"Soul of a People" in Savannah

"Soul" documentary 6pm Thursday at Jepson

2009-11-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

Screening of the Documentary Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story with scholar-led discussion by Dr. June Hopkins

Thursday November 5^th 6 p.m.-8 p.m. in the auditorium of the Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 W. York Street. Thanks to the Telfair Museums.

Preview of documentary on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVPzyUaKbSY

FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

American Life Histories

2009-10-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

70 folks, mostly students, gathered to hear and learn about the American Life Histories on October 21st at the Armstrong Center. Michael Price read "I am reaping in Tears what I sowed in Fun" a depression victim story, collected in Augusta Ga. by Mrs. Leila H. Harris, told by Mrs. Ada Radford. He also read "Bea The Washerwoman" collected by Sadie Hornsby in Athens Ga., told by Sarah Hill. Ella Howard read "Mrs. Brown" collected by Mrs. Joe P. (Carrie) Strogh in Atlanta, Ga.
It was interesting to hear the voices from Georgia's past and fun to compare both the participants' stories and the perspectives of the FWP collectors/writers.
Photos from the program.

Nov 5th at 6pm at Jepson "Soul" documentary

2009-10-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

Screening of "Soul of a People" a major documentary about the Federal Writers' Project produced by Spark Media. Dr. June Hopkins will lead a discussion following the film.

Thursday November 5th
Soul of a People: Writing America's Story
6:00pm at Neises Auditorium of Jepson Center, Telfair Museum of Art. 207 W. York St, Savannah GA, 31401.

During the Great Depression the Federal Writer's Project provided work for talented but destitute writers. This program, free and open to the public, examines the history and impact of this innovative relief project.

American Life Histories Wednesday

2009-10-22T17:36:00.001-07:00

Symposium on the American Life Histories
Wednesday October 21st 9:30am-11am, Armstrong Center, Ballroom A.

Michael Price and Ella Howard, AASU History faculty will examine oral histories drawn from the American Life Histories Collection.

Transcripts of the American Life Histories, oral history interviews gathered by the Federal Writers’ Project, are available online from the Library of Congress’ digital collections.

Photo by Dorothea Lange from FSA Collection. Douglas, Georgia. Wife of sharecropper in town to sell their crop at the tobacco auction.

Richard Wright and 12 Million Black Voices

2009-10-19T06:01:00.000-07:00

Dr. Eaton's presentation on Richard Wright drew 78 to the Armstrong Center last Wednesday night, some photos of the event.

Dr. Eaton fleshed out Wright's early years with the Federal Writers' Project, where his talents were first recognized and rewarded. 12 Million Black Voices, a work inspired and made possible by Wright's involvement with the FWP, also brought him scrutiny by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Eaton explored the question of whether 12 Million Black Voices was an act of sedition as the investigation claimed, or perhaps, the story of the soul of a people.

To see photos from 12 Million Black Voices, drawn from the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress, click here.

“An Act of Sedition?: Examining Richard Wright’s FWP Involvement through 12 Million Black Voices.”

2009-10-11T10:00:00.001-07:00

Oct 14th, Wednesday, at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium of the Armstrong Center, Dr. Kalenda Eaton will present
“An Act of Sedition?: Examining Richard Wright’s FWP Involvement through 12 Million Black Voices"
The third in our series, this program focuses on a a writer who, having got his start with the Federal Writers’ Project went on to make a significant contribution to American literary history. Free and open to the public.

Drums and Shadows program

2009-10-11T09:54:00.001-07:00

Link here to photos of Drums and Shadows program, held in the activity room at the Carnegie Branch of Live Oak Public Libraries, Saturday Oct 10th from 3pm to 5pm.

Drums and Shadows at Carnegie

2009-10-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

Come to the Carnegie Branch of Live Oak Public Libraries for the Drums and Shadows program, 3-5pm, Saturday Oct 10th.

Photos from "12 Million Black Voices"

2009-10-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

Link here to view the photographs from 12 Million Black Voices. Richard Wright's folk history of African Americans was first published in 1941 with photo direction by Edwin Rosskam. The photographs are integral to Wright's text and will be part of Dr. Kalinda Eaton's presentation on Richard Wright to be held at 6:30 on Wednesday Oct 14th at the Armstrong Center in the meeting suite.

Taken by the Farm Security Adminstration in the New Deal era, the photographs were gathered from the digital collections of the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress. The book 12 Million Black Voices is on reserve at Lane Library.

Sponsors, Partners, Donors

2009-10-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

Savannah is one of 30 cities selected to participate in the “Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story” program series. The series is sponsored by the American Library Association Public Programs Office, and has received major support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Lane Library at Armstrong Atlantic State University partnered with Live Oak Public Libraries and Dr. June Hopkins, head of AASU’s History Department to plan Savannah’s grant project.

A big thanks to our community partners and donors:

Telfair Museum of Art

Georgia Historical Society

Clayton Digital Reprographics

The Savannah Morning News

AASU’s Office of Marketing and Communications

The Armstrong Center

The Learning Center at Senior Citizens, Inc.

Massie Heritage Center of Savannah-Chatham Co. Public Schools

Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Savannah

Live Oak Public Libraries’ library staff and volunteers

Faculty and staff of AASU’s History Department, Languages Department & the Lane Library.

Kick-off

2009-10-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to see photographs of Savannah's "Soul" Kick-off. Over 60 people attended the afternoon event.

All of the presenters and presentations were excellent, moving, informative and fun! One highlight was dramatic readings from the Slave Narratives, introduced by Dr. Elizabeth Desnoyers-Colas and read by Armstrong theater students Alfred Pierce and Ashton Carr. Another was Jamie Keena, who is often grateful that during his talks on American Popular music he can reach for his guitar, or banjo, and break into song. Dr. June Hopkins opened the afternoon with an overview of the context of the New Deal era, WPA and Federal Writers' Project. Drs. Price, Eaton and Fertig's preview programs whetted audience appetites for the rest of the series.

Thanks to Live Oak Public Libraries for the great location, displays and doughnuts! Especially Janet Langford, Barry Stokes, and Ms. McPippin, library volunteer.

"Soul of a People" Kick off this Saturday

2009-09-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

Mayor Otis Johnson's office called to say that unexpected conflict arose and he will not be able to attend our Kick-off celebration this Saturday.

We'll miss the Mayor, but have full schedule planned for the afternoon (Oct 3rd, 1-5pm at the Bull Street Branch of Live Oak Public Libraries, 2002 Bull Street.) Between speakers and music, enjoy displays and exhibits on Savannah in the 1930's and the New Deal era, and a Krispy Kreme doughnut, which were first served in 1937.

The fun starts at 1pm at the Bull Street Branch of Live Oak Public Libraries, an especially appropriate place as the meeting room features a mural from the period.

1:30 Dr. June Hopkins’ address sets the stage for New Deal era and the Federal Writers’ Project.

2 p.m. Dr. Michael Price introduces the American Life Histories including a reading from an oral history about work-life in 1930’s Georgia.

2:30 p.m Dramatic readings from the Slave Narratives, introduced by Dr. Elizabeth Desnoyers-Colas;

3 p.m Jamie Keena performs, and discusses, popular music during the 1930’s.

3:30 p.m Dr. Kalenda Eaton will read from “Fire and Cloud” the short story which won Richard Wright first prize in a Story Magazine’s competition for FWP authors and early recognition.

4 p.m Dr. Barbara Fertig on “The Writer's Project gives Folklore a proper home.”

4:30 p.m Jamie Keena performs, and discusses, popular music during the 1930’s.

"Soul" scholars on Mid-Morning Live

2009-09-30T02:27:00.000-07:00

Tune into WTOC's "Mid-Morning Live" today to hear from our "Soul" scholars Dr. June Hopkins and Dr. Kalenda Eaton.

Dr. June Hopkins, Chair of the History Department at AASU is lead scholar for Savannah's "Soul of a People" series. Dr. Kalenda Eaton professor in AASU's Dept of Languages, Literature and Philosophy is presenting the "Soul" program on Richard Wright, to be held 6:30 on Wed Oct 14th at the Armstrong Center.

And here's their appearance!

Mayor Johnson at "Soul" Kick-off

2009-09-22T05:56:00.000-07:00

Savannah's Mayor Otis Johnson will bring greetings and present remarks at the Kick-off Celebration of "Soul of a People: Writing America's Story."

The Kick-off to "Soul" will be held at the Bull Street Branch of Live Oak Public Libraries on Saturday Oct 3rd from 1pm to 5pm. Displays, presentations and music will bring alive Savannah in the 1930's, a City looking for ways to combat economic depression.

Mayor Johnson will share his perspective as a Mayor of a city facing economic hardships and working to provide relief for its citizens.

For a complete schedule of events for the kick-off and the rest of the series please visit our "soul" website.

June Hopkins to present this Friday Sept 25th

2009-09-22T05:47:00.000-07:00

Dr. June Hopkins, lead scholar for the "Soul of a People" grant project, will speak on our current economic crisis and President Obama's economic stimulus plan in relation to the Great Depression and FDR's WPA.
Friday, Sept. 25, 12:10 p.m., at Armstrong Atlantic State University's University Hall Room 156. (#14 on the campus map.) We look forward to seeing you there!

WHAT: Robert I. Strozier Faculty Lecture Series
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 at 12:10 p.m.
WHERE: University Hall, Room 156
WHO: Dr. June Hopkins, History

On Friday, please join us for the second installation of the 2009-2010
Robert I. Strozier Faculty Lecture Series. Dr. Hopkins, associate
professor and chair of the Department of History, will be speaking
about:

“Echoes From the Thirties”

Political analysts have drawn interesting parallels between the Great Depression of the 1930s and the present economic crisis as well as between President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal and President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan. Obama seems to be channeling FDR when he calls for governmental action now, suggesting that massive “shovel-ready” public works projects will jump-start a stagnant economy. The Works Progress Administration was Roosevelt’s centerpiece work-relief program. Run by Harry Hopkins, it generated 3 million jobs each year from 1935 to 1942 at a cost of $10.7 billion ($160 billion in present-day dollars). This lecture will examine the important similarities and differences between then and now through the lens of the relief and recovery programs initiated by the Roosevelt Administration.

The Faculty Lectures Series is FREE and open to the public.

Bob Edward's interview with David Bradley

2009-09-12T02:23:00.000-07:00

This lovely and lively discussion of Soul Of A People, and interview with one of the film's featured scholars David Bradley, aired this weekend on Sirius Radio. This link will take you to Bob Edward's podcast of the entire show which also includes an interview with Karen Downey about her book on Francis Perkins--The Woman Behind The New Deal. Great listening!

http://podcast.com/episode/43980057/32910/?cp=1125

Nancy Camp

Producer/Writer

SOUL OF A PEOPLE Outreach Coordinator

Find out more about our work at:

http://www.sparkmedia.org/

Soul of a People to show Labor Day weekend

2009-09-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Soul of a People: Writing America's Story to Premiere Labor Day on Smithsonian Channel

June 18, 2009

Two part documentary tells the story of the Federal Writer's Project of 1930's to premiere Sunday, September 6 at 8 p.m.

It was a time of unparalleled national crisis; as millions of Americans faced unemployment, vanishing life savings, banks foreclosing on homes and feeling a general loss of hope, Americans turned to a newly elected President to lead them out of this turbulent time.

It sounds eerily like today’s current events. But as viewers of a powerful new two part documentary, “Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story,” will see when it premieres on Smithsonian Channel this coming Labor Day Weekend, September 6 at 8 pm, the Great Depression also created a unique opportunity to capture the essence of America. “Soul of A People” explores one of the most controversial public assistance programs of the Great Depression.

The Federal Writers Project was one of four arts programs under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Project employed thousands of unemployed writers, including Richard Wright, Saul Bellow and John Cheever, to fan out across America, interview its citizens, and produce a portrait of the USA from the ground up in a series of state travel guides. They captured a unique portrait of 1930’s Americana. But what began as a program to create guidebooks for every state ended up igniting a storm of controversy when writers sought out not only the triumphs of America, but also its tragedies.

At its peak, the Project employed over 6,600 people in all 48 states. They included a handful of published authors, old newspaper reporters, former school teachers and others. Two of its better-known workers, Studs Terkel (in one of his last interviews before passing away in October 2008) and Stetson Kennedy, are interviewed for the documentary.

In addition to Kennedy and Terkel, the documentary features interviews with a diverse group of leading authors, poets, and historians, including Douglas Brinkley and David Bradley, who provide witty and heartbreaking insights into the Project.

Filmed entirely in high definition, “Soul Of A People: Writing America’s Story” is a Spark Media Production produced for Smithsonian Networks™ with a major funding grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is produced and directed by Andrea Kalin and based on the book, “Soul Of A People,” by David A. Taylor. Taylor also serves as co-producer and co-writer for the documentary. Award winning actress Patricia Clarkson is the narrator.

“Soul Of A People” will be the subject of a series of organized exhibits, lectures and panels at over thirty libraries throughout the United States. Each library will work with a local scholar of the era to help present and plan and promote these programs. These exhibits will continue through the Fall of 2009 and are sponsored by the American Library Association and supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

“This is the perfect show for Smithsonian Channel,” said David Royle, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production. “It defines our mission of telling America’s stories with our distinctive voice. This is a story that speaks to our times and we feel is ideally timed for a Labor Day airing.”

“Soul Of A People” will air exclusively on Smithsonian Channel on Sunday, September 6 at 8 pm.