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IhadoneotherjobbeforeIcamehere.Ileftthestore.DebcalledmeandsaidthatherfriendFoWilsontheartdirectoratEssenceMagazineneededsomeonetohelpthemorganizeapicturecollection.AnddidIthinkIwouldbeabletodoitAttheUniversityofTexasoneofthethingstheyhadusdowascatalogingcartes-de-visiteandthingslikethatsoIsaidIhavealittleexperiencewiththiskindoforganization.OnethingledtoanotherandIleftthestoreandworkedatEssenceoccasionallyfillinginatthestorefromtimetotimewhentheyneededme.AtEssenceIwasworkingthreeorfourdaysaweekhelpingthemorganizestuffthatwasjustthrownintrunksonthefloorafterashootwasover.ThensomebodywouldcomeandsayHeyweneedapictureofBillCosby.Wellweshothimitssomewhereoverthere.Myjobwastoputsomeordertothis.SoIorganizeditsincetheyessentiallyhadanindexwithalltheissuesIordereditbyissuesotheycouldsearchthatway.WhenIlefttocometoStocktonDebandIhadlunchtogether.SortofcongratulationsgoodluckoutinJersey.Shetoldmethestoryaboutthissmalltownthatsheusedtogoto.ShegrewupinthePhiladelphiaareaandhadcousinsinWhitesboroNewJerseywhichisrightbyWildwoodandusedtogooutthereinthesummertimewhenshewasakid.Shesaiditsthisveryinterestinglittleblacktownyoumightbeinterestedintakingsomephotographsofit.SoafterIwashereforacoupleofyearsonedayIdecidedtogo.Istartedtowalkaroundthereandtalkedtoacoupleofpeopleandstartedphotographing.ThenIkeptphotographingthosetownsandonetownledtoanothertownledtoanothertownledtoanothertown.MORAndwhenyouweredoingthisdidyouhaveaseriesinmindWereyoujustdoingitforyourselfWWIwasdoingitmainlyformyself.MyfriendhadtoldmeshethoughtitwouldbeinterestingsoIthoughtIwouldgiveitatry.IhadnoideathatIwouldincorporatetext.Ihadnoideathatthehistorypiecewouldbeincorporated.ThatwasjustsomethingthatemergedbecauseIthenstartedhavingconversationswithpeopleinthesetownsthatwereliketheconversationsthatIrememberedinmychildhoodwithmyfamilyabouttheirexperiencethehistoryoftheircommunitywhathadhappenedallofthesethingsthathadgoneoninsidetheircommunity.Andthatsthefirsttimeitcamebackaroundforme.MORButnoconceptthatSmallTownsSmallTownsBlackLivesAfricanAmericanCommunitiesinSouthernNewJerseyabookbyWendelWhiteandDeborahWillisthebookwasgoingtocomeoutofthisWWThesecondyearIwasdoingitDebwasputtingashowtogethercalledConvergenceEightPhotographersanothertravelingshow.ItwasorganizedbytheVisualStudiesWorkshopandopenedatPRCinBostonandtraveledtoadozenlocationsaroundthecountry.AndthatwasthefirsttimeIexhibitedtheworkanditwasthecemeteryworkwiththenarrativeandphotographs.EvenwhenIwenttoWhitesboroIwasrecordingtheconversationsandtakingnotesbutIdidntknowwhy.ItwasjustsomethingtodowhileIwastalkingtopeople.IdidntknowthatIwasactuallygoingtouseit.ItwasnotuntilIstartedtophotographthecemeterieswheretherewerenopeoplethatIkindofconceptualizedtheideathatanarrativewouldmakesenseherebecausethereisnotown.Thesewouldjustbepicturesofheadstonesthatwouldbemeaninglessinawaytomostpeoplewithoutthenarrativeoftheseremarkablecommunities.MORSowhetherconsciouslyorunconsciouslyyouwerebecomingaculturalhistorian.Maybeinspiteofyourself.WWRightalthoughIalwaysholdbackjustalittlebitfromsayinghistorian.ImalwayshonoredbythatnotionthatpeoplefeellikeImdoingthisbutImreallynottrained.MORIthinkthatswhywesayculturalhistorianbecauseyouaretakingparticularaspects.AlotofusincuratorialeldswhoknowandrespectyourworkIthinkwevecometothinkofyouthatway.Theyarebeautifulneartphotographsbuttheyaredocumentarytoo.Theyarefallingsomewhereinbetween.Theystandontheirownbutthenarrativeaddstothembuttheyareinnowaydiminishedwithoutthenarrative.Youareaculturalhistorian.Youcanacceptthatterm.Youshould.WWIndoingSmallTownsBlackLivesIdidntalwaysputthetimeandweightintoCommunityAthatmightbemorehistoricallyimportantthanIdidinCommunityBwhichmightnotbeasimportantbuttomevisuallywasreallyinteresting.