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The ebb and flow of history has washed over the shores of Beaufort County for more than 400 years. Spanish, British, French, Scot, Confederate and United States flags have all flown over these islands. Port Royal and St. Helena Sounds have been important in maritime trade since colonial times. Military fortifications dot our landscape. Today the Sea Islands are known internationally as the home of Gullah culture and as wonderful places to retire. This special collection was created in 1992 to record this rich heritage. We call this unique collection the “Beaufort District Collection” to emphasize its core focus.

About the Beaufort District Collection For a slideshow orientation to the programs and services of the Beaufort District Collection, click here.

Off-Site Obituary and Reference Services  For other obituary services in other SC counties, visit the "South Carolina Obituary Services" webpage.

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About the Beaufort District Collection

"All American history begins in Beaufort." -- Larry Rowland, Ph.D.

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 of the area of lowcountry South Carolina known as the old historic Beaufort District.  Our goal is to be excellent stewards of the materials entrusted to our care.  Therefore, the Research Room is intended to be used by customers over age 12 who perform their own research.  Younger children have access to the components of our "Virtual BDC" and resources in other parts of the Beaufort County Library.  Our philosophy of service is to offer as many free services as possible to those who are interested in learning more about the history, culture, and environment of Beaufort County. 

• We provide general information about the materials we have in our collection free of charge. 

• Books, videorecordings, vertical file subject headings, some maps and microfilm holdings are posted within the online catalog.  Some materials are available through the local history sections at our branch libraries.

• We post web pages on local interest topics, the Online Obituary Index, and provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions about our services.
• We have 2 digital collections online:

  "Phosphate, Farms, and Family: The Donner Collection," a digital archive of 548 photographs about rural life in Beaufort County, 1889-1916

  "Lucille Hasell Culp Collection: A Celebration of Beaufort, South Carolina," a digital archive of 300 images about mid-20th century Beaufort and its environs, 1941 - 1999

  How to credit our online collections

   

• We provide free short, limited in scope, telephone consultations about our resources that might help you with your research problem. To better serve you, please contact us to set up an appointment for a more extensive telephone consultation.
• We provide free "Research Consultations" relating to our mission to share Beaufort District's historical, cultural, and environmental heritage with advance notice. Please contact us for details.
• We would like to speak to your community or church group about all the matters BDC - our services, preservation, family history sources, etc. We will even create a program just for your group (with sufficient notice).  If you would like to arrange a speaking engagement with us, please contact us for more information. 
• Join us for one (or more) of the BDC@ The Branches Local History programs. 

The Beaufort District Collection is designed to support the needs of customers over age 12 who perform their own research inside our research room.   Nevertheless, we accommodate those customers who are unable to visit our facility or who choose not to visit our facility by offering two fee-based services.  Fees are set by Library Board of Trustees policy. 

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History of the Beaufort District Collection

Hours of Operation

Areas of Interest

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History of the Beaufort District Collection

The Beaufort District Collection, originally called the South Carolina Room, was created in 1992 to record the rich historical, cultural, and environmental heritage of the former Beaufort District.  Beaufort District once covered all or parts of present day Beaufort County, Hampton County, Jasper County, and Allendale County. We re-named this unique collection the “Beaufort District Collection” to emphasize its core focus.

The Beaufort District Collection has several components:  The BDC Research Room houses the research collection which researchers can visit to perform their inquiries.  Historians, writers, students over age 12, and family historians as well as anyone with an interest in our area are welcomed to work in the Research Room.  In addition to operating, maintaining, and providing reference services for our in-house customers, we select and share materials through the Local History sections at each of the Branch Libraries.  We create and maintain content in the "Virtual BDC" which reaches a worldwide audience.  Plus, we sponsor library programs about our local history, culture, and environment throughout the Beaufort County Library system. 

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The Beaufort District Collection Research Room is for reference purposes only.  Items may not be removed from the BDC Research Room.

Please note: Duplicate copies of some titles are available for check-out in the "Local History" sections at Beaufort County Library branches. Ask for assistance locating these "Local History" sections at your Branch Library.  You might be pleasantly surprised by how much information we share through the "Local History" sections.

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Customary Hours of Operation

10 am - 5 pm Mondays through Fridays Next Known Closures: May 27th, Memorial Day ; July 4th, Independence Day

"The Virtual BDC" is open 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week/ 365 days a year except in a Leap year, when it's 366 days a year! What are the components of the "Virtual BDC?" The BDC web pages; Connections, the BDC blog; the digital “Phosphate, Farms & Family,” Donner photographs; the digital "Lucille Hasell Culp Collection" posted Recommended Reading lists called “Local History Treasures brought to you by the Beaufort District Collection;” Local history & nature pages; and don’t forget the list of the departed in the Online Obituary Index! We're on Facebook and YouTube, too! Here's how to credit our collections!

Areas of Interest

Branch Local History Sections

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The focus of the BDC is on Beaufort District history, culture, and environment. At one point in the past, Beaufort District included all or parts of current Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Allendale counties.  We share duplicate copies of some BDC materials through the Local History sections of our five Branch Libraries.

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Catalog Update (5/22/2013) .We strive to be excellent stewards of the materials entrusted to our care.  One of the major tasks in special collection management is making certain that we have all the materials we own listed in the SCLENDS catalog and that SCLENDS shows all the materials we own.  Such a thorough accounting of our assets is in keeping with national standards for management of a cultural heritage collection.  We are making progress but many items and most of the archival collections remain uncataloged. Feel free to ask us about our holdings.

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Genealogy

Beaufort is a "Burned County": almost all of our pre-Civil War records were destroyed in 1865.  This fact makes genealogy more challenging here.

BDC Genealogy Workshops: "Digging Up Your Civil War Ancestors"

Coming in Summer 2013!  (Ages 12 - up)

Get ready for our “One County Reads The Civil War” project coming this Fall. Identify your Civil War ancestors – whether they wore the Blue or the Gray! Information relating to the United States Colored Troops will be included as well. Grace Cordial, Beaufort District Collection Manager, is the presenter. Free. Basic computer skills helpful. Space is limited.

BDC@ Lobeco Branch 1862 Trask Parkway

Tuesday, June 18th  4—6 pm

Lobeco Branch Meeting Room

Contact: 255-6479, gmolter@bcgov.net Free but REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

BDC@ Beaufort Branch 311 Scott Street

Tuesday, July 9th  10 am—Noon

Gather in the 2nd floor common area

Contact: 255 –6458, sinman@bcgov.net Free but REGISTRATION REQUIRED

 

Read Connections  and Facebook for Family History tips!

 

Local Newspapers and Magazines

The only print magazine subscriptions that the BDC currently receives are the South Carolina Historical Magazine, Carologue, and the Bluffton Breeze.  We have a number of defunct magazine backfiles.  Contact us for further information.

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BDC Map Collection

The BDC currently houses more than 500 maps of the local area.  As of this writing most are listed in the SC LENDS catalog. 

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Collection of 19th Century Illustrated Newspaper Prints

The BDC currently houses about 150 sheets from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper and Harper's Weekly.  Most of the images date from 1861 - 1900.  As of this writing approximately 100 are listed in the SC LENDS catalog.

 

Microfilm Collections

The largest collection of microfilms within the Beaufort County Library is located in the Beaufort District Collection Research Room.  In addition to local newspaper, some local records and census microfilm, we provide access to 18 series of South Carolina Archives microfilm of primary documents. Click here for a guide to our holdings on microfilm of state records. For a description of the individual series of state records click here.

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For a draft inventory of all the microfilm within the Library system click here.

Beaufort District Collection, Beaufort Branch, and Hilton Head Branch libraries have microfilm reader/printers.  The BDC has one microfilm reader/printer in its quarters on the 2nd floor of the 311 Scott Street building.  Access is on a "first come, first served" basis.  Photocopies made from microfilm reader/printers cost .25 per page. 

The Library's holdings on microfilm and microfiche are listed in our online catalog. 

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Please call Beaufort Branch Reference staff at 843-255-6458 or Hilton Head Branch Reference staff at 843-255-6525 for information regarding access to their microfilm holdings.

BDC Vertical Files

We have more than 1200 vertical files of newspaper and magazine articles, pamphlets, and other ephemera about topics of local interest. The list of subject headings used in the BDC vertical file drawers is available in the SCLENDS online catalog.

Obituary Files and Local Newspaper Files

A file of obituary notices drawn from Beaufort area newspapers is maintained in the Beaufort District Collection. The file is not complete and work continues. Current coverage is 1862-1984, 2007 for some local newspapers.  To see the list of newspapers indexed for our obituary files, click here.  The Online Obituary Index is found at http://beaufortcountylibrary.org/obituary-files/public/deadpeople_list.php?a=showall.

The Beaufort District Collection has the largest collection of local newspaper microfilm in the system.  Beaufort Branch and Hilton Head Branch offer some newspapers at their respective locations.  There are no microfilm services offered at Bluffton Branch, Lobeco Branch or St. Helena Branch Libraries. 

Researchers can access the obituary card files in the Beaufort District Collection Research Room.  Photocopies made by customers inside the BDC cost .10 per page.  For customers who find it inconvenient to visit our facility to perform this work for themselves, Beaufort County Library provides copies of obituaries on a fee-for-service basis.  For details, see How to Order Obituaries.

Interested in obituaries in other parts of South Carolina?  Visit the "South Carolina Obituary Resources" page!

Beaufort County Historical Society Papers

The Beaufort District Collection houses over 60 papers presented at meetings of the Beaufort County Historical Society. These provide information on many topics of interest: family histories, towns, historic sites, houses, and major events.  In addition, some of these papers are available on microfilm at Beaufort and Hilton Head Branch Libraries. Only a few are listed in the SCLENDS online catalog.  This is a cataloging project yet to be done.  Please call Beaufort Branch Reference staff at 843-255-6458 or Hilton Head Branch Reference staff at 843-255-6525 for information regarding accessibility to the Beaufort County Historical Society Papers on microfilm at their respective branch.

 

BDC@ The Branches Local History Programs

Throughout the year, the Beaufort District Collection brings in authors and speakers on a variety of topics meeting our mission to share information about the history, culture, and environment of our area.  Please check the Beaufort District Collection Connections blog , our Facebook Page, and/or the Library Event Calendar for details about upcoming programs.  

BDC@ The Branches Local History Program Series - Summer 2013

Customers from any part of Beaufort County are welcomed to attend BDC@ The Branches programs. Programs are free, but please note that some require pre-registration. Most of our offerings are designed to be of interest for those aged 12 and above.

We make presentations and conduct group guided tours, too!

The staff of the Beaufort District Collection welcomes opportunities to make presentations to middle school and high school students, community groups, and church groups about the "Wonders of the Beaufort District Collection," our services and programs.  We can even design a presentation just for your group - with sufficient notice.  Please contact us to discuss your needs.

Upcoming Outreach & Public Relations Activities

Research Group, Historic Beaufort Foundation - May 10th; Computer Session - June 11th

Gen. Richard H. Anderson Chapter, Sons of Confederate Veterans - August 5th

Group tours of our special collections storage and work area can be arranged with sufficient notice.  National standards for special collections restricts public access to archival storage areas.  We can accommodate groups of 5 to 25 members, with 15 adults being the ideal size. Please contact us to arrange a "Behind-the-Scenes" tour as guided tours must be booked in advance.  Call 843-255-6468 to discuss arrangements.

Off-Site Obituary and Reference Services Work is always underway in our Online Obituary Index! Interested in obituaries from other parts of South Carolina? Visit the "South Carolina Obituary Resources" page.

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OBITUARY SERVICES
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Policy

Fees

How to Order Obituaries

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POLICY
(Revised July 1, 2006)

The online index does not include the actual text of the obituary notices. It lists only dates and newspapers in which the notices appear. We limit our obituary service to providing a photocopy of an obituary notice for a deceased individual as found in our local newspaper microfilm. This is a fee based service. We do not search obituary files of other newspapers.

Please bear in mind that there is no legal requirement in the State of South Carolina that an obituary for a deceased individual is published in a newspaper.

Each request for this fee based service is handled as a separate transaction.

Each customer is limited to one obituary per request for obituary assistance.

Most requests for assistance are completed within fourteen working days of the receipt of the request.

There is no limit on the number of separate requests that can be submitted. Each request, however, incurs the charge applied to that level of service (that is, whether or not the deceased individual is listed in our Online Obituary Index). Each request is handled as a separate matter and payment must be received before a subsequent request can be processed.

NOTE: These fees are subject to change.
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FEES (Revised July 1, 2006)
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Our obituary reference service fee structure has two levels based upon the degree of staff time necessary to fulfill your request:

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1) For deceased individuals listed in our Online Obituary Index
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2) For deceased individuals not listed in our Online Obituary Index.

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Please check our Online Obituary Index for the individual's name.

.•For deceased individuals listed in our Online Obituary Index:
If the deceased individual is listed within the current index 1862-1984, September 2007 - present for certain newspapers, please indicate the citation as given in the Online Obituary Index within your request for assistance.

The charge for our obituary service when the deceased person is listed in our Online Obituary Index is five dollars in US currency ($5.00 US). Fees must be paid in US currency.
The $5.00 fee is payable upon receipt of the obituary.

Payment for each obituary must be received before an additional obituary can be processed.

• For deceased individuals not listed in our Online Obituary Index:

If the deceased individual is not listed within the current index roughly covering the years 1862-1984, with some 2007 to the present entries for certain newspapers, it will be necessary for you to provide a precise date of death with your request. We cannot perform this service without an exact date of death. There is no general index to any of the local newspapers.

Sometimes, there is no published obituary notice for a deceased individual within our local newspaper microfilm. In this case, a customer will receive a report listing the names of those deceased persons as given in the seven subsequent issues of the local newspapers starting with the date of death provided by the customer.
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A customer must pay for the search whether or not a published obituary is found during the staff time devoted to reading the newspaper microfilm.
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The charge for the obituary service for a person not listed in our Online Obituary Index is ten dollars in US currency ($10.00 US). Fees must be paid in US currency.

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The $10.00 research fee must be received before the research is done. 
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How to place OBITUARIES ORDERS  
(Revised July 1, 2006)  Obituary Orders submitted by e-mail or postal mail are preferred.

Submit orders by e-mail to: cseabrook@bcgov.net

Submit requests and payments by postal mail to:

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Beaufort District Collection
ATTN: Charmaine Concepcion
Beaufort County Library
311 Scott Street
Beaufort, SC 29902 (USA)

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Checks and money orders are to be made out to

"Beaufort County Library."

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Telephone requests can be submitted by leaving a voicemail message at (843) 255-6468. Please speak clearly and slowly, carefully spelling out the surname of the deceased person. Leave your telephone number so that staff can return your call to verify your name, the name of the deceased, and your mailing address.

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BDC Off-Site Reference Services
We answer one question at a time.

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• Each question is considered separately.
• Each question is subject to the minimal fee based upon the submitter's residency status.
• Fees are incurred as soon as the research process begins.
• Turn-around time is usually seven to ten working days.
• Library Policy requires that our replies are in writing with supporting documentation.
• Replies in the negative incur the same fees as replies in the affirmative.
• Replies are sent by USPS mail.
• We are unable to provide supporting documentation by fax, e-mail, scanning, or via telephone conversation.
We must limit our photocopy services to 20 pages or less per question.

We observe all applicable international copyright laws.

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Fees are to be paid by return mail as soon as you receive a formal reply in writing from staff at the Beaufort County Library.

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Beaufort County Library Card Holders, Residents, and Taxpayers: $5.00 per question / $.50 per photocopy

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United States Residents: $10.00 per question / $.50 per photocopy

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Foreign Nationals : $15.00 per question / $.50 per photocopy

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Fees must be submitted in US currency.  Residency is determined by the address to which the document packet is sent via USPS mail.

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Beaufort District Collection Page | Return to Home Page | Website User Agreement Latest Revision: 24 May 2013 Send comments on this web page to Webmaster. Copyright © 2013, Beaufort County Library, SC All Rights Reserved.
Beaufort County Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC 29902 || Telephone: (843) 255-6465  Fax: (843) 255-9508