4 minute read
BIOGRAPHY OF A BLACK COMMUNITY: PINE GROVE
by Muriel Miller Branch
A trailblazer's tale continues with AMMD Pine Grove Project’s President, Sonja Branch-Wilson's, selection as an inaugural fellow for Preservation Virginia's African American Fellows Program. Out of 40 applicants, only three were chosen, including Sonja, whose trade name "SonietheConnectaholic"; which exemplifies her passion for connecting people and researching genealogical and community ties.
This opportunity was a natural progression for her research project, "Biography of a Black Community: 1920s-1960s".
Her investment in historic preservation began in childhood, fueled by a strong curiosity about her family's history and the stories passed down by the only set grandparents she knew, Frank Adolph and Missouri Virginia Miller. She gained a deeper understanding of her ancestors, their struggles, sacrifices, and the wisdom they left behind. However, as elders pass away, so do their stories, unless they are recorded. For over 20 years, Sonja has been doing genealogical research, focusing mainly on her ancestral home in Cumberland County, VA.
Her research project, "Biography of a Black Community: 1920s to the 1960s," examines and extrapolates biographical details from funeral programs and records to connect people to places within the Pine Grove Rural Historic District.
One of the many end goals from her research is to create storyboards for each person and to have these displays exhibited at a museum.
Follow SonietheConnectaholic on Instgram: Threads and Truth.
AMMD PINE GROVE PROJECT ORAL HISTORY PROJECT:
This initiative spearheaded by Public Historians, Niya Bates and Justin G. Reid, has proven to be an enriching and rewarding experience!
Why are these stories so IMPORTANT?
They serve as primary sources that document history through community memory.
The project aims to collect oral histories from community members, Pine Grove School alumni, and descendants who recall stories passed down through generations. These stories derive from various sources such as: freedom papers, land deeds, archaeological investigations, church records, marriage licenses, and most importantly, from individuals like YOU.
If you possess a story worth sharing and would like to participate in the AMMDPGP Oral History Project, kindly schedule an appointment by tapping the project name or scanning the QR code below.
