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

KKK Parade

Even unpleasant events are part of the historical record. 80 years ago the Klan marched and intimidated the residents of Bluffton on Tues., Dec. 4, 1934. The digital images below are from the  13 December 1934 issue of the Beaufort Gazette microfilm we have in the BDC.

 

The Beaufort District Collection has the largest collection of microfilm within the Library system.  However, one has access to old issues of the Beaufort Gazette on microfilm also in the Beaufort Branch Library which is open evenings and Saturdays when the BDC Research Room is closed.

Road Trip!

Road Trip! a SCETV Know-It-All interactive website allows virtual tours of historical places in South Carolina marking important events from the civil rights movement. The modern Civil Rights Movement began in the 1940s and many changes had taken place by the early 1970s, with the major events happening between 1954 and 1968. The movement involved Blacks, Whites, Native Americans, young and old, as well as churches and non-religious groups.

Because Road Trip! Through SC Civil Rights History was designed with young students in mind, a user gets to make lots of choices. Explore the many features of Road Trip! including: virtual tours of historic locations, ability to download pictures and video clips, using downloaded items to create a civil rights report for class, lesson plans created to standards, a searchable database, a timeline of all civil rights events, a photo gallery, email and contact information for site consultants, information to archival institutions, a reading list and more and you're sure to find something of interest whether or not you are currently enrolled in an educational institution at an elementary or secondary level.

Of particular note are significant sites in Beaufort County. The website highlights the role that local sites such as Penn School, Mather School, Michael C. Riley schools, the Green on St. Helena Island, and Daufuskie Island played in the story of the national Civil Rights Movement.

A very special treat on Road Trip! is an oral history provided by Joseph McDomick, Jr., former Penn Center project supervisor for over thirty years, talk about Dr. Martin Luther King's many visits to Penn Center and how the visits had to be kept quiet because of the threats on King's life.

"Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle" Series Continues

 

The St. Helena Branch Library is bringing "Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle" in  partnership with South Carolina State University and  Penn Center, with financial support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.  The film screenings, presentations, and discussions are free.  Visit the "Created Equal" webpages for details www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/created-equal.

Loving Story

Watch the film at Penn Center then come to the library in the evening for a discussion about love and to hear stories from members of the community who will share their stories. Wednesday, February 12^th, 2014 at 11 AM (film only – Penn Center) and 6 PM (Presentation & Discussion-St Helena Branch Library) St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Rd, St. Helena Island, SC 29920

De Gullah/Geechee an Reconstruction 

Join Queen Quet for a discussion of a documentary covering the lives of the Gullah Geechee during Reconstruction. Saturday, February, 15^th, 2014 from 12:00-4:00 PM St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Rd, St. Helena Island, SC 29920

Slavery By Another Name

Watch the movie at Penn Center then join the community to meet Tonya Groomes, who is featured in this documentary and hear how she found her roots and contributed to this film. Wednesday, February 19^th, 2014 at 11 AM (Film only – Penn Center) & 6 PM (Discussion and Meet Tonya Groomes – St Helena Branch Library).

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.