Heritage Library Foundation

08/31/2026

Born on this day in 1885, Edwin DuBose Heyward (August 31, 1885 – June 16, 1940) was an American writer best remembered for his 1925 novel *Porgy*. He and his wife, playwright Dorothy Heyward, reworked it into a stage play in 1927 under the same title. The two later teamed up with composer George Gershwin to transform the story again, this time into the 1935 opera *Porgy and Bess*. The work eventually made its way to the screen as the 1959 film *Porgy and Bess*.

Beyond *Porgy*, Heyward wrote poetry along with other novels and plays, and he also penned the beloved children’s book *The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes* (1939).



**Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

08/24/2026

Whether you’re visiting Hilton Head for a fall weekend, back for your annual getaway, or you’ve called this island home for years, this is your invitation to step into the past and feel it up close!

Join us for two living history experiences unlike anything else on Hilton Head. Who’s buried in Hilton Head’s oldest cemetery? What really happened at Fort Mitchel? Come and experience the real places and learn more about what shaped the island you know and love.

Spots are limited so each tour stays personal, immersive, and unforgettable. Join us Tuesdays and Thursdays this fall, with dates from September through November, for just $10 a ticket!

Grab your ticket now and come experience the Lowcountry’s hidden history this fall!

08/16/2026

Did you know that in Columbia, SC, in 1946, black voters like George Elmore, originally from Holly Hill, tried to cast their ballots in the August primary, but were denied by Democratic Party officials? In response, Harold Boulware, leader of the state NAACP legal committee, filed a class action lawsuit known as Elmore v. Rice. Federal Judge J. Waites Waring ruled in Elmore’s favor, stating it was "time for South Carolina to rejoin the Union."

Image courtesy of www.justiceforallsc.org

08/14/2026

The “Ring Fight” | August 1776

In August 1776, a small scouting party led by Captain Andrew Pickens was ambushed near the Cherokee Lower Town of Tamassee in present-day Oconee County, South Carolina.

Outnumbered, Pickens arranged his men in two concentric circles, with one group firing while the other reloaded. The clever strategy created continuous fire and helped his men hold their ground until reinforcements arrived.

The encounter became known as the “Ring Fight” and remains a memorable example of courage, quick thinking, and battlefield strategy during the Revolutionary War.

07/31/2026

A huge shout-out to Vagabond Cruise for teaming up with us this summer for our historical boat tours. Today marked our final event of the season, but there are plenty more Vagabond Cruise adventures to check out before we’re back together this fall with our history tour partnership.

Thank you, Jack, for bringing the past to life with your knowledge and performance, and thank you to the entire Vagabond Cruise crew for an unforgettable ride and such warm hospitality.

07/30/2026

Meet Captain Woody Collins and hear one of many Hilton Head Island’s stories firsthand. These stories are best told through the people who’ve lived them.

The Heritage Library is capturing these voices through our **“Our Storied Island”** series, sharing the histories, memories, and moments that have shaped life here on the island.

Watch the full video and series here: https://heritagelib.org/video-stories

We’re continuing to add to the project, and we’d love your help.
Whose story should we tell next?
Is there a longtime resident, community leader, Gullah Geechee tradition-bearer, business owner, artist, or family with deep roots here who comes to mind?

Our Storied Island Hilton Head Island’s history can be told through our historic sites, lectures, and classes but what makes us special is the real connection between places and people. The descendants of many of the families that made history in the past live here today. We have a unique opportun...

07/21/2026

We’ve partnered with Vagabond Cruise to add an additional event this week due to popular demand. Please join us on the 23rd or the 30th for possibly the last two events this summer.

Step aboard the Vagabond for a live narrated Revolutionary War history cruise in partnership with the Heritage Library celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary.

07/16/2026

Every family's story deserves to be preserved—for generations to come.

The Heritage Library is proud to share this free community partner event hosted by the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation and Lowcountry Legal Volunteers and sponsored by South Atlantic Bank & Federal Home Loan Bank.

Eligible participants can receive assistance creating a will at no cost, and an expert on Heirs' Property and Family Land Preservation will be available to answer questions and provide guidance on protecting family land and preserving your family's legacy.

We encourage you to review the information below for eligibility and registration details and to share this opportunity with family, friends, and neighbors who may benefit.

Find out if you qualify at: www.lowcountrylegalvolunteers.org/find-out-if-you-qualify/

07/04/2026

As we mark America’s 250th birthday, let's pause, not just for fireworks and flags, but for the quieter feeling underneath it all: gratitude, ache, pride, and hope braided together.

Independence isn’t a date in a textbook. It’s a choice we renew—sometimes with confidence, sometimes with trembling hands. It’s the belief that people should speak freely, worship openly, pursue opportunity, and challenge power when it forgets who it serves. And it’s the weight of living up to that promise in the small, daily ways we treat one another.

We’ve made extraordinary progress, and we still have work to do. Freedom has widened because ordinary people kept showing and organizing, voting, serving, standing up for each other, even when it cost them something.

Independence isn’t only separating from something, it’s committing to something: rights bound to duties, service over slogans. So at 250, let’s do more than look back. Let’s honor the founding with the most meaningful tribute: recommitment.

Explore Your Ancestral Heritage You can also search the catalog (use HERITAGELIB as the library name) Uncover Your Genealogical Roots Start your journey with access to experienced genealogists, online subscription databases, and over 5000 books, maps, magazines, and articles. Uncover Discover Rich H...