Participation Type
Film
Presentation #1 Title
Dulatown
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Dulatown is a documentary short about a community in Lenoir, NC established from land a slave owner (Alfred Dula) bequeathed to Harriet, the enslaved mother of their eight children. Dulatown remains home to the extended Dula clan and embraces its history at a bi-annual reunion where in recent years both black and white Dula relatives come together around their shared genealogy to acknowledge they have more in common than just a surname. Using contemporary interviews with members of the Dula family alongside historical images, this film weaves an insightful tale of history, family, race and identity.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Beth Davison (PhD) has been a faculty member in the Sociology Dept. at Appalachian State University since 1997. She has authored numerous articles and book chapters on a broad range of topics. She has also served as the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies and currently is the Co-Directory of University Documentary Film Services. Documentary work is a new career direction for Davison. Her documentary projects, screened internationally, include The Denim Dynasty, Eva & Moe and now Dulatown. She works ongoing with many community partners including her work with the National Park Service to produce short documentaries screened at the Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park Service Visitor center in the Blowing Rock, NC.
Presentation #2 Title
Adam Sheffield, convener only
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Adam Sheffield holds a Masters degree in Appalachian Studies and currently serves as the Digitization Specialist for the Digital Scholarship & Initiatives team in the library at Appalachian State University in Boone NC. His work provides digital access to the materials in ASU's Special Collections, and also includes various Documentary Film projects and instructional sessions on campus.
Dulatown
Dulatown is a documentary short about a community in Lenoir, NC established from land a slave owner (Alfred Dula) bequeathed to Harriet, the enslaved mother of their eight children. Dulatown remains home to the extended Dula clan and embraces its history at a bi-annual reunion where in recent years both black and white Dula relatives come together around their shared genealogy to acknowledge they have more in common than just a surname. Using contemporary interviews with members of the Dula family alongside historical images, this film weaves an insightful tale of history, family, race and identity.
