CSU alums serve as caretakers of Berkeley County History

Two Charleston Southern graduates serve as caretakers for the Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center, located in Moncks Cover. Chelsy Clark Proper ’13 is the museum director, and Shanda Phillips ’89 is chairman of the Board of Directors.

Located within Old Santee Canal Park, the museum offers exhibits ranging from fossils, rotating artists, World War I, the American Revolution and the involvement of Francis Marion, known as the Swamp Fox, to information about the Santee Canal, the Francis Marion National Forest, and more.

Travel through time with them by visiting the museum. For more info,  berkeleymuseum.org.

Proper Turns Passion Into Career

Chelsy Proper, museum director, Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center

How long have you worked at Berkeley Co. Museum?
This May will be five years!

What’s your favorite thing about working at the museum, your favorite exhibit/time period?

I love being able to share history with visitors from all walks of life. My research interests are the social histories of medieval Britain, the Napoleonic Wars, and WWI, as well as death/mourning history, but I’ve also really come to appreciate and be interested in the American colonial period in the last decade. We have a great American Revolution exhibit here at the Museum, and it’s actually being revamped this year.

 What do you think people would be surprised to learn is at the Berkeley County Museum?

People are often surprised by our amount of Revolutionary War history – I certainly was! Berkeley County was home to the most skirmishes and battles in South Carolina during that war. The Museum is the current information hub for Fort Fair Lawn, a British earthen fort built during the Revolution and still standing about a mile from our back door.

Where did you work before the Berkeley County Museum?

My first museum jobs were internships while I was a student at CSU. I interned at Farmington Plantation in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, for one summer, and during my final semester at CSU, I interned at the Old Exchange Building in Charleston. After that internship, they offered me a job, and I worked there for about a year. From October 2013 to April 2022, I worked at the Powder Magazine, also in Charleston. I started at the Berkeley County Museum in 2019. From 2019 to 2022 I worked at both museums; I became full-time here in April 2022. I am also a freelance reporter/researcher for the Doughboy Foundation and have been working on Stories of Service, a catalog of American veterans who served in WWI.

Did you always want to work in a museum?

I knew I always wanted to work in history in some capacity. While studying for my degree at CSU, I also knew I didn’t want to be a teacher. Working in a museum seemed like the best option: I could share my knowledge with the public but also continue to learn on my own. 

What advice would you give to someone who thinks they would like to work in a museum?

Visit museums! I’ve been in the museum field for over a decade, but I still visit museums whenever I travel. And have an interest/specialty (exhibit design, fundraising, etc.), but don’t limit yourself to that. A job in a museum often involves lateral moves or more varied work than the job title suggests. Don’t pass up a museum job because it’s visitor services, and you want to be a curator.

Fun Fact:

My history professors at CSU were some of the smartest people I’ve ever met – particularly Dr.  John Kuykendall. His classes have (or at least had) a reputation for being difficult, but they sure are worth it.

Phillips Brings Community Service to Role at Museum

Shanda Phillips, chairman, Board of Directors for Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center

What are your duties as the board chair?

Leadership and motivating board members and museum personnel. Supporting and supervising the Museum Director. Seeking out support for the museum, through funding, volunteers, and members. Spokesperson and supporter of the organization. 

How did you get interested in serving with Berkeley County Museum?

 My employer Santee Cooper encouraged all employees to become active volunteers in the community. Due to my interest in history, preservation and as a lifelong resident of Berkeley County, I chose the museum to give back to the community and work on the preservation of Berkeley County’s rich history. I also have a love of museums, so it was a perfect fit. 
 

What are some of your favorite activities/exhibits at the museum?

My favorite activity is sharing the history of Berkeley County with the visitors of the museum. Speaking with the visitors, sharing the stories of historical people of Berkeley County, from Francis Marion to Maude Callen. Sharing the creation of Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion and the formation of Santee Cooper. The exhibits that feature simple things from everyday life such as a spoon made from a shell used by Native Americans are my favorite items. I would not be able to choose a single favorite exhibit; each tell a different story and have special items.   

What would you encourage others to do who might be interested in serving on boards? 

Select an area in your community or subject that you have a true passion for, find the organization, and offer your unique skills to them. A successful board needs diverse members who bring a variety of job skills and experience to the board. Together the board can lead the organization to successful goals. Seeing the organization grow and ensuring the sustainability is a rewarding experience for the board members, staff, and the community.

Why are museums/historical sites important to communities?

Museum/historical sites tells us about our past, from everyday life to larger than life people. Museum/historical sites give us the closest opportunity to experiencing our history. Our past is not perfect and can be painful at times. However, ensuring these sites and exhibits are preserved, we are educating ourselves and future generations of mistakes and successes. 

Parting words of wisdom:

I would encourage everyone to visit a museum or historical site. You may find a segment of time or artifact that will spark an interest that you never knew existed before, that will enrich your life. 

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