Lowcountry Digital Library

Digitizing and making accessible unique and historic items from institutions across the coastal region of South Carolina

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Red, red sunsets

Color slide of a brilliant sunset in late Autumn reflecting across a waterway, 1973; 5 x 5 cm. 

Image from The Lucille Hasell Culp Collection, held by Beaufort County Library.

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Photograph of Bill Saunders Speaking

Color photograph of Bill Saunders with a woman holding a bouquet of flowers.

From the William ("Bill") Saunders Papers, circa 1950 - 2004 held at the Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston.

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Arbor Day

An unidentified man wearing a coat and hat stands beside a tree. There is a Pepsi Cola sign nailed to the tree. Happy Arbor Day!

From the Miriam DeCosta Seabrook and Herbert U. Seabrook Papers, 1882-1995 held at the Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston.

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Otranto Plantation, 1932

Photograph taken by Morton Brailsford Paine in 1932. Otranto Plantation is a historic plantation house located in Hanahan, Berkeley SC and built in the 18th century. The house was destroyed by a fire in 1934 but was meticulously restored based on photographs. The Charleston Museum Plantation Photographs collection is comprised of black and white photographs of Charleston County plantations, plantation ruins, and their grounds.

Image from the Charleston Museum Plantation Photographs collection, held by The Charleston Museum.

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Administrative Professionals Day

Please take some time today to thank the administrative professionals in your life. Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

From the Charleston Naval Shipyard Photographs held at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum.

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Shakespeare Memorial Building, Stratford-on-Avon

Photograph is taken from across the River Avon between 1892-1912. Title and “356 (3010)” on label. It is alleged that William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, was born in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 on St. George’s Day (April 23rd) and died on the same day in 1616.

Image from the Keystone View Company Lantern Slides, held by the College of Charleston Libraries.

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Easter Postcard

Postcard. Easter commemorative - illustration of Easter egg with flowers and chicks. Mailed from New Orleans, Louisiana.

From the Bettie La Barbe Postcard Collection held at the Charleston Archive at CCPL.

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Passover Eve

Black-and-white offset print reproduction depicting a Passover seder. From A sketch of the history of Judaism and Christianity in the light of modern research and criticism by George Thomas Bettany. Today marks the eve of the first day of Passover.

From the William A. Rosenthall Judaica Collection - Prints and Photographs from the College of Charleston Libraries.

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Sweetgrass rice fanner with pine knots

Multiple views of a circular, flat sweetgrass basket with a handle made of pine needles wrapped in palmetto leaves; basket contains accents of pine needles throughout and artist has incorporated decorative pine knots; center of basket contains a combination of sweetgrass, pine needles, and bulrush, sewn with palmetto leaf; label on back reads "HAND MADE BY Ida Mae Bennett." 

The Avery Sweetgrass Basket Collection holds significant modern examples of a centuries-old craft. Following African traditions, baskets of coiled grasses were originally produced by slaves on Lowcountry plantations for agricultural use. Over time, sweetgrass baskets have become artistic expressions that retain the African aesthetic -- a symbol of African American culture and a signature of the Lowcountry region. Alongside the baskets, the Avery Research Center has gathered visual and oral histories of the modern basketmakers and their families. 

Image from The Avery Sweetgrass Basket Collection, held by The Avery Research Center.

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Boy Reading "The King's Wish" by Benjamin Elkin

Black and white photograph of a young African American boy reading "The King's Wish" by Benjamin Elkin.

From the Cleveland L. Sellers, Jr. Papers, 1934 - 2003 held at the Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston.

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Partially-constructed Cooper River Bridge

Photographs from a scrapbook recording the construction of the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge. Completed in 1929, the bridge spanned the Cooper River to connect Charleston and Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Image #194 (2.75" x 4.5"): "3-27-29. From top of Pier 6, looking toward Drum Island viaduct and Town Creek Span. Pier 5 in foreground."; Image #195 (2.75" x 4.5"): "Second 150 HO gas. Engine starting down thru deck of Town Creek Span. (See 188)"; Image #196 (4.5" x 2.75"): "3-28-29. rear view of #195. (See 188)";Three 4.5" x 2.75" B/W photos numbered 194, 195, 196

Image from Photographic Record of the Cooper River Bridge, held by The Charleston Archive at CCPL.

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Shrimp Boats in Beaufort, S.C.

Black and white negative of three shrimp boats, Miss St. Augus----, Miss Nancy, and the Miss Lillian, 1941-1981.

From the the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection held at the Beaufort County Library.

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Souvenir of Charleston S.C.: America's Most Historic City

Souvenir program for what appears to be a U.S. Navy event that occurred in Charleston during the Coolidge administration. Focuses on the U.S. Navy, with naval history and lists of ships and ship personnel, and historical information about the Charleston Navy Yard. Also provides Charleston history and information on various sites, including churches. Advertisements for local businesses, many of which are directed specifically to the Navy visitors, are interspersed throughout.

From the Historic Charleston Foundation Monographs and Photographs held at the Margaretta Childs Archives at Historic Charleston Foundation.

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Sketch from Albert Simons Sketchbook, 1912-1915

Sketchbook includes sketches of buildings and architectural features in Europe and Maryland by Charleston architect Albert Simons.

Image from the Albert Simons Papers, 1908-1977, held by College of Charleston Libraries.

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Assembly of Men Discussing Lumber

A black and white photograph of a large crowd gathered around a table of speakers having an assembly. It appears that they are discussing lumber that is laid out in front of the table. There are many parked Ford Company Model T automobiles along the street. Photograph was likely taken at Harrison's Farm in 1929 in Charleston, S.C.

From the South Carolina Historical Society Visual Materials held at the South Carolina Historical Society.

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Fotografía de un festival comunitario / Photograph of Community Festival

En español --

Fotografía en color de un evento organizado por la comunidad católica de Charleston para recaudar fondos destinados a ayudar a las víctimas de un desastre natural en Latinoamérica. En la fotografía se observan dos parejas bailando frente a una pequeña audiencia. En la parte posterior hay un carro de comida. El evento se realizó en la iglesia Santo Tomás en North Charleston. 

In English --

Color photograph of an event organized by the Hispanic Catholic community to raise money to help victims of disaster in Latin America. The photograph shows two couples dancing in front a small audience and a food truck in the background. The festival was held at Saint Thomas Catholic Church in North Charleston. 

Image from the Aquí Estamos (Here We Are) Digital Collection, held by The Citadel.

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Librarians Entering Main Library

In anticipation of National Library Workers’ Day, here is an photograph of three librarians entering the Charleston County Public Library, Main Library, 94 Rutledge Avenue.

From the Images from the Records of the Charleston County Public Library held at the Charleston Archive at CCPL.