Are You Ready, Willing and Able to Join the Beloved BDC Docent Cadre?

It's National Volunteer Week, April 17 - 23, 2022. The BDC has a dedicated but highly selective cadre of docents who help us with specific projects and activities for whom my appreciation is heartfelt and deep. They collectively and individually do great work and most of them have been with me for a long time. In fact, you've probably read about them here in Connections through the years.

But the loss of permanent staff and frequent staff vacancies has left the BDC and the complications of the transfer of literally thousands of vertical file materials and local government documents from Hilton Head Branch Library and Beaufort Branch Library over the past 5 years problematic. The BDC has a backlog that I cannot manage on my own as the sole employee of the BDC unit. This has left me with a pressing need that I am hoping the right someone (or two someones) can help me fill. I am aware that it's going to require a special someone - or two special someones working in tandem - to complete the project.

I need help with the vertical files. This photo shows that bank of vertical file cabinets along the back wall of storage area shelving array. The magenta cabinets contain the BDC's created and cataloged for SCLENDS vertical files; the darker cabinets and boxes contain the remaining unmerged cataloged vertical files from Hilton Head Island Branch and some unmerged uncataloged vertical files from Beaufort Branch.

Here's some nerdy bits of information that you can skip over if you like: If something isn't cataloged into the SCLENDS catalog or has a Finding Aid only in the Research Room this greatly affects the accessibility of a material. All good libraries and good archival organizations want their collections to be accessible to those who might benefit from their holdings. As I have been saying ad nauseum (for some) for more than 20 years, I am not going to work here forever - and one shouldn't rely on what I tote around in my head as the access point for the BDC - and there have been projects that have definitely improved accessibility by including some of the BDC's formats into the SCLENDS catalog. For example, records for the BDC's maps are included in the SCLENDS catalog.

If only it were as simple as just dumping everything labeled "Hilton Head" into one folder in the magenta array. Trust me, it's not. I will admit that this process is not rocket science, but it is library science and archival science so that customers can easily access and evaluate research materials of a local history nature.

The goal is to get everything appropriate in the folders from the Hilton Head and Beaufort Branch vertical files appropriately merged over into folders and files in the BDC's magenta cabinets. And to do that requires careful comparison work, preservation work, intellectual work, and cataloging work.

Both the Hilton Head Island and Beaufort Branch librarians who created those files used traditional practices at the time (i.e., cutting the article out and writing the citation on the newsprint or magazine page usually in ball point pen or marker). When the files got started, it was standard practice. But as time moved on, practices evolved - and as the local history unit became more sophisticated and appropriate stewardship practices were enacted, we now know that the traditional practice must be updated to an archival practice if one wants to keep the clipping for more than 20 - 30 years. Which means that we have to transfer what former Library employees and volunteers did from 1917 to about 10 years ago to acid-free papers and cite appropriately with appropriate media for permanent retention in the Research room. All those bad paper and bad ink or bad marker clippings as shown in the next photograph have got to go - or the Library is ignoring standards of responsible cultural heritage stewardship.

As the photograph above indicates there is a lot of work to do. Preservation photocopying requires a considerable amount of standing to transfer the news clippings onto good photocopy paper - and there are lot of vertical files to review - more than a couple of thousands in all. Our photocopy machine's paten stands about 46 inches tall so sitting down to this part of the work would be impractical. (I shall await Angelina's inventory of that section for the precise current count of vertical files stored in the BDC.)

I'm looking for a person - or as I mentioned above at most two people - who can come to the BDC 6 to 8 hours a month who can line up clippings properly, who has an eye for details - that is, one who will notice if a photocopy of an article is complete with all the words and letters and lines and sections (sometimes that's off a bit) or cattywampus and take the necessary actions to make the photocopy right - and who can cite the original source fully (i.e., title of source, date, issue numbers, page numbers, author, etc.) in legible BLOCK LETTERS, - one who will acknowledge the difference between an article labeled " Marine Corps Recruit Depot -- History: Folder A: Undated Materials" and "Parris Island" or "Barnwell, John" and "Barnwell Family" when filing -- and then arrange vertical file folder contents in reverse chronological order and restore reverse chronological order if needed.

Based on my personal experience, each folder can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 3 hours to review and arrange. In some cases the same article is in the BDC's vertical files as well as in one of the folders transferred in from the Hilton Head Island and/or Beaufort Branch's discontinued vertical files-- which requires comparing the items very carefully and choosing the best one for permanent retention. So, in other words, it can be a slow and sometimes painstaking process - which is why the ability to consistently focus on details is an important characteristic for the vertical file volunteer to have.

I see the upsides of this role as:

1) You will be contributing to a thorough and cited "pointer file" of key events, people, themes, and families of Beaufort County (with some overlap of course for Jasper and Hampton Counties before they become their own governmental, political and jurisdictional entities) that will prove helpful as long as the BDC exists. I cannot tell you how often the contents of the vertical files have provided the key clue for researchers because they are countless. Ephemera files are the bomb! of local history.

2) You may just discover an interesting historical tidbit to share with others: e.g., Branch Reference Librarian Tina Mellen once won a bookmobile contest; that the first licensed African-American pilot held an airshow in Beaufort in 1932; and there was once a zoo on Bay Street... It won't happen every day, of course, but it will happen - as I have seen over and over again when I am working with the vertical files myself - and as faithful BDC Facebook readers can attest. Another way to look at it: The successful BDC vertical file volunteer will likely have great historical tidbits to weave into conversation at the next wine-and-cheese party she/he/they attends.

3) And though this might not be an upside for some people, I will provide the training and oversight until I am sure that you are doing things the way that they need to be done to comply with Library and archival standards (I'm okay if you read that " Done the way Grace wants them done." It's my job to be thorough).

Perhaps intrigued? Want to ask some questions before committing? Want to visit to see if you can work with me? Contact me bdc@bcgov.net or call 843-255-6468 so that we can set up a mutually agreeable time to discuss your interests and skills and how those might contribute to helping the BDC's mission.

Let's say that we talk. You, your skills, your free time and the BDC's needs appear to be a good fit. You'd like to volunteer here and I would like for you to join the Beloved BDC docent cadre. At that point, I shall supply you with the required paperwork for volunteering for Beaufort County governmental entities and more specifically for the Beaufort County Library, the broad outlines of which are: Volunteers must possess a valid Beaufort County Library card and be at least 16 years of age to be considered. For safety and security reasons all volunteers are required to complete a brief application and background check prior to volunteering. Volunteer service cannot begin until the Library is notified by the County's Human Resources department that you have passed the background check. Then I put you on the schedule and provide you with the training to be successful as the Beloved BDC vertical file docent.

Schools Related Vertical Files in the Research Room

As COVID-19 concerns continue to interfere with normal operations at some local K-12 schools, I've decided to write about some of the school related materials we share through the Research Room. Today's post will focus on the vertical files we have about individual public and private schools throughout Beaufort District's history. Just be aware that this list is may not be complete.

Some of the schools are no longer in operation while others have just come into existence over the past few years. Some are publically funded schools. Some are private institutions. The vertical file contents vary widely. Some of the vertical files contain a lot of clippings; some of the vertical files have only a sheet or two. Some school vertical file have articles, pamphlets, newsletters and/or programs held at the individual schools through time gathered from a variety of places at a variety of times. The files for the schools that my children attended 15 - 20 years ago are the fattest because I picked up hand-outs about those schools whenever I attended any of their school activities and events. Thus, collection has been hit-or-miss and inconsistent across schools and time. Dates for a school's years of operation are given when research has been done. Going forward, any newly created vertical files will include the dates of the school when possible. As of this writing we have over 50 specific school vertical files. I've decided to arrange the schools into two broad categories: Public Schools and Private Schools. 

Public Schools: Beaufort County Training School ; Beaufort Elementary School ; Beaufort Middle School; Beaufort High School;  Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence; Bluffton Middle School; Bluffton High School; Bridges Preparatory School; Broad River Elementary School; Coosa Elementary School; Daufuskie Island Elementary School; Hardeeville Consolidated School; H.E. McCracken Middle School; Hilton Head Elementary School; Hilton Head Middle School; Hilton Head High School; Humanities School of Beaufort; James J. Davis Elementary School; Joseph S. Shanklin Sr. Elementary School; Lady's Island Elementary School; Lady's Island Middle School; Lobeco Graded School; Mary Fields Elementary School, 1934 - 1997; May River High School, 2016 - ; M.C. Riley Elementary School; Mossy Oaks Elementary School; Port Royal Elementary School; River Ridge Academy, 2015 -  ; Robert Smalls Schools, 1925- 1984; Robert Smalls Elementary School; Robert Smalls Middle School; Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts and Sciences, 2012 -  ;  Shell Point Elementary School; St. Helena Elementary School; St. Helena High School, 1954 - 1971; Whale Branch Early College High School; Whale Branch Elementary School; and Whale Branch Middle School. 

Private Schools: Beaufort Academy; Beaufort College;  Eleanor Christensen Montessori School;  Harbison Institute; Heritage Academy; Hilton Head Christian Academy; Hilton Head Preparatory School; John Paul II Catholic School;  Mather School; Okatie Academy and Child Development Center; Penn School, 1862 - 1948; Sea Pines Montessori Academy; Sheldon Academy; and St. Peter's Catholic School.  

Make an appointment to visit the Research Room and staff will be happy to share the contents of the Schools vertical files with you. Please give us at least several days notice in order to have the best odds of getting your preferred date and time. Into the foreseeable future, the BDC will be offering 3 appointment slots per work day: 10 to Noon; 1 - 3 and 3 - 5 provided that the slot you request isn't already spoken for on the BDC's calendar. 

The Value of Historical (and Permanent) Vertical Files

This post was updated on 28 January 2026. - Grace Cordial

Historical vertical files can sometimes prove to be among the most useful collections of materials in a library or archives. They become especially valuable when viewed in a special local history collection and archives context. Sometimes an historical vertical file is the only place where one can find a ticket stub to a significant performance of a local play, a photograph of a church event, a railroad schedule, deed to a property, or a clue about just how influential an event or person may have been when it came to politics back in the day. We actually have had customers cry out with delight at uncovering a clue that proved key to their research in the process of going through a BDC vertical file!

Merriam Webster defines the term "vertical file" as: "a collection of articles (as pamphlets and clippings) that is maintained (as in a library) to answer brief questions or to provide points of information not easily located." The official Society of American Archivists definition provided in "A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology" gives two quite different meanings. The term can apply to the furniture housing the files as well as to what we in the archival world refer to as “an artificial collection of materials, often of an ephemeral nature, collected and arranged for ready reference," which tend to be generally housed in letter or legal sized folders. 

Vertical file contents vary so widely in original source, format, and time acquired that it would be impossible to keep an internal inventory of every clipping, item, and booklet contained there in up to date - or to replace the materials in full in case of a hurricane or fire. 

When I came aboard in 1999, we had four 36" long drawers full of files. Now we have twenty-five 36" long drawers full of files. Some vertical files had a lot of content when I came aboard in 1999. Some I compiled from scratch. Most have been added to in the passage of years. We completed a long-term project of integrating content from vertical files formerly maintained and held by Beaufort Branch and Hilton Head Branch libraries in early 2025. Some content was assembled in the course of guiding research for customers interested (most often) in other topics. As long as the information “fits” the collection development policy and we can properly house the material, we can find a way to organize it so researchers can find it. 

Historical vertical files are never static. We create new artificial collections or add to our holdings from time to time as collection development policy and circumstances merit. We also sometimes merge files. Several recent examples:  

• We've recently created a BEAUFORT-CITY-GOVERNMENT-CITY MANAGER'S BRIDGE REPORT, 2025- because the City began issuing one as a means of improving communications about ongoing stormwater and road work in the city limits.  We helped a customer; the customer helped us provide even more information for future customers to review.
• Unfortunately, we had to create a MASS SHOOTINGS -- 2025 vertical file for clippings about the shooting that occurred on 12 October 2025, shortly before 1:00 AM, at Willie's Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island. Initial casualty counts listed 4 dead and at least 20 wounded.
• We'll soon be subdividing contents of some of our "fatter" vertical files. Examples: 
• CHURCHES - ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
• PAT CONROY LITERARY CENTER
• COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE

None of the BDC vertical files are intended to be the final word on any subject. They are meant to be pointer files to give a researcher context and clues so that the researcher can go deeper into the topic using other resources if s/he wants to go deeper into the topic.

None of the vertical files consist of the same content. I will use the Family Surname files as an example. We currently have over 150 different Family Surname vertical files here in the Research Room cabinets. Some of the vertical files only have genealogical information included in the file along the lines of who begat whom. Some of the family vertical files contain reports about crimes perpetrated or endured by specific family members. Some family vertical files have information about the family business. Some of the family vertical files include content that touches on scandal. Some of the family vertical files include content only about how wonderful or talented or rich or significant the family was in the past. Some of the family vertical files have a combination of all the above. 
 

For example, I was asked about the contents of the Cram Family vertical file several months ago. In this instance, the file has newspaper and magazine clippings with dates ranging from 1936 to 1982: “Mrs. Ruth Cram’s Broad River Place sold to L. M. Cook” (Beaufort Gazette, 1958); “Four More Indicted in Cram Burglary Case,”(Island Packet, 1976) and “More arrested in Cram Robbery”(Beaufort Gazette, 1976); an excerpt from “Slouching towards Bluffton,” by Emma Edmunds from the Atlanta Weekly (1982); and “Mr. Harry Cram and Miss Ruth Vaux Married” (Beaufort Gazette, 1936.)  

The titles of the historical vertical files housed in the BDC are listed in the SCLENDS catalog. 

Please contact us (bdc@bcgov.net or 843-255-6468) if you'd like to know more about a vertical file and its contents.  

Thinking Out 100 Years: The Reason Behind Historical Vertical Files

Beaufort County has more than a few Chamber of Commerce groups at the present time.  Each one has its own mission, governorship, constituency and controversies. Some groups are affiliated with the U. S. Chamber of Commerce.   Some are not.  Some of the groups have been around more than half a century.  Several groups have been founded within the past decade. One group south of the Broad River is in the process of getting started.  Some groups have a complex structure of committees and sub-committees while others are controlled more directly by their Executive Director and Boards.

Therefore, in the case of Chambers of Commerce based in Beaufort County, "one size does not fit all" - which is why the BDC keeps vertical files of clippings on each one in our Research Room.  We hope that a present-day researcher, as well as researchers 100 years from now, will be able to follow the individual organizations through time using the clippings as a pointer file to additional sources of information about the respective groups.

For example, the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce's Tourism Committee funded and produced a video earlier this year to promote tourism to northern Beaufort County.  Take a peek.

• In 2112, we hope that a future researcher tracking the promotion of Beaufort County as a tourism mecca will be able to still view the video file because we captured a copy in 2012.

The Hilton Head Island - Bluffton Chamber of Commerce re-vamped its website.

• In 2112, a future researcher might be interested in how graphic design was used to promote local organizations a hundred years earlier.

The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce has just received a grant to begin a microlending program.

• In 2112, a future researcher might be interested in how small loans led to the creation of multi-national African-American owned corporation based here.

Of course, it's hard to predict the future.  If it were easy, and always accurate, each and every one of us would be investing in IPOs and becoming billionaires! Materials get used in unforeseen ways.  Technology changes almost every day.  Admittedly, then, some of our BDC collection policy is our best guess about what future researchers, residents, and visitors will find interesting, compelling, and worthwhile.  On the other hand,  if the BDC doesn't take the time to capture the clippings, preserve them, and create some way of accessing them for future customers, the significant pieces of the local history of Beaufort County may be lost altogether.

The Beaufort County Library allots a very small investment of its overall funding from Beaufort County to the Beaufort District Collection.  The Beaufort District Collection is "to acquire, preserve, maintain and make accessible a research collection of permanent value which records the history of the area of lowcountry South Carolina known as the old historic Beaufort District." We share what we steward with the world via the "Virtual BDC," local programs, and opening our Research Room doors 35 hours a week to serve anyone over age 12 who is interested in learning more about the history, culture, and environment of this wonderful and beautiful community in which we live.  As the manager of the BDC, I am proud of how we have adjusted to an ever changing information environment yet stayed true to the BDC's  mission.

As the world becomes more global, the unique and local becomes ever more important.  Beaufort County is a unique place with a unique history.  We should celebrate that history and endeavor to collect, preserve, maintain, and share it with the world - as well as our neighbors - through advocacy of the special collections library and archives, the Beaufort District Collection of the Beaufort County Library system.   
   

In Honor of Earth Day

Mark the 42nd annual Earth Day by learning a bit about local animals, plants, minerals and the ecosystems here in Beaufort County via our library's Local History & Nature web pages! 

Animals:  Lovebugs;  Snakes; Spiders

Plants: Marshes; Oak Trees;

Minerals: Beach Sand

Today also happens to be the date of the annual Parish Church of St. Helena's service held on the grounds of Old Sheldon Church.  The service has been held on the 2nd Sunday after Easter for more than half a century. For the notice about the service held in 1957, see the News & Courier clipping. The BDC has a vertical file on many of the churches formed within Beaufort (and Granville) County, including St. Helena's Episcopal and Prince William's Episcopal (Old Sheldon) churches.  Drop by the Research Room and we'll be happy to show them to you. 

Water is Wide Book Review -- Feb. 21st

In honor of the 300th Anniversary of the founding of Beaufort, the Friends of the Beaufort County Library is highlighting books on local history and people in the Books Sandwiched In series. Next up is a review of Water is Wide written by adopted native son, Pat Conroy, about his short time teaching in Mary Field School on Daufuskie Island.

It may be a little ironic that the reviewer is current Beaufort County School District Chairman, Fred Washington. Conroy and the School Board definitely had different ideas on how best to run a school and teach children!

Monday, Feb 21
The Water is Wide: A Memoir by Pat Conroy.
Reviewer: Fred S. Washington, Jr.
12:00pm – 1:00pm
USCB Performing Arts Center, 801 Carteret Street

Doors open at 11:30 AM! Free, although donations (and new Friends) are always appreciated.

Once a "One County, One Book" selection, the Library offers access to at least 60 copies of Water is Wide for you.

The BDC has a small collection of newspaper and magazine articles about the book in the "Conroy, Pat (1945-- )--The Water is wide" vertical file as well as files on the "Water Is Wide (made-for-tv film, 2005)" and "Conrack (film)." What is most unique, though, is a script adapting the Water is Wide into a musical. Come to the BDC to see these and other local history treasures. Customary hours are 10 am until 5 pm, Mondays through Fridays.

JFK: Good libraries are essential

When I was tidying up the vertical files for relocation, I was reminded of a letter from the President of the United States in 1963 in the Library archives.

President Kennedy wrote: "Good libraries are as essential to an educated and informed people as the school system itself. The library is not only the custodian of our cultural heritage but the key to progress and the advancement of knowledge."

The occasion? He wrote to congratulate the nascent Beaufort County Library on its award of the Dorothy Canfield Fisher award as "Best Small Library" in the United States.

Why was Beaufort County Library chosen as the "Best Small Library" in 1963? It had a great deal to do with how forward looking the County, the Library Board of Trustees, and the community was for a Southern town. A formerly all white library, Beaufort Township Library, and a formerly all black community library, the Laura M. Towne Library on the Penn Community Center campus with some County support, merged to create the Beaufort County Library -- and the Towne Library contributed a bookmobile. There weren't any other public libraries in Beaufort County at the time or ways to get access to reading materials or assistance in using reference materials. Hilton Head and Bluffton had very small permanent populations in them and no access to community library services.

According to News for Public Librarians: 2nd series, no. 6 dated December 1962 issued by the South Carolina State Library Board:

"Beaufort was the winner because it met all the criteria and because the newly appointed county library board has made every effort to organize the library on sound economical principles and according to library standards and has recognized the importance and taken the necessary steps to obtain the services of a trained librarian to direct the library."

Fast forward to the present day and ask yourselves these questions:

Q: Does the Beaufort County Library serve its community well?

Q: Does Beaufort County Library maintain its operation according to sound economical principles?

Q: Does Beaufort County Library maintain current library standards?

Whether your answer is "yes" or "no," or even something in between, our Library Board of Trustees, Administrators, and County Council need to know what you think in order that Beaufort County Library can better meet your needs for library services.

HBF Tours October 22 - 24

Historic Beaufort Foundation Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens is being held October 22, 23, and 24th.

Extra added attractions scheduled for the Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens, include:

 Book signing in the Verdier House drawing room by John Warley and Pat Conroy – October 23, 4 – 7 p.m. Warley’s new book, Bethesda’s Child, features a foreword by Conroy, Warley’s Citadel classmate. Conroy will be signing his own books also. A portion of each book sold benefits HBF. 801 Bay Street.

 The Hallelujah Singers in Concert at First Presbyterian Church, 1201 North Street – October 23, $25 per ticket.

Call 379-3331 for reservations or go online to purchase tickets: www.historicbeaufort.org. A portion of the proceeds benefits HBF.

Sorry, folks, but I can't think of a direct and entertaining "archival" connection between the houses on the tour and "Archives Month" other than to say the Beaufort District Collection has vertical files on both the Verdier House and family as well as a Beaufort County Historical Society Paper about First Presbyterian Church and a vertical file about it under the heading "Churches--First Presbyterian Church."

Thompson on Historic Preservation

In case you haven't seen it yet:

Beaufort Lifestyle magazine interviewed Evan Thompson on his perceptions regarding the state of historic preservation in Beaufort over the last decade for its August/September 2010 issue. Thompson was executive director of Historic Beaufort Foundation from 2005 until his resignation in May 2010. He shares his discomfort with where the historic preservation movement in Beaufort County may be heading.

Thompson is now Executive Director of the Preservation Society of Charleston.

Historic Beaufort Foundation is a member of the Historical Resources Consortium of Beaufort County, a loose affiliation of sister cultural heritage agencies (archives, museums, libraries, historical societies, cultural groups, historical preservation societies) which share their research resources with the public under reasonable terms of access.

Pick up a free copy of the Beaufort Lifestyle in newstands across the islands (or from our Beaufort Branch Library lobby - while supplies last) or view it online at http://www.beaufortlifestyle.com/Beaufort_Lifestyle/INDEX.html. Click on the bubble. The interview with Thompson is on pages 24 - 26.

Once the BDC Research Room re-opens come visit us to review the contents of the file on the Rhett Office building. Relocating an historic collection is hard work but it continues apace.

Today is the start of Hurricane Season

June 1st is the start of hurricane season. From now through the end of November, we all will need to monitor the weather reports more closely in case a storm arises quickly. News reports indicate that we might be in for a more active season than usual. But in only takes one storm to destroy a city -- i.e., Katrina and New Orleans, LA.

To keep abreast of the County's Emergency Plans should a storm approach our area, visit http://www.bcgov.net/Emerg_mgt/houtlook.php. Todd Ferguson, Director of Beaufort County Emergency Management Division, sent a reminder message to all Beaufort County employees this morning that is just as applicable to all Beaufort County residents:

Today begins the first day of what is predicted to be a very active Hurricane Season. With that being said, we all need to prepare for that one storm that may impact our area. I strongly encourage each and everyone to have your own individual Hurricane plan for your family, these plans should include the preparation needed to protect your property, an evacuation plan, and last but not least a recovery plan for when you return. I would also encourage you to look at your insurance policies. As always our first plan of attack is not to have a Hurricane, however, if we do we all must have a plan in place to facilitate a successful recovery.

The best defense is a good offense: Make decisions in advance about what you can do to protect your property. Decide where you'll go to wait out the storm. Prepare what you'll need to take care of yourself, family members, and pets for several days or more. Determine what documents you'll need to prove your ownership of property and/or insurance coverage upon you return in case of damages to your property.

For more emergency preparedness tips from a variety of sources, read the Connections entries tagged emergency preparedness and check out some of those links to preparation sites.

It's not like the Beaufort area has been completely free of hurricanes. While it is true that it's been awhile since we had a direct hit, hurricanes are sort of like the stock market. Past performance isn't always an indicator of future performance. We've been very lucky through the years.

To learn more about hurricanes and hurricanes that have directly impacted our area in the past, read the "Hurricanes" article in the local history and nature pages by Dennis Adams. If you want to dig a little deeper, come visit the BDC for our hurricane and tropical storm related vertical files. The image at the start of this entry is from one of our BDC scrapbooks. The flooding was caused by Hurricane Gracie in 1959.

To Learn More about Fort Lyttleton

Yesterday I handed out a list of resources about Fort Lyttleton to accompany Dr. Nicholas Butler's presentations at Hilton Head and Beaufort Branch libraries. In an effort to better share information and services provided by the BDC, I have posted the list of books, web-based resources, and other materials about Fort Lyttleton here.



Note: Image taken from Colonial Forts of South Carolina, 1670-1775 by Larry E. Ivers, (Tricentennial Booklet Number 3), Published for the South Carolina Tricentennial Commission by the University of South Carolina Press, c1970, p. 61.

Mayor Billy -- Verdier House Lecture Series

Daufuskie Photographic Memoir of the 1970s. Presented by Mayor Billy Keyserling, Monday, March 22nd, 5:30 p.m – 7 p.m.

Mayor Billy provides his photographic memoir of life at Daufuskie Island School during author Pat Conroy’s short tenure as teacher. Keyserling’s photos were part of his work toward an undergraduate degree at Brandeis University and later illustrated Conroy’s book, The Water is Wide, about his life teaching on the island, and were featured in a Life Magazine article, “Conrack, You’re Crazy.”

The Library has a long standing interest in documenting the life and career of (almost as good as) native son author Pat Conroy. [In fact, if you are in possession of a copy of the original essay given to attendees of "The Green" reception on 26 February, we would love to have a copy to add to the extensive Conroy, Pat (1945 -- ) vertical files.]

Library customers may remember that The Water is Wide was the "One County, One Book" selection for the Library system in 2003. To read about the program, click here. It is also a frequent choice of local book clubs. Therefore, the Library has boocoodles of printed copies (and some in audio formats) in our holdings.

For the more research minded, the Beaufort District Collection has a specific vertical file of information called Conroy, Pat (1945-- )--The Water is Wide about the author and this particular book. The file has a copy of the Life Magazine article referred to above. There is also a vertical file titled Water Is Wide (made-for-tv film, 2005).

For additional information about Daufuskie Island, check out the contents of my Daufuskie Island bookbag which hooks you into the SCLENDS catalog. You'll notice lots of archaeological reports and some materials that you can check out, including the Hallmark Hall of Fame fictionalized version of Water is Wide DVD that is available at our Hilton Head Island and Bluffton Branch libraries.

For more information about the HBF Lecture & Dinner series, contact Maxine Lutz, Historic Beaufort Foundation, 379-3331 or mlutz@historicbeaufort.org.

For information about the holdings of the Beaufort District Collection, contact me.