Charleston Time Machine April Events

Dr. Nic Butler will offer two lectures this month:

The Life and Legacy of Thomas Grimball (1744-1783) discusses one of the least remembered of the Grimball family of Edisto, Major Thomas Grimball. He was a lawyer, sheriff, militia officer, and hero of the American Revolution whose legacy merits attention. Join CCPL’s historian, Dr. Nic Butler, for the story of Major Grimball’s life and his connections to the roots of jazz and the history of American music. This talk will take place twice this month; first at the Edisto Library on Thursday, April 6th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and again at the Main Library on Thursday, April 13th from 6 – 7 p.m.

Dr. Butler’s second lecture topic this month is From Charleston Slavery to African Freedom: Two Amazing True Stories. Dr. Butler will discuss of the lives of two men, John Kizell and Boston King, who escaped slavery in the Charleston area during the American Revolution and made their way back to Africa. Two centuries ago these pioneering men helped to establish communities for African Americans who sought to return to their motherland. This talk will be held at the John’s Island Regional Library on Tuesday, April 11th from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.

Also, don’t forget to tune in to WYLA 97.5 FM to hear Dr. Butler’s half hour local history radio program. You can also view the live stream at YouTube.com on Saturday and Sundays at 11 a.m. or check out the podcast version of the radio program on his blog, CharlestonTimeMachine.org.

First Steps In Genealogy at the John’s Island Regional Library

Have you ever thought of tracing your family’s history and wondered, “Where do I begin?” Let Marianne Cawley of the South Carolina Room show you how to take the first steps in climbing your family tree. No registration required.

When: Wednesday, March 29th at 11 a.m.

Where: John’s Island Regional Library, 3531 Maybank Highway

Charleston Time Machine Explores Women’s History This Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, CCPL’s historian Dr. Nic Butler uses the stories of real women to illuminate the narrow range of legal rights afforded to women in the first two centuries of South Carolina, and the ancient European traditions that constrained the lives of the female half of our population.

When: Tuesday, March 28 from 6 – 7 p.m.
Where: Main Library, 68 Calhoun Street.

Resources for African American Genealogy

Success in genealogy is often a matter of discovering where to look for information. Come explore some useful sites and sources for learning about your African American ancestor with Marianne Cawley, manager of the South Carolina Room. For more information about the event, contact the South Carolina Room at scroom@ccpl.org or 843-805-6956.

When: Saturday, February 25th, 2017 at 3 p.m.

Where: John’s Island Regional Library, 3531 Maybank Highway

Charleston Time Machine January Events

Dr. Nic Butler will offer three lectures this month:

From Charleston Slavery to African Freedom: Two Amazing True Stories, will trace the amazing journeys of Boston King and John Kizell, two African men who escaped slavery in eighteenth-century South Carolina and pioneered the trail for other ex-slaves to return to Africa. This program will be held on Monday, February 9th at 1:30 p.m. at the Berkeley County Library’s Daniel Island Library as part of their new local history series.

His second program in February in honor of Black History Month is First Steps Towards Civil Rights Equality in Charleston, 1866-1870. This talk focuses on some forgotten Civil Rights activity that took place in our community in the aftermath of the Civil War, when a few brave folks took deliberate steps to test new federal legislation that promised equal rights for all. All are welcome, and we plan to have a crowd of 8th graders from Haut Gap Middle School present. The talk will take place on Tuesday, February 14th at 10:15 a.m. at the Johns Island Regional Library.

Dr. Butler’s last event this month is Opera in Charleston, Part 4: The Academy of Music, which will be held on Tuesday, February 28th at 6 p.m. at the Main Library. This installment of his series on local opera history will look at operatic performances in Charleston in the decades after the Civil War. By then, opera was well established in the United States, but the rise of Vaudeville gave opera a healthy run for its money.

Also, don’t forget to tune in to WYLA 97.5 FM to hear Dr. Butler’s half hour local history radio program. You can also view the live stream at YouTube.com on Saturday and Sundays at 11 a.m. or subscribe to his new Charleston Time Machine podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher app.

For complete details about Dr. Butler’s upcoming program schedule, visit his blog at CharlestonTimeMachine.org.