We're Hosting an Emancipation Nation Watch Party Sept. 17th

We're trying something a little different than our usual programming fare next week.  

Visit the BDC to participate in live-feed, national Preliminary Emancipation Day event on Sept. 17th from 1:00 - 2:30 pm. 

As the Civil War began to unfold, the Union had a serious question to answer:  What to do about the enslaved people left behind - in Beaufort District and other places of the occupied South? 

President Abraham Lincoln had quite a problem. Gen. David D. Hunter, an ardent abolitionist and Commander of the Department of the South based on Hilton Head Island, took it upon himself to order that "the persons in these three States (viz., South Carolina, Georgia and Florida)...heretofore held as slaves, are therefore declared free" in an order dated 9 May 1862. Lincoln rescinded Hunter's order with a Presidential Proclamation issued ten days later on 19 May 1862.  

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

For transcript of both texts (Hunter's order and Lincoln's Proclamation) click here.


Lincoln spent much of 1862 preparing for the most important decision of his presidency: emancipation. The drama surrounding Lincoln's decision will be the focus when several of the nation's leading Civil War historians gather in Washington, D.C. for a program that will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. 


Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and with generous support from HISTORY, the event will take place before a live student audience at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and will also be live-streamed for online viewers, on Sept. 17th - Constitution Day - from 1-2:30 p.m. EST. 

We'll project the live stream in the 2nd floor lobby at 311 Scott Street just outside the BDC Research Room door for you to join us at 1:00 pm, Mon., Sept. 17th.  No registration is necessary.  The event is free. 


PS:  Hunter also had his generals round up able-bodied male former slaves, aged 18 to 45,  for involuntary service in the Union Army when volunteers did not step up in sufficient numbers.  He had hoped sign up 2000 Black soldiers to help fill his need for new troops.  This too was rescinded shortly after its declaration as the topic of black men with guns proved quite unnerving to Union troops and Northern states at the time.  But when President Lincoln issues the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation after the Battle of Antietam, he encourages African-Americans to join the Union’s armed forces.  Black soldiers saw service in every branch of the military following the formal establishment of the Bureau of Colored Troops on May 22, 1863.  They made up nearly 10% of the Union army by the time the war was over.  Nearly 200,000 African-Americans would honorably serve in the forces of the United States during the Civil War.

9/11 Oral Histories in the BDC

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Please note: Broken links have been removed and appointments are now required to access the materials inside the BDC Research Room. -- gmc 9 September 2021

One of the local reactions to the events of 9-11 is a small unique collection of oral histories recorded as part of the September Project, 2004. The September Project's goal was that: "On Saturday, September 11th, 2004, people across the nation will go to public spaces to participate collectively and think creatively about our country, our government, and our media. With public libraries as host, The September Project will help facilitate talks and roundtables, public forums, and performances in towns and cities across the US."

On that Saturday morning, Fran Hays (then a Beaufort Branch Reference Librarian, now the Branch Manager) set up a cassette tape recording station for people from our community to share their memories of that tragic day in 2001. Almost a dozen Beaufort residents and visitors offered their oral history recollections and reflections on what was the 3rd anniversary of the terrorist attack.

These oral histories are first-hand reflections on the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93, and the consequences of the terrorist attacks on American freedoms, with a lapse of three years to process one's grief, emotions, and reactions. The recordings were placed in the BDC for permanent retention upon conclusion of the project. Beloved BDC docent, Hugh Folk, transcribed the oral histories in 2008. Charmaine Concepcion and I recently reviewed, edited, and added explanatory content to the transcriptions.  

You'll have to drop by the BDC Research Room to hear the audio recordings. 

Archaeological Society Fall Schedule

Hilton Head, SC: The Archaeological Society of South Carolina, Hilton Head Chapter will continue to host monthly meetings at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Historic Honey Horn off of Hwy 278 on Hilton Head Island. 

The Fall 2012 Speaker schedule includes:

Sept. 18^th - 7 pm Ed Johnson, former ASSC/HHI Chapter President, will present artifacts from Pine Island.

October 3^rd - 10:00 am Wednesday, Dr. Benjamin Farley will discuss his historical novel of the French and Indian War Three Thousand Days and Nights    

Oct.   16^th - 1 pm Richard Hatcher, historian at Ft. Sumpter will discuss the history of Ft. Sumpter in the Charleston Harbor.

Nov.  20^th - 7 pm  Natalie Adams-Pope, President of New South Associates will discuss SC Plantations

Dec.  4th - 7 pm   ASSC/HH Chapter Christmas Social

Jan. 15th -   7 pm   Adam King of SCIAA discussing the Etowah site

Jan. 26^th - Time to be set later. 3rd Annual What the Heck is IT? Artifact Identification Program

All meetings are free and open to the public.  Contact George Stubbs for additional information: 843-363-5058. www.assc.net

Robert Smalls Programs and Exhibit at State Museum in Columbia

Spotlight on a THC^SC grant-supported project with a direct connection to a very important man in the history of Beaufort County.

The South Carolina State Museum is displaying the traveling exhibit The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls through January 6, 2013 and will present a series of four public programs in September 2012 about Smalls’ life and legacy. The programs will include lectures, film screenings, a children’s day, historical impersonations, and more.

Robert Smalls was a South Carolina statesman who was born into slavery in Beaufort District in 1839. He is perhaps best known for his heroic exploits during the Civil War during which he commandeered a Confederate ship and sailed it past the Federal blockade, carrying himself, the black crew and their families to freedom. After the Civil War, he served five terms in the United States Congress, and he founded the Republican Party of South Carolina.

The exhibit The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls includes artifacts, pictures, and other memorabilia depicting Congressman Robert Smalls, his family, and his life.

The South Carolina State Museum will also present four public programs in conjunction with the exhibit to further expand interest in and knowledge of Robert Smalls. The programs are:

September 08 | 01:00 pm
The Family Legacy:  Michael Boulware Moore (great-great-grandson of Robert Smalls) will meet museum visitors and present an illustrated history of his family.

September 15 | 01:00 pm
Robert Smalls: His Actions, Impact, & Legacy: Dr. Bernard Powers (College of Charleston) will present the lecture "Robert Smalls: His Actions, Impact, & Legacy."

September 22 | 11:00 am
Robert Smalls for Kids Day:  Museum educator Kathy Hart will produce the play Yearning To Be Free starring museum guest children, will conduct a Robert Smalls Jeopardy Game, and will then lead a kids eye tour of the exhibit.

September 29 | 01:00 pm
Robert Smalls and The Planter: Dennis Cannady will present an illustrated lecture on "The Ship SS Planter" complete with a scale model of the ship. 

All events are sponsored by the South Carolina State Museum
Location: South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Events are free with museum admission
Info: 803-737-4159 

On most Saturdays, Donald Sweeper will conduct a tour of the exhibit in character as Robert Smalls.  Museum visitors can view the documentary Congressman Robert Smalls: A Patriot's Journey from Slavery to Capitol Hill (Adrena Ifill). [Copies of which are available in the BCL local history sections.] 

The exhibit will be on display until March 2013.  

The mission of The Humanities Council^SC is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. The Humanities Council^SC programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity and are ethical in operations.

Genealogical Workshop in Walterboro Sept. 22nd

Colleton County Memorial Library is offering a free genealogical conference on Saturday, Sept. 22nd for those of you who want an introduction to genealogy and familiarity with resources for family history research in the former St. Bartholomew Parish.  A number of Beaufort District families cross the district boundaries and have connections with St. Bartholomew Parish, too.  The event will be free and is open to the public. 

Colleton County genealogists will present mini-workshops on how to begin tracing your genealogy. There will also be a hands-on afternoon session where attendees can learn about the various online resources and print resources available at the Colleton County Memorial Library.

Date: Saturday, September 22th
Time: 10:00 AM –2:30 PM
Special Inducement: Lunch provided.

Pre-Registration is required. Visit the Colleton County Memorial Library at 600 Hampton Street, Walterboro to pre-register in person.  OR phone 843-549-5621 Ext. 3 to pre-register by phone.  OR
e-mail aleck.williams@colletoncounty.org to sign up (and get your name into the Lunch pot!) 

Library Card Sign-Up Month

Since it's now September, it must be Library Card Sign-Up Month.

Stop by one of our local branch libraries to sign up for what may well be the most important piece of plastic in your wallet – a Beaufort County Library system library card.  

How do you get a card? It's easy and free for Beaufort County residents.

Visit us to explore and learn all that modern day libraries have to offer.  Who knows?  You might just be surprised with what you find.  

Adapted: A message from the American Library Association's Campaign for America's Libraries and Beaufort County Library.  For more information, visit www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.

101 Best Genealogy Websites Winners for 2012

I am reposting from one of the sources I often use to write genealogy related entries in Connections. As you can see, others also consider it one of the "Best Sites for Getting Genealogy News."  Please explore the links to Ancestry Insider and the other genealogy news category winners.

The Ancestry Insider Honored as One of Best 101 Posted: 07 Aug 2012 11:05 PM PDT I’m humbled and honored that the Ancestry Insider has been chosen as one of Family Tree Magazine’s 101 best family history web sites for 2012.I received the award in the “Best Sites for Getting Genealogy News” category. Other winners in the category are: § Dear Myrtle § Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter § Genealogy Gems § Genealogy Guys § The Genetic Genealogist “This lively, frequently updated blog delivers the scoop on what’s new at Ancestry.com … and FamilySearch,” wrote David A. Fryxell. “Congratulations!” Allison Dolan, Family Tree Magazine Publisher and Editorial Director told me in a private email. The full list of 101 winners and commentary can be found on the Family Tree Magazine website and in the September 2012 issue. Notice: The opinions expressed herein are those of the Ancestry Insider, not necessarily those of Ancestry.com or FamilySearch. All content is copyrighted by the Ancestry Insider unless designated otherwise. See http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com for other important legal notices.

Storm Clouds for Libraries

  

Click on the poster for some facts about the state of libraries in this country.  While it is entirely coincidental that it is stormy outside today, the weather does forecast the climate in which public libraries are doing their best to survive - and in some cases, thrive!

BCL Wins!: "Civil War 150" Exhibit Coming in 2013

The Gilder Lehman Institute of American History has awarded Beaufort County Library a traveling “Civil War 150” exhibit for September 2013. The exhibit will be just outside the BDC Research Room doors from September 9 – September 30 next year.  (Big projects take time to prepare). 

The Beaufort County Library system’s supplemental programming will give our residents and visitors the opportunity to compare and contrast  how different the story of the Civil War was here in Beaufort County, South Carolina than elsewhere in the United States.

As part of the grant, we will highlight Civil War related materials from the Beaufort District Collection, the Library’s special collections and archives department, such as Dr. Johnson’s Medical Record Book, our Civil War illustrated prints and original newspapers, and period piano sheet music.

Programs relating to the Civil War, and our own local history, will be held for all age groups and at all our branch libraries.  

Initial plans will begin in earnest mid-September.  We welcome potential partners and co-sponsors. As I am the project coordinator for "Civil War 150," contact me at 255-6468 or gracec@bcgov.net if your organization would like to be involved in the Library's efforts to make the "Civil War 150" exhibit a success.

That Other Aug. 27 - Aug. 28th Storm

When we commemorate these dates locally, we usually concentrate on the 1893 "Sea Island hurricane."  This year, for a change of pace, we share a letter written after that other Aug. 27 -Aug. 28 storm - a hurricane in 1911. (I'd scan the County Democrat newspaper article but the quality of the image is quite poor.) It appears that there was a misunderstanding about how much damage had occurred and how much assistance was welcome. 

ECHOES OF THE STORM
Mr. Waterhouse Writes Reason why Beaufort Appal [sic] was Made.

Mr. A. C. Kaufman, in charge of the Red Cross work in this State has received the following letter and requests its publication in The News and Courier:

"Mr. A. C. Kaufman, Charleston, S. C. -- Dear Sir: I wired you this morning that the damage did not appear to warrant the appeal to the Red Cross for assistance.  This was done in accordance with your telegram of Saturday asking me to investigate and report.

You will recollect that the letter of inquiry sent you was written directly after the storm and before we yet knew the extent of the havoc to the islands, And [sic] that I merely inquired whether or not assistance might be obtained, if on proper representation it was shown to be necessary.  As you know, I did not again communicate with you until your wire of Saturday, asking me to act as the representative of the Red Cross.

I am sure that your kindly consideration of this section will be appreciated, though the help is not needed.

For myself, I thank you very much for your courtesy and only regret that the appeal was made before the proper representation of loss was submitted.

Kindly give this letter the same publicity which was allowed my former communication of a week ago.

Yours very truly, George Waterhouse.
Beaufort, SC., September 4"

George Waterhouse was a local businessman, an active deacon of the Baptist Church of Beaufort, and resided in the Lewis Reeve Sams house on Bay Street.