Preservation Q & A on Smithsonian Institution Archives Blog

I wasn't the only person to have the idea for honoring Archives Month with 31 blog entries during October. The Smithsonian Institution Archives did too. (I am in great - and am humbled by the - company.)

On Thursday, Oct. 21st, the SIA held a Facebook preservation Q&A session. Here's a question that I've gotten in the past which the true preservation experts at SIA answered. You may find this information quite helpful when working with your own family photographs.

Please note: I don't consider myself an expert in preservation. I'm just a county employee in the Library system who tries her best to glean the most she can from the reliable resources available and to act upon that information in order to become a better steward of the historical materials entrusted into her care.

Linda Sue Fischer: Does anyone know how to separate pictures that are stuck together? I have several pictures, that unfortunately do [sic] to neglect, are stuck together. I can't just pull them apart without ruining them. Any suggestions?
Tuesday at 9:13am

Alex Mendoza @ Linda: depends on how they're processed. Was it processed by a lab, if yes, then get distilled water, make sure it is distilled. If you want add some Kodak Photo Flo to the water. But check the batch on a test photo and see if there is any change. They will have to get wet and then gently separate it. Stop if you can't pull them apart, continue to soak. Good Luck.
Tuesday at 9:30am

Please note: It has to be distilled water. Tap water won't do. Well water won't do. It has to be distilled water!

Celeste Wiley, the Photographs Archivist we had because of a SC SHRAB grant to work on the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection, used this technique often. Because of neglect, many of the negatives and prints in the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection were damaged. There is still much of this separation work left to do (and being on the 2nd floor with a workroom, we can now do these types of preservation tasks when we just couldn't do them before in the cramped old BDC room. Hurray!). The extent of the damage has definitely impacted the speed at which we have been able to process her collection. (Scroll down to "Finding Aids to Archival Collections, click on "Lucille Hasell Culp Collection partially processed" for the guide).

Now comes the teaser: We have big plans for making parts of the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection available online in collaboration with the SC Digital Library. (These are the same folks who helped us launch "Phosphate, Farms and Family: The Donner Collection"). As soon as the Technical Services staff finishes their cataloging work with our large format maps, we can use the workroom for our next really big, high priority project: doing the selection, metadata, and preparation work necessary to digitize "300 [images from the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection] for the 300th [anniversary of Beaufort]" digital project AKA "300 for the 300th." Details later.

Do You Have Your Beaufort County Library Card?

To learn more about how to get the best piece of plastic you'll ever have the opportunity to own and use, click here for the answers to the "Frequently Asked Questions" regarding using the Beaufort County Library.

Correct Mispronunciations of Some South Carolina Names

By "correct mispronunciations" we mean, of course, pronunciations that are considered correct in South Carolina but will seem wrong to you if you've just arrived from Connecticut, bless your sun-seeking heart, and you've never been in the Palmetto State before.
We'd like to preserve these traditional pronunciations. We are South Carolinians and to be a South Carolinian the impulse to preserve tradition is almost as instinctive as breathing.
There's the story about the three dogs who met at the corner of Broad Street and Meeting Street in Charleston. One of them was a mongrel who said, "I'm from New York and my name if Spot. That's spelled S-P-O-T." Another was a German Shepherd who said, "I'm from Ohio and my name is Rover. That's spelled R-O-V-E-R." The third was a French Poodle who said, "Welcome to [South Carolina]. My name is Fido and that's spelled P-H-I-D-E-A-U-X."
We hope...that [these] too-frequent mispronounced names will be helpful to broadcasters and newcomers who'd like to pronounce the names of local people and places in the ways that South Carolinians have traditionally preferred.

--Claude and Irene Neuffer, authors of Correct Mispronunciations of Some South Carolina Names, excerpt from pages v-vii.

Today's Historic Beaufort District Correct Mispronunciations:

Coosawhatchie

KOO-suh-HATCH-I (OO as in booze)

The unknowing sometimes put he w in the third syllable (KOO-sa-WAHTCH-i.) It's an Indian word that may mean cane-creek people. Coosawhatchie is a little town in lowcountry Jasper County on US 278 and SC 462, off US 95, north of the county seat of Ridgeland. (p. 41)

Helena

HEL-e-nuh

St. Helena's Island in the Beaufort Archipelago was named by the Spanish who reputedly landed there on August 13, 1520--St. Elena's Day on the Roman Catholic Church calendar. St Helena's Sound is fed by the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto rivers. In nearby St. Helena's Parish the Chapel of Ease was often called the White Church: it was made of oyster shells and lime (called tabby,) built before the Revolution, and destroyed by fire some years after the Confederate War. (p. 82)

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Take-Home Preservation Principles: Environment! Environment! Environment!

Please note: This post was updated 13 April 2020. All information and links were accurate as of this date.- Kristi Marshall

Heat, humidity, and frequent afternoon showers characterize our summer months here in the southeastern United States. Let's face it, it simply doesn't feel like summer until the high temperatures hit the mid 90s Fahrenheit (F) and the humidity hovers 95% - 100%! In contrast, most dwellings and public offices keep their thermostat set from 65-75 degrees F. Often, the most brutal part of summer is adapting your body to your surrounding conditions. Thankfully, sweating, shivering, and incalculable clothing options make these transitions more bearable. (But really, that's another story.) The real question is how does the heat and humidity affect our treasured paper-based possessions?

You may be surprised to learn that the most important thing you can do to protect your family papers, books, and photos is to place them in a controlled and stable environment. No, the attic is not an option; it is possible for summer temperatures in your attic to reach 150 degrees F. No, your basement or crawl space is not an option either; humidity and moisture collect here creating a breeding ground for mold and insects. When storing your family keepsakes, locate an area of your home that will not suffer extreme fluctuations in either temperature or humidity. A shelf within an interior hallway or an entry way closet is a very good option in most households.

The ideal temperature is 68 degrees F and allows for a three degree fluctuation in either direction. The ideal relative humidity (RH) is 40%, and, again, allows for a three percent fluctuation.

Recent trends in energy conservation as well as personal preferred comfort levels may leave you wary to run for the thermostat. Too costly and too cold may not be an option for you, and that's a-okay with us! Few people choose to maintain archival environmental standards within their own homes. However, just making the move from your attic to a room that has 75 degree F and 60% RH conditions can increase the life of your treasures by 4 times. Moving to an environment with ideal conditions, like here at the Beaufort District Collection, can increase the life of your paper artifacts up to 10 times!

So, get those treasures out of the attic, basement, or crawl space! When selecting the ideal location and environment, keep in mind:

• Sunlight. Keep your family treasures out of direct sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) from sunlight can cause fading.
• Dust. Dust your collection frequently. By keeping the area clean, you can prevent most common insect infestations.
• Book Support. Store your books upright supported by book ends. If a book is too large or already damaged, store it flat. Never stack more than 3 books high!
• Staples & Paper Clips. Remove all staples and paper clips from your paper items before storing them. By carefully removing these metal items you will prevent rust from damaging (or further damaging) the paper. Use a spatula--not a regular office staple remover. (Call us, we can tell you where to order one.)
• Tape. Avoid using tape to make repairs. The sticky side of tape contains acid that can "eat" paper. There is no such thing as acid-free tape, regardless what the manufacturer or supply house tells you.
• Pencils. Pens and markers also contain acid, so play it safe and stick to pencils.

For more information about protecting your personal archival collections, check out these articles from The Library of Congress:

Preserving Works on Paper: Manuscripts, Drawings, Prints, Posters, Maps, Documents

The Deterioration and Preservation of Paper: Some Essential Facts
The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Bay Street from a Child's View, @1800

When the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park was undergoing renovation, the designer of the children's playground called to ask me: "Who were the three most significant figures in Beaufort history? I want to hang portraits of them in the children's playhouse."

Whoa, I thought, what a way to get in a lot of hot water if I don't suggest the right 3 historical figures! Beaufort history is so rich that agreement on just who those 3 should be would be preceded by some vigorous debate. So...

I laughed as I told her, "I'm not getting myself in trouble. I'm just a librarian, a protector and sharer of resources, not a card-carrying historian." Instead, I suggested that an appropriate image for the Waterfront Park playhouse might be a copy of our Campbell watercolor. It was done by a child of his own hometown. Children romping in the park today would have a very similar perspective of the Beaufort waterfront as Campbell did in 1797.

If you're young enough, limber enough, or short enough to enter the Waterfront playhouse and climb to the 2nd story, you can see a copy of the painting hanging there. For the less agile, the Christensen copy hangs behind the Reference desk at Beaufort Branch.

The painting has an interesting history. The original watercolor, done by 13 year old Beaufort native, John Barnwell Campbell (1784-1847), burned in the big fire of 1907. Luckily, State Senator Neils Christensen had borrowed the Campbell painting a few years earlier in order to make a copy of it.

Here is what Senator Christensen said about his artistic process in a letter dated September 11, 1934:

"This copy I made by tracing the outlines of the picture on drawing cloth and then filling in the colors in oil and in water color. I made the copy as accurately as was possible for me so that the colors as well as the outlines were a faithful reproduction."

The child artist, John Barnwell Campbell, became an Episcopalian minister, serving as Rector of St. Helena's Episcopal Church 1812-1821, later serving at St. Paul's and St. Philip's Churches in Charleston District.

Senator Christensen donated his copy of the original Campbell watercolor to the Beaufort Township Library in 1934. The Beaufort Township Library grew into the Beaufort County Library in 1963.

Prints are available for purchase at $10.00 from the Beaufort Branch Circulation desk if you're interested in getting a copy of the print to hang in your home or to give as gifts.

Please note: Use of the image in publications or as a digitized product without the Library’s written permission is strictly prohibited. -- Grace Cordial

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Ever wondered what to do with a mess of wet stuff?

Part of my responsibilities as the Historical Resources Coordinator for the Beaufort County Library is to serve as a preservation/emergency agent of sorts for the library system and for the public. A lot of the questions about what to do about wet books, photographs, and treasured heirlooms end up on my desk. The sooner corrective action is begun, the more likely you can prevent further damage. Or, in words of the American proverb, "A stitch in time saves nine!"

Check out this very informative short video "Coping with Water Damage" from Heritage Preservation on what you can do when you discover soggy materials at home or work.

Be patient while the video loads. It could take up to 45 seconds, depending on the speed of your computer's internet hook-up. Don't forget to click the arrow to start the video once it's loaded. -- Grace Cordial

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Want to find your American Revolution ancestor? Genealogical Sources at the Library

Establishing your blood ties to a Revolutionary War soldier can be thrilling, time consuming, and may afford you the opportunity to join a heritage society such as the Sons of the American Revolution or the Daughters of the American Revolution. There are other fraternal and social organizations that only accept members who can prove through documentary evidence that they are descended from a patriot or Loyalist. Materials in the Beaufort District Collection as well as in our branch libraries can help you work your ancestral line. In order to do ancestral research properly, you must make accurate notes of the work you've done. Might we suggest these sources:

DAR Patriot Index REF 929 DAR (BEA, HHI)

African American and American Indian Patriots of the Revolutionary War REF 973.344 AFR (BEA)

Stub Entries to Indents issued in payments of Claims against South Carolina growing out of the Revolution SC REF 929.3 STU (BDC)

South Carolina Loyalists in the American Revolution by Robert Lambert SC REF 973.314 LAM (BDC, HHI)

South Carolinians in the Revolution by Sara Ervin SC REF 973.3457 ERV (BDC, HHI)

Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution by Bobby Moss SC REF 973.3457 MOS (BDC)

Anecdotes of the Revolutionary War in America by Alexander Garden SC REF 973.3457 (BDC)

Traditions and Reminiscences by Joseph Johnson 973.38 Joh (BDC, HH)

Accounts Audited of Claims Growing out of the Revolution MICROFILM (BDC)

Records of the South Carolina Treasury, 1775-1780 MICROFILM (BDC)

South Carolina Tax Returns, 1783-1800 MICROFILM (BDC)

Please remember that although there are genealogical materials in the BDC, we are primarily an historical collection. We'll do our best to assist you in working your family lines through the resources we make available, but you have to do your own research and follow where the clues take you.

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Correct Mispronunciations of Some South Carolina Names

By “correct mispronunciations” we mean, of course, pronunciations that are considered correct in South Carolina but will seem wrong to you if you’ve just arrived from Connecticut, bless your sun-seeking heart, and you’ve never been in the Palmetto State before.

We’d like to preserve these traditional pronunciations. We are South Carolinians and to a South Carolinian the impulse to preserve tradition is almost as instinctive as breathing.

There’s the story about the three dogs who met at the corner of Broad Street and Meeting Street in Charleston. One of them was a mongrel who said, “I’m from New York and my name is Spot. That’s spelled S-P-O-T.” Another was a German Shepherd to said, “I’m from Ohio and my name is Rover. That’s spelled R-O-V-E-R.” The third was a French Poodle who said, “Welcome to [South Carolina]. My name is Fido and that’s spelled P-H-I-D-E-A-U-X.”

We hope…that [these] too-frequently mispronounced names will be helpful to broadcasters and to newcomers who’d like to pronounce the names of local people and places in the ways that South Carolinians have traditionally preferred.

--Claude and Irene Neuffer, authors of Correct Mispronunciations of Some South Carolina Names, excerpt from pages v-vii.

Today’s Historic Beaufort District Correct Mispronunciations:

Ashepoo

ASH-i-POO (OO as in boot)

Ashepoo is an Indian word which may mean eel. Appropriately, the Ashepoo River is curling and narrow. Between the Combahee and Edisto rivers in Colleton County, the Ashepoo empties into St. Helena Sound near Beaufort. (p. 6)

Beauregard

BOE-ri-GAHD

After the BUE pronunciation for Beaufort, South Carolinians’ inconsistency is evident in the BOE for Beauregard. The fort on Port Royal Island on the southeast coast is named for Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, who was in charge of the defense of the South Carolina coast. (p. 12)

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

How Does the BDC Grow?

The Beaufort District Collection continues to expand and collect new materials on a daily basis. We stay up to date with what's hitting the shelves of the local book store and publishing market. We scan local and state newspapers and magazines to collect priceless research resources for our vertical files. We accept materials from generous local, state, and even worldwide donors. But what exactly are we looking for? In case you haven't made it in to visit, haven't perused our website, and haven't yet checked out the left panel of our blog (check it out now for some really neat resources!!!), let's recap our mission statement:

The purpose of the Beaufort District Collection is to acquire, preserve, maintain and make accessible a research collection of permanent value which records the history, culture and environment of the area of lowcountry South Carolina known as the old historic Beaufort District.

Now that we remember what the Beaufort District Collection is "all about," let's talk collection development. To decide if a particular item should be included in our collection we start by examining the content of the material. How much of the material is dedicated specifically to the "old historic Beaufort District?"After we decide to include a particular item into this carefully selected and maintained archival collection, the content of the material will decide how many we need and which branches (if any!) will receive additional copies for their Local History section.

Don't forget that although materials found in the Beaufort District Collection are not available for checkout, many materials of interest can be found in your Beaufort County Library branch's Local History section. Search the online catalog or ask your reference librarian for details!The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Links updated and verified by Kristi Marshall on April 9, 2020.

Correct Mispronunciations of Some South Carolina Names

By “correct mispronunciations” we mean, of course, pronunciations that are considered correct in South Carolina but will seem wrong to you if you’ve just arrived from Connecticut, bless your sun-seeking heart, and you’ve never been in the Palmetto State before.

We’d like to preserve these traditional pronunciations. We are South Carolinians and to a South Carolinian the impulse to preserve tradition is almost as instinctive as breathing.

There’s the story about the three dogs who met at the corner of Broad Street and Meeting Street in Charleston. One of them was a mongrel who said, “I’m from New York and my name is Spot. That’s spelled S-P-O-T.” Another was a German Shepherd to said, “I’m from Ohio and my name is Rover. That’s spelled R-O-V-E-R.” The third was a French Poodle who said, “Welcome to [South Carolina]. My name is Fido and that’s spelled P-H-I-D-E-A-U-X.”

We hope…that [these] too-frequently mispronounced names will be helpful to broadcasters and to newcomers who’d like to pronounce the names of local people and places in the ways that South Carolinians have traditionally preferred.

--Claude and Irene Neuffer, authors of Correct Mispronunciations of Some South Carolina Names, excerpt from pages v-vii.

Today’s Beaufort County Correct Mispronunciations:

BEAUFORT
BUE-fuht, BOE-fuht (first pronunciation in South Carolina; second pronunciation in North Carolina)

The Duke of Beaufort was a later Lord Proprietor (being invested in the proprietorship of Lord Granville in 1709.) Besides the more recently named Beaufort Streets and drives throughout the state, the southeast coastal area includes a district, county, town, river, and archipelago each named for the duke. The Beaufort section is often termed “the most discovered area in the United States”—having been discovered by Spanish, French, Scots, and English, in that order, with the English settlement surviving the colonial hardships. The source of confusion for newcomers is that up the coast and across the state line the North Carolina town of Beaufort is pronounced BOE-fuht. Which is right? Both are. (p. 12)

COMBAHEE
KUM-BEE

Spelling to the contrary, Combahee has long been pronounced as two syllables by folks in these parts. It may be an Indian word meaning small risings. The Combahee River is formed by Salkehatchie and Cuckold creeks (the second later called Chee-Ha and now Chehaw River) and flows between Colleton and Beaufort counties into St. Helena Sound. (p. 38)

910.3 NEU. Correct Mispronunciations of Some South Carolina Names by Claude and Irene Neuffer.
Find it @ the BDC, Beaufort Branch Library, Bluffton Branch Library, and Hilton Head Island Branch Library!

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Interested in Industry?

Indigo, rice, sea island cotton, phosphate, oysters, shrimp, and timber are just a few of the economic endeavors of the Historic Beaufort District. The military presence, shipping industry, and tourism also make their mark in the history of this economically diverse area of South Carolina. Regardless of your specific economic/industrial topic, the Beaufort District Collection is the place to start your research! Whether you are compiling information for formal research or just to satisfy your personal historical curiosity, the BDC can help.

Wondering where to start? The following resources are available at the BDC:

General Economic History Books

This list is a starter guide for researchers. If you are looking for a particular industry (such as cotton, rice, seafood, or military, among many others) we have a variety of materials designed to suit your topic! See what we have, visit our Online Catalog.

330.973 GAL V1 (& V2). Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History edited by Thomas Carson
This title is only available in the Reference section @ the Beaufort Branch.

330.9757 COC The Shadow of a Dream: Economic Life and Death in the South Carolina Low Country, 1670-1920 by Peter A. Coclanis
This title is also available through the Bluffton Branch!

975.7 EDG. South Carolina: A History by Walter Edgar
This title is available @ Beaufort Branch, Bluffton Branch, Hilton Head Island Branch, and Lobeco Branch!

975.799 ROW V1. The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina, Volume 1: 1514-1861 by Lawrence S. Rowland, Alexander Moore, and George C. Rogers, Jr.
This title is available through all branch libraries!

975.799 TAY. Historic Beaufort County: An Illustrated History by Michael C. Taylor
This title is available through all branch libraries!

Vertical Files

Agriculture
Banks
Beaufort—City—Annual Reports
Beaufort—County – Statistics
Blue Channel Corporation
Bridges (and subheadings)
Census (various dates)
Cotton
Development Issues
Distilling, Illicit
Drug Traffic
Ferries
Fires (various dates)
Fishing
Fripp Island—Legislation
Indigo
Industry
Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort
Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Merchants
Migrant Workers
Mines and Mineral Resources
Motion Pictures
Oysters
Phosphate Mines and Mining
Plantations
Port Royal Railroad Company
Primate -- Research
Real Estate Companies
Rice
Seafood Industry
Shipping
Shrimp
Tenneco Plant
Tomatoes
Tourism
Waddell Mariculture Center
Water Supply

Newspapers on Microfilm

In addition to having today’s local newspapers available, we also have microfilmed copies of local papers starting from 1864! View our list of available microfilmed newspapers.

Other Microfilm Resources

MICROCOPY 2: United States Census. Original Agriculture, Industry, Social Statistics, and Mortality Schedules for South Carolina, 1850-1880

MICROCOPY 13: South Carolina Reports and Resolutions, 1868-1900: With a Finding Aid to Reports and Resolutions, 1784-1900

MICROCOPY 17: Petitions to the General Assembly

*Remember that materials located in the BDC are not available for checkout. These materials will always be available to local history researchers! BDC hours are M – F: 10 AM – 5 PM.The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

A Long Distance Relationship That Lasts

...previously on "As The Research Continues"...

SEAN: Don't worry Lucinda! We can always make a trip to Beaufort County to explore their District Collection's holdings. We can really make this work!!!
LUCINDA: Sean, it's hopeless! [crying] Beaufort is too far away! I may never find the information I need!
SEAN: [solemn, walks to the door] Well, Lucinda, I guess this is it. [opens the door and takes a step out] If you decide to make the trip, call me. [walks out without a backward glance]

**cue heartbreaking music**

Don't let long distance research ruin your life!
The Beaufort District Collection can help you!!!

Reference Service Basics

Free Services

• Find out what’s in the collection. Give us a call, send us an email, or surf our website to see if we have the right materials to answer your questions.
• Telephone consultations are always free! Call (843) 255-6468, Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 5:00pm.
• Visit our online catalog via the Beaufort County Library website. It’s open 24/7/365!
• Browse our Online Obituary Index, and Local History Materials. It’s open 24/7/365!

Fee Based Services
for folks who want us to help them from afar

If you’re asking us to do too much of your work for you, we’ll tell you up front! Please don’t offend us by offering to pay more or ask for “extra special” services. Our services are always of the highest quality, and therefore “extra special” by very definition!

• We answer one question at a time & each question is subject to the minimal fee.
• Fees are incurred as soon as we roll up our sleeves and get to researching.
• You can count on our researching abilities. Rest assured that if an answer exists, we will do our absolute best to find it for you! Remember, however, we can only work for about one hour on your task & sometimes there is no concrete answer to be had.

(For example, if your ancestor was born “outside the sheets in 1865,” we may not have any resources within our collections to document who sired him/her! In fact, SC didn’t even have official birth certificates until 1915!)

• All replies incur the same fees whether they be replies in the affirmative ("yes, we found what you were looking for") or the negative ("with apologies, no records exist.") “No” or “Insufficient documentation to support your contention” is an answer – just not the one that you may have been hoping to get.

Regretfully, staff at the BDC will not do any of the following:

Make up or create records
Take photographs of headstones, historic sites, or historic houses
Visit cemeteries
Wander around the county looking for records
Provide supporting research reports or documentation by fax, e-mail, scanning or over the telephone

Estimated Turn-Around Time Frame

We try to complete our reference services within two weeks of agreeing to tackle your request. Remember, that it takes time to perform the high quality research work that we do. Please note that our first priority is to assist customers who personally visit the BDC. We do not guarantee delivery of the research report or supporting documentation within 14 days. Rest assured, however, that providing quality research with supporting documentation and customer satisfaction is our goal! We request that you please be patient.

Don't Forget:

Since all replies are sent via USPS mail, it is essential that we have your current mailing address. Fees are to be paid by return mail as soon as you receive a formal reply from staff of the Beaufort County Library.

Fees

Fees are based upon residency, the number of questions asked, and the number of necessary photocopies made to sufficiently support the research.

Beaufort County Library Card Holders
$5.00 per question
¢50 per photocopy
Other US Residents
$10.00 per question
¢50 per photocopy
Foreign Nationals
$15.00 per question
¢50 per photocopy

Long Distance Reference Policy
Obituary Request Policy

The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Online Obituary Index to the Rescue!

It’s no lie that vital records (birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, etc.) prove to be invaluable to family researchers. But…Did you know that South Carolina did not require marriage licenses until July 1, 1911? Did you know that South Carolina did not require birth or death certificates until January 1, 1915?

The Beaufort District Collection wants to help you bridge the gap! If you happen to have a family member that lived (or, specifically, died) in Beaufort County, South Carolina, you have an awesome resource for tracing your family history at your fingertips! The BDC is expanding your resources with our Online Obituary Index or OOI.

At this time, the OOI consists of citations to most Beaufort County newspapers from 1862 – May 1984 and December 2007 – Present. Regretfully, no records exist before 1862 as the Beaufort County courthouse burned (twice…but that’s another story!) The online index does not include the actual text of the obituary notices. It lists only dates and newspapers in which the notices appear. Microfilmed copies of the newspapers listed can be found at the Beaufort Branch Library and some microfilmed copies can be found at the Hilton Head Island Branch Library. For a complete listing of newspaper holdings, please call your local BCL branch. Are you researching from out of town, state, or country? We also provide a long distance obituary service to suit your needs!

Click the following links for more information:

A complete list of newspapers included in the OOI

Distance Obituary Services explained

Are you just starting your genealogy project? Get more information!
The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Local History Collections Bring the BDC to You

Did you know that all Beaufort County Library branches carry a diverse collection of materials about the history, culture and environment of Beaufort County, South Carolina? Well, now that you do…run, walk or slide to your nearest Beaufort County branch library (Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head, Lobeco, or St. Helena) and check out some interesting books on this historically rich area.

The following materials can be found at ALL Beaufort County Library Branches in the Local History section.

• 359.9 ALV. Parris Island. By Eugene Alvarez.
• 975.799 BEH. Exploring the Sullivan Tabby Point Ruins: Callawassie Island, South Carolina. By William A. Behan.
• 975.799 DAI. Reminiscences of Sea Island Heritage: Legacy of Freedmen on St. Helena Island. By Ronald Daise.
• 975.799 GRA. Tales of Beaufort. By Nell S. Graydon.
• 975.799 MAR. Remembering the Way it Was: At Beaufort, Sheldon and the Sea Islands. By Fran Heyward Marscher.
• 975.799 MAR. Remembering the Way it Was: At Hilton Head, Bluffton and Daufuskie. By Fran Heyward Marscher.
• 975.799 MCL. Ebb Tide—Flood Tide: Beaufort County…Jewel of the Low Country. By Lynn McLaren.
• 975.799 POL. Port Royal. By Wendy Nilsen Pollitzer.
• 975.799 ROW. The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina: Volume 1, 1514-1861. By Lawrence S. Rowland.
• 975.799 TAY. Historic Beaufort County: An Illustrated History. By Michael C. Taylor.

And don’t stop there! Each Beaufort County Library branch Local History collection contains materials suited to the location of the library. Don’t be limited by the materials on the shelf, search our Online Catalog to find more books available county-wide. Don’t forget that you can check-out materials located in the Local History collections but cannot check-out materials housed in the “forever collection,” that is, the Beaufort District Collection (BDC). Some items may only be available in the BDC.The Beaufort District Collection is a division of the Beaufort County Library, a department of Beaufort County Government of South Carolina.

Links updated and verified by Kristi Marshall on April 9, 2020.