Beaufort District Collection Connections Blog

February, 2010

African-American Artists on Video
Grace Cordial

Verve!: Messengers in the Spirit is a salute to South Carolina's rich tradition of African-American arts.

This video showcases seven contemporary South Carolina artists who draw upon the past and who celebrate the African-American culture in their works. Featured are batik artist Leo Twiggs; watercolorist Floyd Gordon; storyteller Jemetrice Glisson; jewelry artist Karen Roache; collage artist Sheri Moore; blacksmith artist Sam Davis; and St. Helena Island's own indigo processor and batik artist, Arian King Comer.

Brooker on "Tormenting, Dissatisfied People"
Grace Cordial

Join us Tuesday, March 2nd for "The Most Tormenting, Dissatisfied People on Earth" with Colin Brooker at the Hilton Head Branch Library from 3:00 pm – 4 pm.

Video about St. Helena Island
Grace Cordial

Want to celebrate Black History Month with a fine video? Among our holdings is Palmetto Places: St. Helena Island, an SCETV production about the history and culture of St. Helena Island. Viewers see the historic sites of Penn Center and the Chapel of Ease. Viewers hear the cadence of the Gullah in the music of the Hallelujah Singers. Viewers can watch a master net-maker at work.

Check out the video from any of our branch libraries. Palmetto Places: St. Helena Island (Call number): 917.5799 PAL.

In Memoriam
Grace Cordial

A few weeks ago, Walter Dennis passed over into eternity. It is fitting that Walter's body is resting among his fellow veterans at the Beaufort National Cemetery. David Lauderdale, columnist for the Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette writes far more eloquently than I can about Walter's contributions to our community. I just know that through the years, Walter and I spent more than a few convivial hours talking about his research documenting African-American history, his love of cooking, and poetry.

"The Most Tormenting and Dissatisfied People on Earth" Lecture - March 2nd
Grace Cordial

Many folks who reside in our area have little idea of just how far reaching an impact our forebears have had on the national, and even international, stage. Colin Brooker, Architectural Historian and Archaeologist, intends to change that on March 2nd at Hilton Head Branch Library.

We Need You!
Grace Cordial

As you probably know by now, we are beginning a Strategic Planning Initiative. (It's been in the newspapers. It's been running on the Library's homepage. I've mentioned it several times in Connections.) The Strategic Plan is designed to spell out the Library's plans on how to best meet expressed community needs over the next three years.

And guess what?
We would love it if you would tell us what you would like to see regarding library programs and services.

Holme on a Home: Feb. 18th
Grace Cordial

Penelope W Holme will be presenting her recent research on Beaufort’s Elizabeth Barnwell Gough House on Thursday, Feb 18th at 12:00 pm during the Beaufort County Historical Society Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club located at 30 Yacht Club Drive. An optional light lunch will be served at 11:30 for $10. RSVP, please.

For further information or to RSVP about lunch, contact: Pamela Ovens-President at sail@singlestar.us or call 843-785-2767.

Join Us for BCL's Open House February 27th
Grace Cordial

Make plans now to visit one or more of the Beaufort County Library branches on Saturday, February 27th for the 4th Annual "BCL Open House." This year's theme is: "Connecting you to the World." We'll have demonstrations and performances. Charmaine and I will be at Hilton Head Branch Library for the day and will demonstrate features of the "Virtual BDC" (of which, this Connections blog is a key component.)

Robert Smalls at Penn Center
Grace Cordial

Penn Center is hosting a celebration of the life and legacy of Robert Smalls, February 8 - March 6th in honor of Black History Month.

African Americans and Facts from the Census Bureau
Grace Cordial

Anyone seen those Census Bureau advertizements during the Super Bowl on Sunday? [According to the Census Bureau, they ran 3.]

Penn School: Experiment in Freedom Video
Grace Cordial

Mary Long's Yesteryear: Penn School: Experiment In Freedom traces the history of the Port Royal Experiment and the establishment of Penn School, one of the first schools in the South for freed slaves. For more than 100 years, the school has played a historic and vital role in the lives of the South Carolina sea Island people. The program follows the history of the center, from its founding to its role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

"The Battle of Port Royal" -- Mike Coker
Grace Cordial

Our 2010 Beaufort District Collection program schedule relating to the history, culture, and environment of Beaufort District continues on Monday, February 22nd.

Black History Month Online Resources Featured on Library's Website
Grace Cordial

Beaufort County Library's webmaster, Halle Eisenman, has created an online gateway to recommended resources about African American history, writers, and culture from her considerable knowledge of the web, our staff, and the fine reference librarians behind the Librarian's Internet Index.

Southern Lens Documentaries in February
Grace Cordial

During February, SCETV's Southern Lens highlight aspects of the African American experience in South Carolina.

Although none of them specifically focus on the history, culture, and environment of Beaufort County, insights garnered by watching the documentaries could help our understanding of race relations, critical contemporary issues, and traditions within the black community.

Black History Month at the Library
Grace Cordial

Black History Month begins today. In keeping with the national Black History Month celebration, Beaufort County Library is honoring the contributions of African-Americans to American history and culture in all our locations in a variety of ways, including displays, programs, and creating lists of books, movies, websites, and reference materials about black history.

Jan. 31, 1865 - Confederates Appoint Lee Commander in Chief
Grace Cordial

Did you know that before Robert E. Lee was Confederate Commander in Chief, he was Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia?

Did you know that before Robert E. Lee was appointed Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, he was here in Beaufort District designing defenses to halt Yankee advances along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts?

Did you know that he bought Traveler for $200 from a fellow soldier at Pocotaligo?

Syndicate content