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MORSothevisualstillcomesrstWWYestherewerethesewonderfulstructuresthatIcouldphotographorpeopleinvitedmeintotheirhomesandthosehomeseemedtolendthemselvesreallywelltothephotographsthatIwasmaking.Therewereavarietyoffactorsthathadanimpact.IfyougothroughthatbookaperfectexampleisatownlikeGouldtown.ThereareonlyoneortwopicturesthatIdidinGouldtown.InrealitythatsmuchmoreimportanthistoricallythanthecemeteryinPortRepublicbutIgotmorecaughtupinthenarrativeinPortRepublicthanIdidinGouldtown.MORButthatgoesbacktothenotionofpersonalizingit.Bringsyoubacktonarrativesandthefamilystoriesyouheardasachild.MORSohowdidSchoolsfortheColoredgrowoutofSmallTownsItdidgrowoutofitdirectlydidntitYouhadgreatsuccesswithSmallTowns.Itwasacceptedittraveled.Ifwedidntknowyoubeforeweallknewyouandyourworkthen.WWThatwasabitofluckbutalsoabitofconsciouswantingtodosomethingandIwasntsurewhat.InfactIhadaconversationwithLillianLevyaboutthisandIsaidIvegotthisbodyofworkandImnotsure.ShewasencouragingShesaidIhadtokeepwithit.IhadanexhibitionatHopkinsHouseinHaddonTownship.SomehowthepersonatthereatthattimewasintouchwiththepeopleinWhitesboroandwithStedmanGrahamandtheyallsaidtohertheresthisguywhosbeencomingdownandphotographing.Thiswasnow1999or2000.SoIgottheHopkinsHouseexhibition.JaioMingthecuratorfromTheNoyesMuseumOceanvilleNJsawthatexhibitionandcametomeandaskedifIhadmoreandlearnedmoreabouttheproject.BecausethepicturesatHopkinswereonlyofWhitesboro.SoItoldherIhadimagesofothersouthJerseycommunities.Shesaidletsdoanexhibition.ItwasalsofortunatethatLarrySchmidtwasthereformerNoyesExecutiveDirectorandhehadahistorybackgroundanditwasthe20thanniversaryoftheMuseumsoallthosethingscametogether.AndsheJaiocamefromapublicationbackgroundattheMetandwestartedthinkingaboutwhowedputinit.SoDebWilliswasselected.AndStedmanGrahamstillhadinterestsohewroteandweaskedClemthelatehistorianClementA.Pricetowritethesubstantialhistoricalpiece.WhenJaioMinglefttheMuseumwewereinanoddplaceandIknewitwouldtakeawhiletogetsomeonesoIsuggestedthattheyhireaguestcuratorandsoCharlieStainbackcamebackintoit.Andhealsocontributedanessay.Soitallworkedtogether.YearsbeforeIhadappliedforsupportfromtheGuggenheimFoundation.IhadtrieditforacoupleofyearsandthenIgaveupIgottiredofit.ButbecauseIwasputtingallthisstufftogetherfortheNoyesexhibitionIputasmallportfoliotogetherandwenttothreepeoplewhoallwroteformeanditwasremarkablethatitcamethroughinthespringtime.Allofthatreallycametogetherinawaythatishardtoimagine.Thepublicationcameout.MattMaripaulNYTimescameacrossmywebsiteandwantedtodoanarticleandthatcameouttheMondayaftertheshowopened.AndIwasgettingthisfeedbackfromallaroundtheplaceincludingadministratorsattheUniversityofTexas.SoIsatdownwiththePresidentofStocktonCollegeandweworkedoutanoptionformetohaveaslightlyreducedworkloadforthefollowingyearbecauseoftheGuggenheimfellowshipbecauseIwasnteligibleforasabbaticalatthetime.WiththatinmindIsetoutthinkingwhatIreallywanttodoiscontinueSmallTownsoutsideofNewJersey.AndIreadthisbookAmericasFirstBlackTownBrooklynIllinois1830-19152002bySundiataKeitaCha-JuaaboutatowncalledBrooklynIllinoiswhichwasoneofthefirstincorporatedAfricanAmericancommunitiesinAmerica.SoIthoughtIllgoout.Actuallyitwasnttoofarfromwheremybrother-in-lawlivedsoIthoughtIdhaveaplacetostayandIcanstartonthisprojectoutthere.WhenIgotthereImetsomebodyjustonthestreetwhoturnedouttobeateacherandaformerstudentandaformerprincipalintheschoolinthetown.IhadreadthestoryinCha-JuasbookwherehesaidtherehadbeenatonepointintimeasectionofthetownthatcontainedawhitepopulationandeventhoughtheBoardofEducationwasmadeupentirelyofAfricanAmericanstheyweremaintainingaseparateschoolforwhitestudents.Itdidntlast