Tucked inside the lobby of a Beaufort arts venue this month are exhibits offering a window into Pat Conroy’s teaching life.
A photo essay of the Beaufort author’s time teaching on Daufuskie Island is on display at USC Beaufort Center for the Arts.
Another exhibit at the arts center includes letters, journal entries and other Conroy writing in which he described his experience learning, teaching and advocating for educators.
“This exhibit demonstrates how much Conroy admired, encouraged and championed educators and educational equality,” an event release said.
The exhibits are a primer for the second annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, a four-day event beginning Oct. 19 in Beaufort.
The author of “Prince of Tides” and “Beach Music” died in March 2016. An inaugural literary festival was held last year, patterned after a weekend celebration of the writer’s 70th birthday in 2015.
The photo exhibit includes 1970 snapshots from Billy and Paul Keyserling of Conroy’s year on Daufuskie Island. Billy Keyserling originally composed the photo essay for a college class.
One of Conroy’s former students, Sallie Ann Robinson, shared photos of the class’s trip to Washington D.C. And some newly displayed photos show the Daufuskie students exploring Beaufort.
As part of the theme the “Transformative Power of Education,” the festival will include a tour of the former Beaufort High School building where Conroy once taught. And to mark the 50th anniversary of Conroy’s graduating class at The Citadel, the festival will screen “Lords of Discipline,” followed by a discussion with his Citadel classmates and professors.
USCB and Beaufort Theatre Company will perform “Conrack the Musical” during the festival, an adaptation of the movie made from Conroy’s book “The Water is Wide.” Bill Dufford, Conroy’s principal at Beaufort High during the 1960s, will speak after the performance on Oct. 22.
Remembering Pat Conroy — 1945-2016
Beaufort's love affair with Pat Conroy ☙ Beaufort's prince, Pat Conroy, goes home ☙ Conroy's wife organizes memorial event at Waterfront Park ☙ Pat Conroy’s last days ☙ State of Surprise: Pat Conroy’s love letter to South Carolina ☙ Pat Conroy literary festival dates set ☙ Pat Conroy in his high school years in Beaufort: A tribute from principal Bill Dufford ☙ In his honor, Conroy’s ‘losing season’ teammates revisit the moment at The Citadel ☙ Cartoonist Robert Ariail's tribute to Conroy ☙ Pat Conroy mourned by dignitaries, cadets and friends with ‘personal grief’ ☙ Ervena Faulkner: A meal to mourn Pat Conroy ☙ SC lawmakers honor Conroy following funeral ☙ Kathleen Parker: Conroy’s writing made him the sexiest man alive ☙ Lauderdale: I could hear an ‘amen’ at Pat Conroy’s funeral ☙ Why graduates of The Citadel, class of 2001, united to attend Conroy funeral ☙ Hundreds pay respects to Pat Conroy, family in Beaufort ☙ How 10 minutes with Pat Conroy changed my life ☙ Lauderdale: Pat Conroy expects all the shrimp in Beaufort to be pickled for his funeral (+recipe!) ☙ Op-ed: 'Let something legendary' come from Pat Conroy ☙ Keyserling: Pat Conroy bonded with other 'orphans' who landed in Beaufort ☙ Real people inspired characters in Conroy's books ☙ Lowcountry remembers Pat Conroy ☙ How Pat Conroy made Beaufort a destination ☙ Pat Conroy on the silver screen ☙ Model for 'Prince of Tides' tiger lived in Columbia ☙ Photos: Pat Conroy and Beaufort ☙ Books written by Pat Conroy ☙ Quotes from Pat Conroy's works
Stories from Conroy's friends and admirers: Conroy's closest friends: Grateful now for last year's celebration of author's life ☙ Close encounters with Pat Conroy ☙ Lowcountry remembers Pat Conroy ☙ Sallie Ann Robinson recalls press tour with Pat Conroy ☙ Great Santini tells principal 'my son (Pat Conroy) will not be a secretary' ☙ Retired book seller: Decades after Daufuskie, Pat Conroy 'knew every (student's) name' ☙ Conroy book buffs: When you read his books, 'you are there'
Stephen Fastenau: 843-706-8182, @IPBG_Stephen