June 8-13, 2008

Main Page
Courses

Communication
Evening Sessions
Faculty
Faculty Forms
Frequently Asked Questions
Future Institutes
History
Housing / Dining
Jean Thomason Scholarship
Mission
Registration
Sunday Orientation
Tuition
Visiting Samford

B. A. History, magna cum laude, Furman University
M.A., History, University of South Carolina

Lecturer: Course 3


Alexia Jones Helsley is an archivist, historian, and genealogist. She joined the staff of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in 1968. During her 33-year career, she spent twenty years in reference, including twelve as supervisor, and also served as Director of Public Programs. Retired in 2001, Helsley still works with the department part time primarily in public programming and as editor of the Biographical Directory of the South Carolina House of Representatives, 1828 - 1859. She also teaches history part time for the University of South Carolina-Aiken and manages a historical and genealogical consulting business. Recently, she was one of the South Carolina researchers for the sequel to PBS' "African American Lives" that will air in February 2008.

On 29 April 2006, State Archivist Roy Tryon on behalf of the South Carolina State Historical Advisory Board presented her with the 2006 Governor's Archival Award for exemplary work in promoting the use and understanding of the State's documentary heritage. In April 2007 Helsley received the University of South Carolina Aiken's first part time teaching award.

Helsley is the author of a number of books and articles on South Carolina history. Her latest publication is A Guide to Historic Henderson County, North Carolina which she wrote with her father. History Press published her Guide to Historic Beaufort, South Carolina in 2007 and in June 2005 her Beaufort, South Carolina: a History. Among her other publications are South Carolina's African American Confederate Pensioners, 1923 - 1924; South Carolinians in the War for American Independence. The 1840 Revolutionary Pensioners of Henderson County, North Carolina, Silent Cities: Cities and Classrooms, and Unsung Heroines of the Carolina Frontier. In addition, she coauthored African American Genealogical Research and the Many Faces of Slavery. Helsley is also a contributor to the South Carolina Encyclopedia ( University of South Carolina Press) and the Encyclopedia of Anti-Slavery and Abolition (Greenwood Press). Her article on Rebecca Motte will appear in South Carolina Women: Their Lives and Times to be published by the University of Georgia in 2009.

She is a frequent state and regional speaker on South Carolina genealogical and historical topics. Her South Carolina genealogical program, "Branches," first aired on SC-ETV in 2005. She lectures on South Carolina research for the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University and has served as president of the South Carolina Archival Association. She has also lectured for conferences sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society.

Alexia Helsley is a member of the South Carolina Historical Association, the National Genealogical Society, the Old Darlington Chapter, SCGS, the Joseph McDowell Chapter, NSDAR and Richland Sertoma. In addition, Helsley, an ordained deacon, is active in her church - First Baptist Church of Irmo - and serves as church treasurer.

Helsley, a graduate of Furman University (magna cum laude) and earned her MA in history from the University of South Carolina, and her husband Terry have two children and one grand-daughter.