Feb 11 – Living History with Harriet Tubman, a dramatic presentation by Maria Dowell, retired Greenville County school teacher. 10:30 a.m.

Feb 18 –Black Heritage Stamp Exhibit. Brenda Brock, who has been a stamp collector for 25 years, will display U.S. and world stamps honoring black history and persons.  Short program about the stamps at 11:00 a.m.

Feb 23 – Tracing Your Roots.  Ruth Ann Butler, retired history teacher and founder and curator of the Greenville Cultural Exchange Center, will present a genealogy workshop.  Ms Butler has traced her own family to Africa and will give tips for tracing your family.
Pre-registration by Feb. 20 required. Call (864)-877-3377 to leave your name and phone number. No charge. 10:00-11:30 am

Feb 24 and 25 - Quilt Show. Quilters from Mrs. Bobbye Mobley’s class from Senior Acton will display their quilts during regular museum hours.

Feb 25 -  Quilter Mrs. Bobbye Mobley will present a 30 min program at 11:00 a.m. to explain codes shown on the Underground Railroad Sampler, a quilt was made by the beginner’s class of Bobbye Mobley at the Senior Action’s Sears Shelter. It was made February 2007 by 6 quilting students.

All programs are free.  Parking available across the street or in the lot behind the museum, accessed from W. Poinsett via Miller Street beside First Baptist Church. For information call the museum at 864-877-3377.

You won’t want to miss our upcoming history opportunities.  This Thursday night, the Spartanburg History Hub will meet for networking and some 1879 history.  On Friday, Lunch & Learn Spartanburg features Aliene Shields and the Civil War Letters of her great-grandfather.  Both of these are at the Chapman Cultural Center (200 E. St. John Street, Spartanburg).  Then we’ll meet on Sunday at the Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport to hear about its history and more from Airport Director Darwin Simpson.  More details are below.

See you this week!
Becky

Becky Slayton, Executive Director
Spartanburg County Historical Association, 864-278-9664
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Spartanburg History Hub: “Murder Takes the Angel Shape of Justice – 1879”
Thursday, January 26, 2012, 7-8 pm; Free

Chapman Cultural Center West Wing Conference Room
     The Spartanburg History Hub is a network of individuals and organizations committed to Spartanburg County history and meets from 7-8 pm one Thursday each odd month except July. An expert speaker joins us to share from their experience and knowledge. This month, Dr. Carol Loar, Assoc. Professor of History at USC Upstate will present ‘Murder Takes the Angel Shape of Justice’: Rape, Reputation and Retribution in Spartanburg County. It discusses the lynching of John J. Moore, who, in 1879, was arrested and charged with the rape and murder of a young woman before being taken from the custody of the sheriff and lynched. The talk explores the events leading up to the lynching as well as local, regional, and national interpretations of Moore’s death.

     There is also time for networking. If you or your organization has a historic event or project, please plan to share during our opening networking time during the meeting. The History Hub is managed by the Spartanburg County Historical Association and you may send your email to us to be added to our electronic Spartanburg History Hub mailing list. scha@spartanburghistory.org
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Lunch & Learn Spartanburg: The Legacy of a Civil War Soldier
Friday, January 27, 2012, 12:30-1:30 pm; $5
Chapman Cultural Center West Wing Conference Room

     Join the Regional History Museum for an hour each month to learn interesting pieces of Spartanburg’s history from various speakers. Bring your lunch and learn from experts! This month, Aliene Shields will share the legacy of a Civil War soldier – her great-grandfather Private Thomas M. Shields. She is the co-author with Mac Wyckoff of the book The Legacy of a Common Civil War Soldier Private Thomas Marion Shields: A Collection of 34 Letters 1861-1865. Private Shields was born in 1834 and grew up in the Fingerville area. This book shares letters among the family during the Civil War which depict the hardships and every day life of a Spartanburg family during the war.
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Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport: Past, Present & Future           

Sunday, January 29, 2012, 3:00-5:00 pm; Free and Open to the Public       

500 Ammons Road, Spartanburg

     Join the Spartanburg County Historical Association at the recently renovated Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport.  Airport Director Darwin Simpson will share an entertaining and informative perspective of the impressive history, expansive present, and optimistic future of the Airport and its impact on the Spartanburg community.

There will be refreshments and a brief, open business meeting.

Gallery Talk: Veteran docent Mikel Murphy examines the imagery in Jasper Johns, an exhibition drawn from the Museum’s extensive collection of work by this acclaimed South Carolina artist. Many of Johns’ major themes will be examined and explained. 

For a look at Sundays@2 programs in early 2012, see greenvillemuseum.org/sundays.html
Admission, of course, is absolutely free. 

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The Greenville County Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Saturday 11-5, Sunday 1-5.
For information, call 864/271-7570 or email info@greenvillemuseum.org.
Admission is always absolutely free.

Chris Vinson, Interim Head, Digital Initiatives and Information Technology at Clemson, and Digital Projects Librarian, will travel to Furman to provide an update about the SC Digital Library.  He would like for us to consider the Upstate presence. Do we want to have a theme for our materials or focus on a certain format? In addition, he mentioned that the Upstate section of the collection does not have many historical manuscripts, and he would like to change that status.  

One suggestion I have is to augment the South Carolina Room’s collection entitled, “Women’s Education in Early 20th Century Greenville”.  I know Furman has Greenville Woman’s College and Chicora College materials that we could share.  Perhaps we could broaden this topic to include nineteenth-century materials or even add another gender.

Please bring your ideas to the meeting.
DebbieLee Landi
Special Collections Librarian and University Archivist
debbielee.landi@furman.edu
library.furman.edu/specialcollections/
Special Collections on Facebook: www.facebook.com/furmanspeccoll
206B James B. Duke Library
Furman University
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC 29613-4100
864-294-2714

Chautauqua veteran Dr. George Frein discusses the eminent psychiatrist’s use of art. The 2:00 program will be followed by a visit to the galleries. In case there’s snow or ice, call the MuseumSnow date: January 22 at 2:00 pm.

For a look at Sundays@2 programs in early 2012, see greenvillemuseum.org/sundays.html
Admission, of course, is absolutely free. 
 
 
The Greenville County Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Saturday 11-5, Sunday 1-5.
For information, call 864/271-7570 or email info@greenvillemuseum.org.
Admission is always absolutely free.

      The Pickens County Museum is excited to announce that registration for our much-awaited 2012 series of Herb Classes with Instructor Robin McGee is now open. These classes, all to be held at the Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center, are designed for adults and are very hands-on. Browse the selection and reserve space in your favorites and join us ready to participate.

     Robin will offer her first class of 2012 FREE of charge as her way of saying “thank you” to this amazing community for the popularity shown for the 2011 Herb series at the mill. Pre-registration is required for all classes and can be easily completed by calling (864) 898-5963. Space is limited so reserve your spots soon.

     Robin McGee is a community herbalist, organic gardener, herbal medicine-maker, writer and herbal educator now living in Anderson, SC.  She has been studying, using and creating herbal medicines and products for more than a decade.  Along with producing her line of herbal products, Wild Earth Botanicals, Robin teaches herbal medicine classes and workshops, does private consultations, leads plant identification walks, and is a popular speaker and storyteller throughout the eastern United States.  She has studied with internationally renowned herbalists, traditional healers and shamans including Rosemary Gladstar, Matthew Wood, Rocio Alarcon, and Dona Enriquetta Contreras.  

     Robin is a member of United Plant Savers, SC Native Plant Society, Upstate Master Naturalist Association, NC Herb Association, and is a contributing writer for the United Plant Savers Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation, the American Herbataurus Society Newsletter, amarjah.com, and the Rutherford County Catalyst.    

     Robin lives with her husband, Mac, on a 500-acre chemical-free farm that is home to their business, Carolina Grassfed Beef & Free-Range Eggs. Her commitment to conservation and sustainability is inspiring; her teachings empowering, enlightening, humorous, and lively. 

Robin McGee’s 2012 Classes at Hagood Mill:

March 29 (Thursday):  Medicine At Our Feet: Common Weeds For Common Needs.  A plant identification walk, 12-3pm, Tuition: FREE – Special to kick off this series of classes. Join us for this fun, informative, and experiential “plant crawl” (an herbalist never gets very far in a few hours) and learn how to use many of our local “weeds” for medicine.  We will explore the immediate area around the Mill, stream, woods, and transition zones at a very gently, easy pace, and discuss how they are here to help give us ease! Must pre-register by calling 864.898.5963.

April 12 (Thursday):  Tree Medicine: Honoring The Tall Standing Ones, 12-3pm, Tuition: $50 ($40 museum members). Pine, White Oak, Wild Cherry, Tulip Poplar, Sassafras, Sweet Gum, Cedar, and Black Walnut are some of the most common trees found in the south.  Traditionally, they have been used for cough, colds, parasites, poison ivy rash, and much, much more. Come and learn some of the magic and medicine that our Tall Standing Ones have to offer. This Tree Identification class will be held outside unless we have heavy rain. Must pre-register by calling (864) 898-5963.

April 26 (Thursday):  Gathering Plants for Medicine: The Wonders of Wildcrafting, 12-3pm, Tuition: $50 ($40 museum members). The fulfillment of gathering is a primal need inherent in all of us, and there is a proper, respectful, sustainable way to harvest plants for medicine.  Even roots can be harvested sustainably!  In this part lecture/part experiential class, students will learn how to prepare for harvesting, how to approach the plants, positive plant identification, and sustainable wildcrafting practices.  Dress for the weather! Must pre-register by calling (864) 898-5963.

May 17 (Thursday):  Making Your Own Healing Salves, 12-3pm, Tuition: $60 ($50 museum members). Since antiquity salves have been used to heal cuts, scrapes, rashes, injuries, sore muscles, stuffy noses, etc.   In this hands-on class you will learn some of the plants used in salves for their healing properties, how to make an infused oil, and create a healing herbal salve to take home! Must pre-register by calling (864) 898-5963.

May 31 (Thursday):  Kitchen Cures: Medicine From The Pantry, 12-3pm, Tuition: $50 ($40 museum members). Many of the spices and seasonings that we have in the cupboard and in the kitchen garden have medicinal properties as well as being delicious.  Did you know that sprinkling powdered cinnamon or cayenne on a cut will stop bleeding?  Join us to learn the diversity of remedies you probably already have and how to use them! Must pre-register by calling (864) 898-5963.

September 13 (Thursday):  Making Your Own Herbal Extracts: Tincture-Making The Wise Woman Way, 12-3pm, Tuition: $ 60 ($50 museum members). Learn how to make your own herbal extracts (tinctures)!  It’s much easier than you think!  In this class you will learn to make potent medicinal tinctures from fresh and dried berries, roots, bark, leaves, and flowers, and the importance of proper labeling and storage.  Price includes a detailed handout, recipes, materials, and instruction.  Students will make a tincture to take home. Must pre-register by calling (864) 898-5963.

September 27 (Thursday):  Barking Up The Right Tree: Making Medicine From Trees, 12-3pm, Tuition: $50 ($40 museum members). Confused about making medicine from the Trees?  Should you use inner bark, outer bark, roots or leaves?  Tincture, syrup or tea?  In this demonstration class you will learn how and when to harvest and how to prepare White Oak, Wild Cherry, Tulip Poplar, Black Walnut, and Sassafras for medicine.  Gain the skills and confidence to go home and do it yourself!  Must pre-register by calling (864) 898-5963.

October 11 (Thursday):  Herbal Baby & Childcare, 12-3pm, Tuition: $50 ($40 museum members). Teething, fever, colic, diaper rash, irritability, colds, flu, sore throat, coughing…the list goes on and on.  As parents and grandparents we hate to see our little ones feeling miserable.  Thankfully, nature has provided us with wonderful green allies to give ease!  Learn to use simple, gentle healing herbs that are especially great for children! Must pre-register by calling (864) 898-5963.        

October 25 (Thursday):  Herbs for Winter Wellness, 12-3pm, Tuition: $50 ($40 museum members). Did you know that common garden Thyme was used in hospitals as a disinfectant long before the invention of those aerosol spray?  Or that many people successfully use Elderberry instead of over-the-counter and prescription drugs for influenza?  Join us as we discuss herbs and herbal products you can make to use for prevention, at the first signs of sickness, and for full-blown illness.  Learn how to make your own hand sanitizer and room spray that is safe for you and the environment! Must pre-register by calling (864) 898-5963.

November 8 (Thursday):  Syrups: Easy Herbal Medicine, 12-3pm, Tuition: $60 ($50 museum members). Herbal syrups are delicious and potent natural medicines that are easy to make, and one of the easiest methods of getting herbs into kids (and finicky adults).  We will discuss some of the more common plants/plant parts used as syrups, taste several sample syrups, and students will make a medicinal syrup to take home.  Price includes a detailed handout, recipes, and instruction.  Must pre-register by calling (864) 898-5963.

     Pre-registration is required and you may register in person or by calling the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963. Tuition may be paid by cash, check or charge.  Make check payable to the Pickens County Museum or call the Museum to use your Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. All classes will be held at the Hagood Mill. Full Tuition must be paid before first class. Students will be notified if a class is cancelled or filled. If class is cancelled all tuition will be reimbursed to registered student. No tuition reimbursements after start of class.

     The Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center is located just 3 miles north of Pickens or 5 ½ miles south of Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy 11 off SC Hwy 178 at 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens, SC, and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 until 4:00, to tour the buildings and grounds and to visit the Mill Site Gift Shop.