Defending Savannah: History and Archaeology of the Gibson's Point Battery (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)

The Gibson's Point Battery Database includes the artifacts recovered during the course of two archaeological surveys conducted by the faculty, staff, and students of Morehead State University and Georgia Southern University - Armstrong Campus in 2025 and 2026, and the documents collected as part of the Gibson's Point Battery Public History Project. The following on-line catalogue shares the artifacts and historical documents associated with this battery on Whitemarsh Island, Georgia.

The Confederate Battery built on Gibson's Point was named after the landowner, Richard T. Gibson, who acquired the property from his father Robert S. Gibson in 1834. Constructed in early 1864 to protect the Confederate held city of Savannah, Georgia, the Battery was built by enslaved labor to protect Whitemarsh Island, which was a battleground between Union and Rebel forces over the last two years of the war.

Gibson's Point Battery consisted of two gun implacements closer to Richardson Creek and a central redoubt. The battery was armed with two 8-inch siege howitzers and two 32-pounder cannons. The redoubt has been preserved and was the subject of an archaeological survey in 2025 and 2026.

Photographs by Serenity Jo Baughman
Metadata for artifacts and research materials by Emma McClure and Joan Rose

Guarding Ossabaw Island: History and Archaeology of the 47th N.Y.V.I. Camp (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)

The Ossabaw Island Database includes the artifacts recovered during the course of two archaeological surveys conducted by the faculty, staff, and students of Morehead State University and Georgia Southern University - Armstrong Campus in 2025 and 2026, and the documents collected as part of the Ossabaw Island Public History Project. The following on-line catalogue shares the artifacts and historical documents associated with the camp of the 47th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was stationed at Ossabaw Island from February to July 1863.

The 47th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, known as the "Washington Grays," was formed in 1861 and served throughout the Civil War, participating in numerous campaigns across the South. Initially recruited in New York City and Brooklyn, the regiment was mustered into service in September 1861 and saw action in key locations such as Hilton Head, Edisto Island, James Island, and Fort Wagner. The regiment endured significant losses, particularly at the Battle of Olustee in Florida, and later took part in major operations in Virginia, including the battles of Cold Harbor and Petersburg. Over its four years of service, the 47th New York was involved in both combat and garrison duties, suffering a total of 250 deaths from battle and disease before being mustered out in August 1865.

During 1863, the 47th New York was stationed on Ossabaw Island, Georgia, where they were primarily engaged in constructing fortifications, performing picket and guard duty, and supporting naval operations. The regiment faced harsh environmental conditions, including disease, challenging terrain, and wildlife, which affected their ability to perform camp duties. Notable events included the construction of Battery Seymour, skirmishes with Confederate forces, and the capture of some of their men. The 47th’s time on Ossabaw Island was marked by both military activity and the daily hardships of soldiering in the coastal South during the Civil War.

Photographs by Serenity Jo Baughman
Metadata for artifacts and research materials by Emma McClure and Joan Rose

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection (Robert "Bob" Twiggs Spacecraft Engineering Collection)

The Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection consists of PowerPoint presentations, videos, published articles, research reports, etc. created or collected by Prof. Twiggs during his career as an aerospace engineer and professor of space systems engineering from 1984 to 2025. The collection includes materials created by Prof. Twiggs, along with selected work by other scientists and researchers, and documents small satellite education, university spacecraft projects, and efforts to make space engineering more accessible.

Known as the “Father of the CubeSat,” Prof. Robert “Bob” Twiggs is an American aerospace engineer, educator, and emeritus Professor of Astronautics and Space Science at Morehead State University. He is best known as the co-inventor, with Jordi Puig-Suari, of the CubeSat reference design, a small satellite standard that helped universities, researchers, companies, and government organizations gain more affordable access to space. Twiggs was also critical in the invention and development of several other educational satellite concepts, including CanSat, PocketQube, and ThinSat. Across his career, Twiggs has focused on hands-on STEM education, using small satellites and related projects to teach students how to design, build, test, and operate real space systems.

The materials gathered include course lectures, space systems engineering presentations, student project materials, mission concepts, technical explanations, outreach resources, historical reflections, and related work by colleagues and collaborators in aerospace engineering and satellite construction. Together, the collection shows how small satellites became not only a new class of spacecraft but also a new way to teach engineering, science, teamwork, systems thinking, and innovation. For students, this collection offers a window into the practical foundations of spacecraft design and mission development. For educators, it provides examples of how complex aerospace concepts can be translated into approachable, project-based learning. For historians of spaceflight, it preserves evidence of the educational movement that helped make small satellites a global phenomenon. For engineers and entrepreneurs, it shows how standards, constraints, and simplicity can unlock new forms of participation in space.