In an effort to preserve family histories and cultural legacies, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is set to host the Hometown Treasures Expo in collaboration with the Savannah African Art Museum as a part of the 35th Savannah Black Heritage Festival (SBHF).
The event will take place on Monday, Feb. 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Social Sciences Building of Savannah State University, and it promises to assist residents in identifying and preserving cherished family valuables.
“A lot of times people have things that are very special, but they may not be stored properly. They're in danger of being damaged or lost, and one of our goals with this program is to connect participants with their local museums and preservation organizations to honor personal pieces of American history in their own families,” said Vanessa Cogdell Moore, museum educator at the Smithsonian Institution.
There will be local cultural and heritage organizations, libraries, and museums at the workshop, providing resources available in our area to help residents preserve their family treasures.
Organizations that will attend Savannah’s Expo include:
- IBILE INDIGO HOUSE, INC.
- Savannah African Art Museum
- African Diaspora Museology Institute, Friends of the Kiah Museum
- Daufuskie Island Gullah Heritage Society
- African Diaspora Museology Institute
- Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, NHA
- Live Oak Public Libraries
- Sabree Gullah Art Gallery
- Community Preservation Zone Association | Daufuskie Island
“We really want people to appreciate all the resources that are available in their area. They're taken for granted, or people forget about the services that they provide. We will have museum specialists there to show them how to store different types of heirlooms so they can see the materials that they should use, which are always of archival quality,” said Cogdell Moore.
During that time, there will be DIY breakout sessions, one of which is "How to Preserve Your Family Photos and Documents" with framer artist Frank D. Herring, Green Herring Art and Framing, Beaufort, SC, presenting, and the other is "How to Preserve Our Textiles" with presenter Dr. Renee’ Anderson, National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Everyone who attends will receive a Treasures Toolkit, that includes a tote bag, and a sample of archival materials to start your family archives.
“It is usually that one person in a family who is like the family archivist and takes an interest in preserving the history and tangible items. We really want to encourage and get young people interested in preservation because so many of the older generations have these records, and we hope someone in their family will carry that history on,” said Cogdell Moore.
Also, during this time, there will be a lunch and learn open to all area university and college students. If you’ve ever considered a career working at a museum, lunch and learn will focus on that. It will explore the roles, education, and training required by individuals who provide services, including managing the priceless collections of museums, historical sites, governments, colleges and universities, and other cultural heritage institutions.
"Overall, providing Hometown Treasures workshops are for posterity, for future generations to identify treasures that are available, and preserve them to stand the test of time so that they can pass that down. You can't put a monetary value on this work because it is a part of your history, and your family history, or your community history,” said Cogdell Moore.
Speakers at the lunch and learn include Dr. Renee’ Anderson, Collections Manager, and Dr. Vanessa Cogdell Moore, Museum Educator, from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C.; and from the Savannah African Art Museum, Savannah, GA; Billie Stultz-Nyaribo, Executive Director, Co-Founder, and Chief Curator, along with Lisa Jackson, Education and Community Outreach Liaison. Register for the lunch and learn here.
Diving even more into the theme of preservation and legacy will be a presentation part of the SBHF W.W. Law Lecture Series, which will host a screening of the documentary “Digital Treasures: Daufuskie Island and Beyond!” on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Jepson Center for the Arts, presented in part by the Smithsonian, the Savannah African Art Museum, and the Telfair Museums.
The film is the migration story of Mother Isabel Hudson, a Savannah resident who will turn 101 years old on her birthday, April 5. The film also explores the resilience and preservation of Gullah Geechee heritage.
“It is a beautiful story of preservation and migration. We met with Mother Hudson and her family and explored her treasures. She has beautiful family albums and photographs, many of which are included in the film. She talks about leaving Daufuskie Island at 13 and her rich family history in Savannah," said Cogdell Moore.
In 2014, Bank of America announced the donation of historic images from its corporate art collection to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The donation was a collection of 61 black-and-white photographs by Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, widow of tennis legend Arthur Ashe, celebrating the Gullah Geechee community on Daufuskie Island. Ashe’s photos and images are weaved throughout the film.
Following the film will be a discussion and Q&A, led by Gullah Geechee native and chef Bridget Frazier featuring Gullah Geechee historian, storyteller, and historian, Dr. Griffin Lotson, and 6th Generation Daufuskie Island Native and historian, Sallie Ann Robinson.
“My love is community outreach and collaboration. In the preservation field, even if you are not a descendant, just recognizing how important your family history is and making sure that it is accurate and preserved the right way for generations to come is powerful,” said Cogdell Moore.
Events are free and open to the public, and you can find out about more events at savannahblackheritagefestival.org.
NMAAHC, SBHF, and Savannah African Art Museum sponsored events
Hometown Treasures – Community Expo | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu)
