. Looking ahead, our future leadership will need to reassess our space allocation to ensure continued growth and efficiency.

BTW: We are very happy for Deputy Director Chuck Atkinson's handyman skills in getting it put together and in place for us.

July 24 - AM In celebration of National Dance Day on Tuesday, we are highlighting the remarkable contributions of Byrne Miller, who brought her passion for modern dance to Beaufort, South Carolina in 1969. The Byrne Miller Collection showcases her dedication to teaching and the arts, with the majority of the collection focused on her dance-related activities. To learn more about the contents of the collection, please contact us at bdc@bcgov.net or 843-255-6468.

July 24 -PM Pencil this local history program into your calendars for August 24th. Dr. Chanda Powell of the National Park Service will discuss the historic Black Businesses that once were along Scott, West and other downtown Beaufort streets at Beaufort Branch beginning at 2 PM. We are very pleased to have the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce as a co-sponsor of this session.

July 25 - Before the Water Festival wraps up tomorrow, I've got a poem to share that'll get you in the mood for some water-filled fun! Edith Bannister Dowling's 'Water Festival' poem from her 1970 book A Patchwork of Poems about South Carolina is a real treat. Back then, the festival was just a chill weekend in mid-July (if that's even possible in our climate) but now it's a whole 10-day extravaganza from July 17-26!

Water Festival

The Angels are Blue,

Beaufort heavens are, too,

And our Bay, this big Water weekend.

Swift skiers -- Greek gods;

Speed boats -- hottest rods;

All these, with the proud Parade, blend

To make magic marine;

And then each lovely Queen,

Is divine, at that ball of a Ball:

So from water, and air,

Comes a show rich and rare:

Have fun, guests and townsfolk and all!

Check out copies of A Patchwork of Poems from the Local History sections - or come to the Research Room to explore our many poetry related materials. Looking for a place to start, Sydney offers guidance in Connections.

July 26 - Just a gentle reminder: The BDC's involvement with the "Revealing the Revolution" Historic Marker Challenge ends on Friday. Please get your game sheets into one of our ballot boxes at the Branch Libraries by 5 pm on July 31. The car stickers and challenge coins earned by successful completion of the game sheets will be mailed to you from the Beaufort County Historical Society in August.

BTW: Summer Reading happens to end that date and time as well. The dinosaur game sheets need to be returned to the circulation desks at the Branch Libraries. Please "No dinosaurs in our star-spangled ballot boxes."

July 27 - Independence (Mon)Day: Author John Jakes moved to Hilton Head Island in 1978. This was shortly after the publication of volume 6 The Warriors of the Kent Family Chronicles (8 volumes in all) that he wrote in honor of the nation's Bicentennial.

The Kent Family Chronicles sold a whopping 50 million copies in the 1970s - and it cemented my love of reading historical novels and then fact-checking them (which I still do for historical novels I read and movies I watch sometimes to the amusement of my family members, friends and work colleagues). Volume 1 The Bastard and Volume 2 The Rebels focus on Phillip Kent's life as he crosses paths with historical figures of the Revolution.

You can borrow the individual titles of the Kent Family Chronicles from other SCLENDS libraries or from Hoopla. Because these books had absolutely nothing to do with Beaufort, SC, the BDC does not have any copies to share ... but we can share information about the author through our holdings.

We have a vertical file about him - Jakes, John William (1932-2023) - with lots of clippings about his illustrious and productive career and lifelong support for libraries and a DVD of his 1993 interview with the PBS series Writer's Circle that runs about 30 minutes in the Research Room. You can borrow a copy of the Writer's Circle DVD from the local history sections at Beaufort and Hilton Head branches.

The Lowcountry Room at Hilton Head Branch Library was renamed in May 2026 in honor of Jakes and Jonathan Daniels, founder of the Island Packet newspaper.

July 28 - Today, we commemorate the 280th birthday of Thomas Heyward, Jr., Beaufort District's esteemed patriot who signed the Declaration of Independence. Notably, he was also a plantation owner, attorney, and judge, with a complex legacy that included owning enslaved individuals. Learn more about his life and legacy on our BDCBCL blog.

July 29 - "Black History Note" Wednesday: We just updated the Mitchelville bibliography on the BDCBCL: Resource Guides and Archival Collections Finding Aids blog.

July 30 - Another check off my retirement to-do list: I got all the bibliographical blog posts on BDCBCL: Links, Lists, and Finding Aids last checked in 2023, updated last week. Besides the posts about Sweetgrass Baskets, Laura Towne, and Mitchelville already mentioned this month, I edited the bibliographies about John Barnwell, Clara Barton, and that High Sheriff Lowcountry Witch Doctor, J.E. McTeer. I changed the list of Family Surnames vertical files post to be ADA compliant. I edited the "About the Beaufort District Collection" page as well. I'm still behind with the BDCBCL posts last updated in the first half of 2024 - and I'll try to get current with the 2024 updates before I leave but I make no promises. Updating those may well be delayed until the BDC has a new crew of 3.

July 31 - AM Today is the final call for "Revealing the Revolution." Get those game sheets returned by 5 PM this afternoon!

July 31 - PM It's another Beaufort District Red Letter Local History Day. Robert Barnwell Rhett famously stated, "If you value your rights, you must resist," launching the 1844 Bluffton Movement that catalyzed South Carolina's path to secession. Learn about this fire-eater and the political movement he spurred in our Connections blog.

Re-cap of BDC Facebook Posts in June 2026

As is my established practice, events that have taken place are omitted. Sydney contributed some of the Revealing the Revolution related Facebook posts during June - and there were a lot of Revealing the Revolution in June. - gmc

Because of how the first of June fell on a Monday, I decided to post the Monthly overview on Sunday night.

May 31 - PM - Monthly Overview of June 2026: The Library system begins its Summer Reading Program which features dinosaurs and archaeology tomorrow. The BDC doesn't have much about dinosaurs but we do have a lot of archaeological reports you'll read about soon. BDC staff will be out and about promoting our project with the Beaufort County Historical Society "Revealing the Revolution" at 7 locations and one community event between June 1 - June 10. We host the Wright-Campbell cadre from HBCUs on June 11. The Library will be closed on June 19 for Juneteenth. I'll talk about colonial period British resources in the Research Room on the evening of June 22 at Beaufort Branch. One cannot talk about the colonial period in SC without acknowledging the role the Caribbean had on its history so expect to see some references to Caribbean-American Heritage Month here. The BDC crew will orient new Library employees to the system's special local history collection and archives unit on June 24. On June 27, we'll be at Bluffton Branch to conduct the trivia contest on their Liberty & Legacy Day - with a rinse and repeat (of sorts) for Beaufort Branch's Liberty & Legacy Day on July 1. (I'll finally get to use the inauthentic colonial outfit I bought for Halloween at work! Yes!!)

June 1 - PM - Independence (Mon)Day - One of my favorite Archaeology Month posters is the one from 2003: "Rediscovering the American Revolution in South Carolina, 1775-1782." There's a lot of the expected red, white and blue graphics but one is drawn to the yellow "Don't Tread on Me" emblem, portraits of key military figures, maps and illustrations of some battles, and flags. Though the verso features archaeological work done at Camden, Ninety-Six Historic Site, and Fort Moultrie, the introduction "The Revolutionary War in South Carolina" by Carl P. Borick includes several paragraphs about what happened in Beaufort District. You can of course come visit the Research Room to see SC POSTER 35 for yourself. Give us a heads up just to make sure someone will be here to assist you: bdc@bgov.net ; 843-255-6468. If you'd like to access the poster online, you can see a copy (and download a PDF) in USC's Scholar Commons.

June 2 - AM - Thanks to Bluffton Today for highlighting our "Revealing the Revolution" challenge! There's still time for you to participate too. "It's fun! It's free!! It's all about history!!!"

June 2 - PM - Speaking of archaeology and rediscovery, a SCLENDS catalog search reminded me that sometimes the posters in the BDC's poster collection were created by me for BDC local history programs marketing.

For example SC POSTER 146 is for a series of four programs about the "South Carolina Caribbean Connection" in October 2006 (SC's Archaeology Month). Beaufort County Planning Department's Ian Hill, the Historic Beaufort Foundation's Elizabeth Garrett, Dr. Wise over at Parris Island Museum and I teamed up to co-sponsor Dr. Bryan Howard's lecture about "The South Carolina Caribbean Connection during the American Revolution;" Dr. Larry Rowland spoke about "The Origin of Sea Island Cotton;" architectural historian Colin Brooker spoke about his research on "The Southern Diaspora: Loyalist Planters and their Slaves in the Bahamas, 1780 - 1835;" and we concluded the series with Ervena Faulkner discussing "Food as a Cultural Connector" and a taste-testing at the Arsenal.

It was a good series in the years that Ian Hill and I collaborated on for Archaeology Month. I just wish that I had included the year in the text on the poster. I used the backfiles of Connections to confirm the year. BTW: The BDC definitely adds the year in all our "stuff" as it minimizes research time in preparation for getting posters cataloged.

June 3 - "Black History Note Wednesday" - One of my favorite books on the topic of Black history in South Carolina is Yes, Lord, I Know the Road by former USCB Professor Dr. J. Brent Morris (USC Press, 2017). The archivist in me loves documents; the librarian in me loves the breadth and scope of his comprehensive 500 year survey of the African-American experience in this state. Since we have been emphasizing all things American Revolution as part of the Library's "Relive the Revolution" project recently, chapters 1 - 3 of this book has documents from colonial times through the Revolutionary War period. The Library has lots of copies the title to share with you.

BTW: I get 4 points for this choice because it is about Black history, archaeology, archives and relates to the American Revolutionary period.

June 4 - AM - At our local history program last week, Dr. Moore explored Juan Pardo and his expeditions into the hinterland. We have a list of suggestions on how you can learn more about "The Spanish Legacy in Beaufort District History" and dig deeper into this area's 16th century history.

June 4 - PM - "It's fun! It's free!! It's all about history!!!" Join the "Revealing the Revolution" Challenge brought to you by the BDC, Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort County 250th Committee. Earn fabulous limited-edition prizes ... while supplies last. The challenge ends July 2.

June 5 - Finding Aid Friday - In honor of the anniversary of the establishment of St. Helena Parish on June 7, 1712 by the colonial Assembly, today's featured archival collection is St. Helena Episcopal Church Collection Circa 1912 – 1994. It documents the church's history through pamphlets and materials from the 20th century collected by library staff.

June 6 - I'm going to be at USCB's "South Carolina and the Road to Independence" this afternoon promoting the BDC, BCHS, BC250's "Revealing the Revolution" challenge. But since it just so happens to be National Trails Day, you may like to learn about some of the trails related materials we share through the BDC Research Room.

June 7 - "This Week in the BDC:" We are looking forward to hosting the 2026 cadre of the Wright-Campbell Internship Program for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities on Thursday. We'll talk about our Gullah related collections and give them a behind-the-scenes tour of our archives.

June 8 - Independence (Mon)Day: Jonathan Mercantini researched the question "Who shall rule at home?" to find the roots of South Carolinian rebellion against British authority during the American Revolution in the evolution of the political culture of the colony's elite. He argues that in a series of constitutional and political conflicts between 1748 and 1776, South Carolinians zealously fought to protect and expand their political rights and privileges against outside imperial control, viewing them as inalienable rights akin to the "rights of Englishmen." They fought for these rights and privileges, centering on local control of elections, representation, finances, and taxation, with a politics of brinksmanship that saw such conflicts as a zero-sum game and provided the grounding for the eventual independence bid.

June 9 - Have you been to one of the Library's "Revolutionary Roots" sessions yet? Or do you plan to go later this month? Keep in mind that the BDC has some specific Revolutionary War era genealogy sources that might help - if your ancestor was in South Carolina back then. We can help you "Unearth a Story" about your Patriot or Loyalist ancestor. Read more in Connections.

June 10 - AM - "Black History Note:" Chapter 3 "Carolina's African American Majority" of Uncommon Ground : Archaeology and Early African America, 1650-1800 by Leland Ferguson (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992) concentrates on archaeological and historical evidence of African-style, clay-walled houses for the enslaved on some lowcountry plantations around the time of the War for Independence. Gen. Francis Marion wrote a letter to Gen. Nathanael Greene that Gen. Thomas Sumter reported he "Determined to Attack the Enemy posted in houses with Clay Walls which was very Difficult to penetrate without a field piece." It seems that the British had taken cover inside some of the enslaved persons' homes on Quinby Plantation. Clay-walled houses have several advantages: Readily available materials nearby to quickly build or rebuild the structure as needed; and comfortable in hot climates - and an advantage of defense in case someone - in this case a Patriot - decided to shoot at you with a gun. Roll up the cannons, men!

The BDC has a copy of this title but so do many of the SCLENDS libraries. This means you can come read ours or simply borrow a copy from another unit with your library card.

BTW: I get triple points for this choice because it is about Black history, archaeology and relates to the American Revolutionary period.

June 10 - PM - Looking for a fun way to get out and about this summer? Check out the Revealing the Revolution Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt brought to you by the BDC, the Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort County 250th Committee! Please be aware of your surroundings as some of the markers may be near busy streets.

Today, we visited the Beaufort Arsenal marker located at 713 Craven Street. The marker is right on the sidewalk with street parking available nearby, or less than a minute away is the Beaufort County Library where you could park and also check out the Library Quest!

Learn more about Beaufort District's vital role in the Revolutionary War while working your way to earning limited edition prizes; including a car sticker, a commemorative coin, and an entry into a grand prize drawing for a framed replica of the Robert Mills 1825 map of Beaufort District.

Visit your closest library branch to pick up your brochure today!

P.S. There is even a mini scavenger hunt inside of the branches if you prefer to stay in the A.C!

June 11 - First American Victory of the British Southern Campaign, February 3, 1779 Battle of Beaufort (38BU22336), Beaufort County, South Carolina is an archaeological study of a Revolutionary War engagement (also known as the Battle of Port Royal Island or the Battle of Gray's Hill) written by Daniel Battle and his wife, Daphne Owens Battle. Daniel Battle also gave us a framed print of the painting "In the Glorious Cause of Liberty" by Jeff Trexler that he commissioned about the Battle of Beaufort to hang in our Research Room.

June 12 - Finding Aid Friday: In honor of National Movie Night, we highlight the Paul Siegmund Collection a small archival collection that documents the World Premiere of Pat Conroy’s the "Great Santini" movie held at the Beaufort Plaza Twin Theatres on 19 October 1979.

June 13 - Bluffton Branch's Angie Brown pulled out all the stops with the "Revealing the Revolution" table she designed. (Thanks, Angie). Don't delay, pick up your game sheet and play - today! "It's fun! It's free!! It's all about history!!!" This challenge brought to you by the BDC, Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort County 250th Committee ends on July 2.

June 14 - Happy Flag Day! The delegates to the 2nd Continental Congress decided on June 14, 1777 to select and standardize a flag to indicate the new nation. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson commemorated that decision by declaring June 14th of each year "Flag Day."

An interesting (to me, at least) historical fact : There have been 27 official versions of the United States stars-and-stripes flag since 1777.

June 15 - AM - Independence (Mon)Day - The Library is highlighting memoirs this month. We have General William Moultrie's Memoirs of the American Revolution as a reprint of 2 volumes first published in 1802. It contains personal anecdotes, first-hand observations, and an extensive collection of letters between civil and military officers, including some about the battles of Port Royal Island and Purisburgh, the spiking of the guns at Fort Lyttelton, and the occupation of Beaufort by the British. There's a lot about what's going on in other parts of the lowcountry too.

In addition to our Research Room copy, you can borrow the title from other members libraries in the SCLENDS consortium. Or you can access a digital copy of the original texts through Archive.org.

June 16 - Looking for a fun way to get out and about this summer? Check out the Revealing the Revolution Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt brought to you by the BDC, the Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort County 250th Committee! Please stay aware of your surroundings as you explore Beaufort District's American Revolutionary history.

Today, we visited the St. Helena's Church marker which is located at 505 Church Street. Be sure to check the other side of the marker to learn what the British forces used the church for.

Learn more about Beaufort District's vital role in the Revolutionary War while working your way to earning limited edition prizes; including a car sticker, a commemorative coin, and an entry into a grand prize drawing for a framed replica of the Robert Mills 1825 map of Beaufort District.

Visit your closest library branch to pick up your brochure today!

P.S. There is even a mini scavenger hunt inside of the branches if you prefer to stay in the A.C! #RevealingtheRevolution2026

June 17 - "Black History Note:" One cannot fully comprehend the European colonial experience in the Americas without understanding its African counterpart. "I, Too, Am America": Archaeological Studies of African-America Life edited by Theresa A. Singleton (University Press of Virginia, 1999) addresses this challenge. It is an anthology of articles written by skilled archaeologists who "study the distinctive character of the African presence, the level and domains of cultural autonomy and creativity, the degree of suppression and censorship, the forgotten or unacknowledged sources of the colonial life that seek to explain the character and presence of Africanisms."

This title is a "uniquely BDC" one. Come "unearth a story" about the vestiges of African culture in the United States. It's a good idea to contact us before you arrive at our door to make certain a staff member is available to assist you: 843-255-6468; bdc@bcgov.net

June 18 - Marine archaeology is done in this area on a fairly regular basis on account of all the shipwrecks through the years. Poster #210 is our copy of the 2012 SC Archaeology Month poster. You'll notice references to Port Royal Sound, the Floating Machine Shop at Station Creek, and the USS George Washington - all of which relate to Civil War era Beaufort District. You can download your own copy from the University of South Carolina's Scholar Commons website.

June 20 - Looking for a fun way to get out and about this summer? Check out the Revealing the Revolution Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt brought to you by the BDC, the Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort County 250th Committee!

Today, we visited the Beaufort County historical marker located at the West entrance to the Beaufort Waterfront Park (near the Marina). Visit this marker to learn what year the British occupation of Beaufort began!

Learn more about Beaufort District's vital role in the Revolutionary War while working your way to earning limited edition prizes; including a car sticker, a commemorative coin, and an entry into a grand prize drawing for a framed replica of the Robert Mills 1825 map of Beaufort District.

Visit your closest library branch to pick up your brochure today!

P.S. There is even a mini scavenger hunt inside of the branches if you prefer to stay in the A.C.

June 21 - "This Week in the BDC:" We're quite busy being out and about. Tomorrow evening, I present "Brits in the BDC." On Wednesday afternoon, we host the latest group of new Library employees. On Saturday, we'll be running a trivia contest about the American Revolution at Bluffton Branch as part of their "Liberty & Legacy" celebration. (Tip: If you've read this page, attended a BDC local history program about the War for Independence in the past, and/or participated in the Revealing the Revolution Challenge, you'll be in a solid position to do well in the Trivia sessions.)

June 22 - Independence (Mon)Day - The best yet most concise discussion of "Beaufort and the British During the Era of the American Revolution" was made by historian Robert M. Weir before the Beaufort County Historical Society on May 18, 1976. Fortunately, we have a transcript in the Research Room for any who would like to read it. He writes about Beaufort's role in the creation of reason 4 for independence (viz., He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures); key local events and personnel such as Lafayette, Andrew DeVeaux, etc.; naval considerations related to St. Helena Sound; and demographic information about the area from 1770 - 1790.

This is one of the "uniquely BDC" items so please contact us to make an appointment to read the 18 page document: bdc@bcgov.net; 843-255-6468.

It's crunch time. Get out there to explore the history of the American Revolution in Beaufort District via our "Revealing the Revolution" historic marker challenge with the Beaufort County Historical Society.

June 23 - AM - Looking for a fun summer activity but wish to stay in the cool A.C.? Check out the Revealing the Revolution Historical Marker Library Quest brought to you by the BDC, the Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort County 250th Committee; available at all branches and bookmobiles in the Beaufort County Library System!

Learn more about Beaufort District's vital role in the Revolutionary War while working your way to earning a limited edition car sticker. Search for five historical marker placards hidden among the stacks of the library that contain the answers to the questions inside of your brochure.

Visit any library branch or bookmobile to pick up your brochure and begin your quest today!

June 23 - PM - Breaking News!!! We have decided to extend the deadline for the Library Quest and Historic Marker challenges until July 31. But here's the rub: If you want to get entered for the Grand Prize drawing, you must return that game sheet by July 2nd. Please note: Those who turn in completed game sheets July 3 - 31 will be eligible only for the car sticker and challenge coin prizes.

June 24 - "Black History Note:" In the antebellum South Back of the Big House (1993) there existed a different world, socially and architecturally, where slaves lived and worked. Professor of American Studies and Anthropology John Michael Vlach explores the structures and spaces that formed the slaves' environment. Through photographs and the words of former slaves, he portrays the plantation landscape from the slaves' own point of view. Read this book to "unearth a story" of how the enslaved imbued the plantation landscape with their own meanings and acts of slave resistance to become a locus for the formation of a distinctive African American culture in the South.

June 25 - Looking for a fun way to get out and about this summer? Check out the Revealing the Revolution Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt brought to you by the BDC, the Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufo#revealingtherevolution2026! Please take care and mind your surroundings as you participate. Some of the markers are along busy roads.

Today, we visited the Lafayette's Tour marker located at 801 Bay Street, also known as the John Mark Verdier House. Check out the marker to learn when General Lafayette visited Beaufort.

Learn more about Beaufort District's vital role in the Revolutionary War while working your way to earning limited edition prizes; including a car sticker, a commemorative coin, and an entry into a grand prize drawing for a framed replica of the Robert Mills 1825 map of Beaufort District.

Visit your closest library branch to pick up your brochure today!

P.S. There is even a mini scavenger hunt inside of the branches if you prefer to stay in the A.C! #RevealingtheRevolution2026

June 26 - Update on the Online Obituary Index: Our OOI indexer Kathy Mitchell finished adding another 1518 published obituary records from the Beaufort Catalyst, Beaufort Gazette, and Island Packet newspapers for the year 2000. The project will end when we run out of newspaper issues on microfilm on 31 March 2015.

June 28 - This Week in the BDC: We are doing a rinse-and-repeat of the BDC designed Revolutionary Trivia session at 11:30 AM on Wednesday at Beaufort Branch. You may see a famous American if you come an hour earlier as Ben Franklin will be in the house.

Reminders: Though our Revealing the Revolution Challenge with the BCHS and the Beaufort County 250th Committee has been extended until July 31, if you want to be entered into our Grand Prize drawing you must return your 15-item completed game sheet on or before July 2. Be safe as you go about our roadways and sidewalks in search of the historic markers.

The Beaufort County Library will be closed Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 for the holidays.

June 29 - "Independence (Mon)Day" - The Jasper County 250 Committee recently sponsored an archaeological investigation of Old House Plantation, 2,115 acres rice plantation established by Daniel Heyward, father of Beaufort District's Signer of the Declaration, Thomas Heyward, Jr. in 1743. This study included the role of persons of African-American descent in the war as well as support and promotion of research and cultural heritage tourism by telling SC's stories from varying points of view.

As of this writing, the BDC is the only library in the SCLENDS consortium to have a copy of Rice, Rebellion, and Revelations : 2024 Archaeology at the Old House Plantation by Rita Folse Elliott, 2025.

You've got only a few days left to be eligible for the "Revealing the Revolution" Grand Prize. Don't delay, participate today. Game sheets are available at all library locations. Please note: Game sheets returned July 3 - 31 are eligible for the limited-edition car stickers and challenge coins - while supplies last.

June 30 - AM - Still looking for a fun summer activity to get your family out and about? Revealing the Revolution Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt brought to you by the BDC, the Beaufort County Historical Society and the Beaufort County 250th Committee is the perfect activity- but if you want a chance at that framed (reproduction) Mills Atlas Beaufort District map, these are the final days for you to enter! If you are pressed to get in those last few markers, Downtown Beaufort is the place to go!

Today, we visited the Beaufort Tricentennial Plaque 4 marker located at Beaufort's Waterfront Park. The marker is behind both Saltus River Grille and the waterfront playground and is located at ground level.

Learn more about Beaufort District's vital role in the Revolutionary War while working your way to earning limited edition prizes; including a car sticker, a commemorative coin, and an entry into a grand prize drawing for a framed replica of the Robert Mills 1825 map of Beaufort District. Visit your closest library branch to pick up your brochure today! P.S. There is even a mini scavenger hunt inside of the branches if you prefer to stay in the A.C! #RevealingtheRevolution2026 

June 30, 2026 - PM - I barely made it to my self-imposed deadline to highlight a murder trial, an investigation into a suicide, and the trials of Beaufort County Treasurer, George Holmes and the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners from 150 years ago on Connections before this month's end. June 1876 was a month full of sensational events in Beaufort County that got well covered in state and national newspapers.