We have all heard of people who accomplish whatever they set out to do. They even accomplish things they didn’t necessarily start out to do, but they come out on the winning side of those endeavors as well. They are an insurmountable force and the rest of us are left in their wake as they blow by us in their pursuit of whatever has caught their interest at that particular moment. Miss Beulah Glover is one such person and what she has left behind is a treasure trove of what life was like “back when” and her perspective of it all.
September 12, 2024 the Colleton County Historical and Preservation Society honored Ms. Glover for all she did to maintain the history of Colleton County. Debi Gilliam, President of CCHAPS welcomed all present and Elizabeth Laney presented the program about the accomplishments and long lasting contributions Ms. Beulah Glover made in Colleton County. Ms. Laney is a historian and genealogist, among her other qualifications.
Miss Glover was born on August 17, 1887 and died January 14, 1991 at the age of 103. She lived a long life with a long list of achievements. She work in a millinery shop (making hats), and was a prolific photographer. She worked at the The Press & Standard for almost two decades and did practically everything there. She was a society editor, a feature writer, a copy editor, and also sold advertisement. It was also said she ran the office when Mr. Smoak was gone. There are seven books in total filled with narratives from Ms. Glover about life in Colleton County. One can access her photography collection through colletonlibrary.org and view her photos (digitally scanned) at the South Caroliniana Library. She had her own photo studio, the Foto-Nook, and sold some of her images as postcards. She also worked as a photojournalist and sold her images to the “Walterboro newspaper.” Glover was also part of the Department of Public Welfare at its beginnings well before it became the Department of Social Services.
Adding to her accomplishments, Glover also was instrumental in a local radio station, WALD in Colleton County. “Neighborhood News” was a five day a week, 15 minute program filled with the neighborhood happenings from Colleton County. Ms. Glover was the “Neighborhood News” reporter giving an account from birthdays to the sometimes darker side of public safety.
Unfortunately, in the 1950’s Ms. Glover’s eyesight began to decline and her involvement in photography lessened. It was at this time she began her work as a local historian. In 2005 Glover was presented with the Distinguished Colletonian Award.
Without the work and observations of Ms. Beulah Glover, there would be aspects of Colleton County that would be forever lost to time. However, we are fortunate that she left a legacy of what life was like when she was here.
