“Birthing A Community” Exhibit opens Sunday at Penn Center

From Rosalyn Browne (843) 838-2474
rbrowne@penncenter.com

Penn Center Presents Exhibit on Midwives for Women’s History Month

The York W. Bailey Museum at the Penn Center will present an exhibition entitled “Birthing a Community: Fairfield County Midwives” in partnership with the Fairfield County Museum from March 15th to April 25, 2009.

The exhibition will open on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. with a reception and lecture by the curator of the exhibit, Michaela Pilar Brown from the Fairfield County Museum. The South Carolina Federation of Museums presented an Award of Achievement to the Fairfield County Museum for the historical value of the exhibition. This is the first time an exhibition will feature the history of midwifery and the Midwives Training School, certified by the state of South Carolina, that was established at the Penn School in the early 1920’s for hundreds of women. “Our community should never forget the extraordinary contributions of the local midwives who made many personal sacrifices to bring babies into the world and to provide health care for indigent women who had no access to hospitals or doctors,” said Rosalyn Browne, Director of History and Culture at Penn Center.

“Birthing a Community” is an exhibition on the history of midwifery in Fairfield and Beaufort Counties from slavery to the twentieth century. Unusual tools of the trade, such as a birthing chair dating back to the 1800’s, historical photographs of midwives in training at Benedict College and Penn School, herbal remedies used in childbirth, and medical items used by Dr. York W. Bailey of St. Helena Island and other Fairfield County physicians will be on display. Brown Studios and the Fairfield County Museum will also present a documentary film on midwives featuring interviews with their descendants.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Penn Center will present the Agnes C. Sherman Award to Rebecca Jackson, the last of a generation of midwives still living today on St. Helena Island, SC. on Sunday night after the opening at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Sing program in Frissell Community House. This event is open to the public.

Heritage Library’s New Address

Norma Harberger sent me two messages to share with the group.

1) The Heritage Library is moving next month.

2) Blanche Sullivan is the new President of the Heritage Library.   

this us this message. 

Please note that beginning April 1, 2009 the Heritage Library will have a new address:

The Heritage Library Foundation
852 William Hilton Parkway, 2A
Hilton Head Island, S.C.  29928

The Heritage Library will be closed for moving Monday, March 30, 2009 and will reopen April 6, 2009. 

Minutes for Feb. 26, 2009 Meeting

Thanks very much to those who came to the get-together on Thursday, Feb. 26th.  St. Helena’s Church certainly raised the bar for the next host/hostess of our little gathering with all the delicious goodies!  Thank you very much, Bob, for serving as host and tour guide.  -Grace

Donna Alley has submitted the following minutes for our meeting last week.  Please note your corrections and additions so we can make necessary adjustments at our next meeting.

The meeting began at 3:00 PM, with Grace Cordial, Beaufort County Library, facilitating.

                                                           

Host:   Bob Barrett, Archivist, St. Helena’s Episcopal Church

 

Attendees:     Beaufort Country Library, delegate Grace Cordial

                        Beaufort City Planning, delegate Donna Alley

                        Beaufort County Planning, delegate Terri Norris

                        USC-B, delegate Mae Mendoza

                        Beaufort County Historical Society, delegate Iva      Welton

                        Bluffton Historical Preservation Society, Inc., delegate Maureen Richards

                        Parris Island Museum, delegate David Smoot

                        Colin Brooker, Independent Researcher 

 

Grace Cordial reminded all that the “blog” is functioning and that entries may be sent to her to share with others. She usually checks on Fridays for comments.  She tries to update the blog at least twice a month.

 

Grace Cordial expressed an interest in our member organizations participating in the Beaufort Three Century (BC3) project in whatever way each organization sees fit.

 

            Donna Alley said she is serving on a committee charged with writing a neighborhood book about “The Old Commons” neighborhood as part of the Beaufort Three Century project.

 

It was decided that the group will meet again in approximately six months.

 

Maureen Richards volunteered to host in Bluffton.  Grace will poll members via the blog for possible dates and times in July.

  

Bob Barrett presented several remarkable items in St. Helena’s archival collection. After his informative presentation, he gave us a tour of the historic sanctuary.