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"If you don't recount your family history, it will be lost. Honor your own stories and tell them too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are." --Madeleine L'Engle

Spotlights on Listening:

Story Corps fourth annual National Day of Listening is Nov. 25, 2011. Each year Story Corps invites all Americans to set aside an hour on the day after Thanksgiving, to interview a friend, loved one or community member about their lives.

50 Questions for Family History Interviews from About.com

Today's Video:

In today's featured interview, Mrs. Ann Nixon Cooper is interviewed by the Spelman's Independent Scholars Program. 

"Throughout our history in this nation -- indeed before we were brought to these shores -- older women in our families and in our communities are griots and sages, seers and prophets whom we are taught to honor and revere. Their stories teach us about values and beliefs that shaped their reality and, in immeasurable ways, impact our own. For reason, then, we see their memories, anchored deep in the soil of wisdom, as cherished treasure. It is this truth, as old as time itself, that undergirds the SIS Oral History Project." --- Danielle Phillips, Spelman Independent Scholar

Related Articles:

Spotlight on Listening I: Oral History Interview, Dr. Mary Starke Harper

The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.  ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Interview a Friend or Loved One on the National Day of Listening: from Family Tree Magazine, Diane Haddad has compiled suggested articles from Family Tree Magazine, with resources for choosing who to interview and ideas for interview questions. 

Today's Video:

Dr. Mary Starke Harper discusses the challenges and achievements of her long and distinguished career. She was interviewed by The University of Georgia's Institute of Gerontology.

Dr. Harper received a Ph.D. from St. Louis University and was recognized as the nation’s leading authority on mental health and long term care. In the course of her career she served as advisor to four U.S. Presidents. Her tireless efforts helped to establish minimum requirements for long term health care [1].

Sources Cited:

[1] Alabama Health Care Hall of Fame,  "Mary Starke Harper, Ph.D., RN, FAAN." http://www.healthcarehof.org/honorees02/harper.html, accessed 14 Nov 2011.

Related Posts

Seashore Farmers Lodge in Charleston, S.C. to Receive Preservation Honor Award

Several Firsts in Maryland

Slave Dwelling at Sotterley Plantation, Hollywood, Maryland

Saturday, July 9, 2011 found me at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood, Maryland.  Southwest Airlines deserves credit for allowing this stay and lecture to fit perfectly into a weekend.  Prior to my arrival at Sotterly, I knew that I would be dealing with several firsts; the first stay in Maryland and the first stay at a former tobacco plantation.  Sotterley was one of the stays that came about as a result of the popularity of the Slave Dwelling Project.  I can recall getting a call from Eileen Miller, Marketing Manager for Sotterley, and scheduling the stay.

Sotterley Plantation is located on the banks of the Patuxent River and is the only remaining Tidewater Plantation in Maryland open to the public. It is designated a National Historic Landmark and the site includes the early 18th century mansion, a rare slave cabin, and a full array of outbuildings on nearly 100 acres of rolling fields, gardens, and riverfront. The authentic 18th and 19th century architecture reveals Chesapeake Bay plantation life in the form of a customs warehouse, smokehouse, corn crib, brick privy, and plantation schoolhouse. Visitors can also walk along Sotterley's shoreline, woodland trails, meadows, an antebellum orchard, and colonial revival gardens.

When I arrived at the entrance to Sotterley, I had to stop and marvel at the trees that lined both sides of the road because this was reminiscent of several plantations I had encountered in the past.  Even more impressive were all the historic buildings still on the site. 

Tree-Lined Drive Leading to Sotterley Plantation

The first face to face meeting with Executive Director Nancy Easterling was intense.  Her passion for the site was obvious and her questions came in rapid succession.  Our tour of the site verified that all of the buildings were indeed authentic.  The highlight for me of course was the tour of the slave dwelling.  It was then, I discovered another first; the first dwelling with a dirt floor.  That revelation factored into my decision to sleep in the loft of the dwelling, another first.  While in the cabin, I was interviewed by two people who represented two different local newspapers.

At dinner that evening, I was informed by Meredith Taylor, a Trustee of Sotterley and a professor at St. Mary’s College, that a student would like to come and film the experience.  I informed her that filming would be fine but also issued an invitation for the student to spend the night in the dwelling with me.  The student Ryan Gugerty accepted the invitation.  When I got back to the dwelling and inspected the loft more thoroughly with a flash light, I discovered an active wasp nest.  I knew then where not to go. 

Stairway to Loft in Slave Dwelling at Sotterley

When Ryan made it to the site around 10:00 pm he gave me a call on my cell phone and I went out to meet him in the parking lot.  The questions by both of us indicated that I was as curious about him as he was about me.  I do recall warning him that I snored like a champ, a tidbit that if revealed prior to his arrival may have yielded a different outcome.  I do not know if it was my snoring or the call of nature that caused Ryan to get up and leave the cabin at least twice during the night.  I also recall it being very hot before the temperature moderated to a level comfortable enough to sleep. 

The next morning the questions from Ryan continued only this time everything was being recorded and filmed.  We could not resist the temptation to walk to the river.  Along the way, we came up on a demonstration garden.  Planted there was tobacco.  Not only did I think about the slave labor necessary to harvest the crop but I thought about my own personal experience growing up in Kingstree, SC and working in tobacco fields during the summer. When we reached the river it was not hard to imagine the historic landscape without trees and how the plantation house sat prominently on a hill that could be seen from the river. 

After one more news paper interview in the cabin, Nancy delivered me to the home of Jan Briscoe and Sam Baldwin.  Jan is the current President of the Board of Trustees for Sotterley.  Sam had a beautiful breakfast prepared.  Jan is a descendant of the last owner of Sotterley to own slaves.  Initially, it was hard to keep my attention because I was admiring ospreys that were nesting right near their dock.  Jan and Sam had instructions to deliver me to Sotterley in time for the scheduled Slave Dwelling Project lecture that I was scheduled to give.  They carried out their assignment well but not before we bonded with great conversation about Sotterley Plantation and about the Slave Dwelling Project.

Joseph McGill at Entrance to Sotterley Slave Dwelling

I am always a little nervous when I start thinking about how many people might show up at these lectures.  I’ve given the lecture to as little as two and many as one hundred plus and all points in between.  I was impressed and encouraged by the number of people that showed.  A fellow Civil War reenactor, Lou Carter, from Company B, 54th Massachusetts Reenactment Regiment out of Washington, DC attended as he promised.  I was even more impressed that my friend Beth Lingg showed.  I met Beth in 2005 on a cruise down the Mississippi River on the riverboat Delta Queen from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana.  Beth is the only person from that cruise with whom I have kept in contact.  When I informed her that I was coming to Sotterley she immediately put it on her calendar.

The lecture was a success.   I put Ryan on notice that I would call on him to talk about his experience in sleeping in the cabin.  He verified that it was my snoring that kept him up during the night.  After the lecture, the question and answer period could have gone longer but I had to let the audience know that I had a plane to catch.  When the session concluded another first happened, Eileen Miller Marketing Manager and Artist, presented me with an oil painting of the cabin that I slept in.  This along with all of the other activities at Sotterley puts it on the short list of best places stayed to date.  More importantly, Sotterley must be commended for the work and resources that it has put forth to ensure the slave dwelling on its property was restored and is being properly interpreted.  

Related Video: Sotterley Plantation Stay

About the Slave Dwelling Project

Slavery in the North

Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the City of Brotherly Love, these are all things we associate with the city of Philadelphia.  I find it ironic that the purpose of my last stay in Philadelphia was to highlight that peculiar institution that was the opposite of all of those things. I commend Cliveden’s staff for taking the high road in this matter by engaging the public and seeking their input in how they should move forward in telling the stories of all the people who were involved. The Cliveden experience has given me a better understanding of how slavery existed in northern states.

Cliveden, Home of the Chew Family, Philadelphia, PA

Interior, Cliveden Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA

Cliveden Slave Quarters, Philadelphia, PA

Further Reading:

About the Slave Dwelling Project

Sleeping in a Relocated Slave Dwelling

Visitors at Roper Mountain Science Center, Greenville, SC

Thomas and Ben Riddle Outside of Slave Cabin

Thomas Riddle and Joe McGill Inside Slave Dwelling

Joe McGill at Roper Mountain Science Center, Greenville, SC

Slave Dwelling Project Visits Bellamy Mansion

Bellamy Mansion, Wilmington, NC

Sunday, May 15 found me spending the night at Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington, NC.  I arrived there around 4:45 pm which was good because the young lady working there did not have prior knowledge of my arrival.  This was very important because she was now aware that she should not turn on the alarm in the slave dwelling.  The context of the house reminded me a lot of the Aiken Rhett House in Charleston, SC.  One could easily be enamored by the architectural significance of the house and totally ignore the slavery that was associated with the structure if the former slave dwelling was not still located in back and interpreted.  The dwelling was two stories, made of brick, two bed rooms up top; downstairs contained a bedroom, kitchen and privy.

Joe McGill Stands Outside of Slave Quarters, Bellamy Mansion

When I got settled in to the slave dwelling, I took a leisurely stroll to the Wilmington waterfront.  I was amazed by its beauty and the vibrancy of the city.  There was a wealth of activities happening.  I had an abundance of restaurants from which to choose.  I finally decided on one that would allow me to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather and people watch as I ate my meal.

When I returned to the dwelling, I turned on my computer and was amazed to discover that I had wifi capability.  This capability gave me the opportunity to get caught up on blogging about some of the past stays that I had done.

I was later joined by Terry James, this would be his fifth stay. Terry and I were later joined by Braxton Williams the Bellamy Mansion employee who helped to arrange my stay.   Braxton gave us an overview of the history of the mansion.  He then mentioned that there was an African American Civil War reenactor in the area named Fred (Sweet Corn) Johnson.

Joe McGill Stands Outside of Slave Quarters, Bellamy Mansion

Terry and I got back to the dwelling around 11:30 pm.  Our conversation did not last very long before both of us went to sleep.  Terry slept in the slave shackles again for the third consecutive time.  Because of the urban setting, I was awakened throughout the night by the fire, police and emergency sirens.

Fred "Sweet Corn" Johnson and Joe McGill, Bellamy Mansion

The next morning Sweet Corn treated us to breakfast as he promised.  Terry and I then did a live interview for a local radio station.  Terry then had to go back to his hometown of Florence.  I was obligated to stay to give a lecture on the Slave Dwelling Project later that day.  The lecture was given in the parlor of the Bellamy Mansion to a standing room only crowd.

I went away from that experience knowing that I have to extend the Slave Dwelling Project deep into the heart of the state of North Carolina.  The network established at Bellamy will help me achieve that goal.  Stay tuned for more North Carolina slave dwelling stays in the year 2012 and beyond.