Heritage Collection
The Hog Hammock Public Library’s Heritage Collection was established in 2008, and includes books, audio and video recordings, photographs, newspaper and magazine articles and other documents that tell the story of Sapelo Island. The following are examples of materials included in the collection.
“God, Dr. Buzzard and the Bolito Man: A Saltwater Geechee Talks About Life on Sapelo Island, Georgia.” Cornelia Walker Bailey with Christena Bledsoe. Doubleday, 2000.
“Praying for Sheetrock.” Melissa Fay Greene. Ballantine Books. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., Inc., 1991
“Africanisms in the Gullah Dialect.” Lorenzo Dow Turner. University of South Carolina Press, 2002. (Editor’s Note: This book, originally published in 1949, was written by one of the first African-American linguists who pioneered the study of African contributions to global culture. He visited Sapelo in the ’30s and recorded the history, songs and prayers of the Geechee people.)
“De Nyew Testament” (The New Testament in Gullah). American Bible Society, 2005.
“The Gullah People and Their African Heritage.” William S. Pollitzer. University of Georgia Press, 1999.
“In the Time of the Drums.” Kim Siegelson. Jump at the Sun, 1999. This re-telling of the legend is a beautiful story with a surprise that will fascinate children. The story takes place on Sapelo Island. Even older pre-teens and teens will enjoy it. “The water brought em cross the passage and it can take em back, fe true.”
“Sapelo’s People: A Long Walk Into Freedom.” William S. McFeely. W.W. Norton & Company, 1994.
“Sapelo Voices: A Historical Anthropology and the Oral Traditions of Gullah-Geechee Communities on Sapelo Island, Georgia.” Ray Crook, Cornelia Bailey, Norma Harris, and Karen Smith. The State University of West Georgia, 2003.
“Tabby: A Historical Perspective of an Antebellum Building Material in McIntosh County, Georgia.” Buddy Sullivan. 1998.
“Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies.” Faith Mitchell. Summerhouse Press (paperback), 1999.
FILMS
“Daughters of the Dust.” Directed by Julie Dash in 1991. Producers: American Playhouse, Geechee Girls, WMG Film. Location: St. Helena Island, S.C. The film takes place in 1902 and tells the story of a Gullah-Geechee family’s last days on its remote Georgia sea island home. Stars Cora Lee Day and Alva Rogers. Beautiful cinematography.
“The Language You Cry In: Story of a Mende Song.” Produced by Alvaro Toepke and Angel Serrano. Narrated by Vertamae Grosvenor. In English with Mende and English subtitles. This film tells the fascinating true story of a five-line Mende song that survived the Middle Passage and was passed down through the generations. (Editor’s Note: This one’s hard to find. Try California Newsreel. If you find another source, let us know.)
