This category identifies any form of history about Dataw Island; our archives. Includes professional reports, copies of published articles, photographs, presentations, and works our Foundation members have researched and produced. To view these by tagged, relevant time period, go to our EXPLORE area.
THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF DATAW ISLAND ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT THE SAMS PLANTATION COMPLEX This report documents architectural and archaeological data recovery that has been conducted at five historic…
The history of Sea Island Cotton was presented by Bill Riski of the Dataw Historic Foundation on Sep 30, 2019. In the late 1700’s, a superior type of cotton made…
This presentation on the Sams of Florida was given by Joe Roney in June of 2019. He tells the fascinating story of how Sams descendant M. Seabrook Sams and 3 of his step-cousins walked from Wadmalaw Island, SC to Merritt Island, FL, a distance of over 400 miles, in the 1870’s to start new lives.
The following Chain of Title lists all of the documented owners of Dataw Island from 1682 up through the purchase of Dataw Island by ALCOA South Carolina, Inc. in 1983.
This short news article by Chlotilde R. Martin in 1930 for The News and Courier, Charleston, SC captures the public’s fascination with this dynamic woman. “For three years the people of Beaufort have watched the doings of Miss Kate Gleason with curiosity. If there were no other reason except that one of the world’s multi-millionaires had come to live among them, that fact would be sufficient to hold their interest. But…”
“Having passed the half century mark, I now can look back with more complete understanding and appreciation for the noble, kind, generous, understanding gentleman of the old school whom through the graciousness of Heaven I have the privilege of calling my father.”
Written by Mrs. Travis Johnson (Katie Lucia Sams), great great granddaughter of William and Elizabeth Sams.
This two-part article from the South Carolina Historical Magazine is one of the finest genealogical sources on the Sams Family. It was published in 1963 and authored by two of William Sams’ gggranddaughters. It begins,
“Bonham Sams, II, the progenitor of the Sams family of South Carolina, was baptized 2 February, 1663, in St. Mary’s Parish Church, North Petherton Parish, County of Somerset, England, as “Bonham Sam, son of Thomas Sam” and his wife, Mary Bagge, also of this parish. He was the third generation of his family known to have worshiped here in the faith of the Established Church of England. In St. Mary’s ancient church- yard are buried his parents, also his grandparents—Bonham Samme, I, and his wife, Mary Shutte.
Bonham Sams, II, was the only one of his father’s sons to leave for the New World. His brothers, Thomas, Edward, Daniel, William, and Roger, are buried in England; and from available records it appears that
the male line of descent died out in England by 1735.”
Kate Gleason’s Adventures in a Man’s Job, This American Magazine, by Helen Christine Bennett, 1928. “She wished she had been born a boy, so she decided to do a man’s work—and this is the story of Kate Gleason’s adventures in a man’s job.”
Reporter N.L. Willet begins her article thusly, “Restoration work appeals to my soul and in the doing of it, I am having the time of my life.” So said Miss Kate Gleason of Rochester, New York (and of Beaufort) to Miss Elizabeth Sanders of Montclair, N. J., and myself, who were her guests for the day, as we were all sitting on the top of the cabin of the “Blanche.” This short article goes on to outline the dreams of Miss Kate Gleason for Dataw (today’s spelling) Island some 90 years ago.
This is a copy of the wall display you see when visiting our History & Learning Center on Dataw Island.
ALCOA purchased Dataw Island in 1983, determined to build a premier residential community. This is a copy of the wall display you see when visiting our History & Learning Center on Dataw Island.
This is a copy of the wall display you see when visiting our History & Learning Center on Dataw Island.