The Laurens County Museum Revolutionary War Lecture Series continues! Dr. Erick Nason, retired Army Special Forces Noncommissioned Officer and military historian, will speak at the Laurens County Museum on Thursday , March 21, at 7:00 pm. His lecture for the evening will be about “Unconventional Warfare in the Colonies”. A Dessert and Coffee Bar will be available for all attendees.
The South Carolina Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) is the sponsor for the lecture. The complimentary Dessert and Coffee Bar will be provided by the SAR. Joe Babb from Gray Court is the SC Sons of the Revolution organization representative who has worked the museum to present this exceptional program.
Dr. Nason is a published author and will have his books available for sale. His books include an autobiography covering his time in Special Forces in Iraq and his series “In the Presence of Wolves”. The series follows his main character from the early days of Roger’s Rangers to his time serving in the American Revolution with Francis Marion.
In addition to his distinguished military career, Nason’s degrees include a BA in World History, a MS in Military Studies - the American Revolution, and a doctorate in education, specializing in teaching history and leadership. His area of expertise is colonial warfare, covering the French and Indian War to the American Revolution.
An avid reenactor since 1987, Dr. Nason is the present commander of the 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Continental Line and the Chairman of the Continental Line that includes reenacting groups from Maine to Georgia. He is very involved in South Carolina organizations that educate, preserve battlegrounds, and research our Revolutionary War history.
The Laurens County Museum is located at 116 South Public Square, Laurens, SC. There is a suggested donation of $5 for those not members of the Museum. Members and those 18 years of age and under are free. Membership in the museum insures the wonderful programs like this. Museum memberships will be available that evening. For more information, call (864)681-678 or go to www.LaurensCountyMuseum.org.
##
Celebrating Native American Traditions Past and Present Arts Programs at the Laurens County Museum on March 16
Laurens, SC - Demonstrations of Native American arts including traditional instruments, basketry, music, songs, storytelling, and the Cherokee language will highlight the day at the Laurens County Museum on Saturday, March 16, 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM. This exciting event, the “Celebrating Native American Traditions Past and Present” arts program, will be hosted by the museum in cooperation with the PAIA Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of SC in Gray Court through a SC Arts Commission Folkart and Traditional Arts grant. Attendance is free and open to the public.
Dr. Laura Green, Folklife and Traditional Arts Director of the SC Arts Commission, noted of the events, “This historic collaboration between the Laurens County Museum and the Piedmont American Indian Association-Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina (PAIA) is mutually beneficial to all. The Laurens County Museum is making a living connection between its extensive Native American collections and the county’s contemporary Cherokee community, while supporting the preservation and presentation of vibrant cultural traditions. …..Visitors will enjoy the chance to learn firsthand about the local Native American heritage in their midst. The South Carolina Arts Commission is pleased to provide support for this exciting slate of programs through a Folklife & Traditional Arts Project Grant. Folk and traditional arts uniquely embody important knowledge and practices that are at the heart of a cultural community’s identity and way of being in the world.”
The 2024 portion of the “Celebrating Native American Traditions Past and Present” on March 16 will include the following performances and demonstrations. The Native American artists and performers coming to Laurens are from around South Carolina and are all well known for excellence in their crafts.
The Laurens County Museum will be filled with wonderful music and arts at the times listed below on March 16.
10:00 AM - “Ecology and the Native Way of Life” with flute playing by Daniel Garvin
11:45 AM - Cherokee Storytelling with Nancy Basket
1:30 PM - Drumming, Singing, Flute Playing by Keepers of the Word
2:45 PM - Cherokee Language by Blackhawk; Cherokee Songs with Shelly Shafer
Other programs in the “Celebrating Native American Traditions Past and Present” series occurred in October 2023. Field trips for Laurens County fourth graders to the PAIA Lower Eastern Nation Tribal Grounds of SC in Gray Court, SC, occurred on March 6 and will occur March 20, 2024.
These events highlighting traditional Native American art, crafts, and traditions are made possible by a grant from the SC Arts Commission. All programs and workshops are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Laurens County Museum at (864) 681-3678, or go to www.Laurenscountymuseum.org. The Laurens County Museum is located at 116 South Public Square, Laurens, SC 29360. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
