Virginia Geraty papers

The collection contains personal and professional documents, manuscripts and literary productions, correspondence, clippings, and other materials relating to Geraty’s lifelong work of preserving and teaching the Gullah language. Materials in the collection date from 1915–2007, with bulk dates spanning the years 1978–2004.

Series 1. Biographical and Professional Material, 1915-2004, undated includes Geraty’s certificate of baptism, biographies and obituaries; photographs, business correspondence concerning her family’s farm, as well as copies of her curriculum vitae and documents concerning her employment with the College of Charleston. The series also consists of certificates and a plaque, which were awarded to Geraty throughout her professional career. A recorded oral history interview with Geraty and accompanying interview transcriptions can also be found in the series.

Series 2. Educational and Instructional Material, 1964-2001, undated is comprised of documents pertaining to Gullah language instruction. Gullah language and grammar lessons; an instructional resource book written by Geraty for teachers called, A Teacher’s Guide to the Gullah Language; and essays on Black English, Gullah speech, and the state of South Carolina’s education system are contained within the series. Also included are student work, correspondence, and materials relating to Geraty’s proposal for implementing Gullah language workshops in the Charleston County School District.

Series 3. Literary Productions, 1962-2005, undated contains stories, poems and other writings in English and Gullah; research documents on the stages of a bible translation project, as well as translated bible scriptures; speeches, notes and original manuscripts of some of her published works, including: Bittle en’ Ting, Gullah Cooking with Maum Chrish’, Charleston’s Highlights, Sidelights and Shadows from 1670 to 1995 and Gullah Fuh Oonuh: A Gullah/English Dictionary. The series also consists of 227 notebooks documenting Geraty’s activities with regard to authoring literature, developing curriculum for Gullah language instruction, film and theater productions, and museums. CDs and floppy disks containing literary research and works written by Geraty are included in the series as well.

Series 4. Drawings and Illustrations, 1985-1997, undated consists of ink and pencil sketches, color drawings and illustrations, drawings and cutouts from a child and sketches from Geraty’s illustrated children’s book, A Gullah Night Before Christmas.

Series 5. Porgy, A Gullah Version, 1987-2002, undated includes ephemera from the production, such as flyers, invitations and souvenir booklets; annotated scripts and music from the play; as well as production descriptions, notes, summaries, and a study guide. In addition, the series contains book reviews of Geraty’s translated version of the play and newspaper clippings consisting of play reviews and articles on the production. Cast photographs, stage layouts and scenery drawings, production notes, correspondence, royalty statements and other financial material are also part of this series.

Series 6. Financial and Legal Material, 1979-2004, undated contains a business license for Geraty’s company, Gullah Gap; grant program applications and guidelines from DSP and the South Carolina Humanities Council; invoices, agreements, copies of checks including one from actress, Cicely Tyson; tax documents and financial notes; annual statements, as well as royalty statements and reports. The series is also comprised of financial records and legal documents pertaining to Cabbage Row Company Inc.

Series 7. Printed Material and Ephemera, 1932-2007, undated includes magazine and news clippings pertaining to Geraty’s professional and literary accomplishments, as well as topics concerning education in schools and for black students, understanding and preserving Gullah culture, letters to the editor and event announcements. In addition, the series encompasses pamphlets flyers, booklets, brochures, scrapbooks and other ephemera collected and created throughout her life.

Series 8. Correspondence, 1976-2007, undated is comprised of personal and professional correspondence including letters from the Charleston County Public School system and the State Department of South Carolina regarding her developing a Gullah language curriculum for South Carolina schools; from audience members at her speaking engagements and admirers requesting copies of her literary works. Also, includes a letter from White House Staff Assistant, Landon Kite, thanking Geraty on behalf of President and Mrs. Carter for the birthday gift she sent to them. Thank you letters, letters documenting her work with the College of Charleston’s Continuing Education Program, as well as those documenting her study of the Gullah language at academic institutions in the South are also present in the series.

Series 9. Miscellaneous, 1980-2001, undated contains a resume and biographical information for participants in a professional exchange/cultural exchange program and visitor service program. The series is also comprised of various address, phone and to-do lists, as well as maps.

Series 10. Audio-Visual Material, 1979-2004, undated is comprised of cassette tapes documenting college lectures, presentations and workshops on Gullah; recordings of Geraty’s publications, Gullah Night Before Christmas, Tenk Gawd for Charleston, and Gullah for Oonuh; as well as of Cabbage Row Company, Inc.’s funding meetings and script readings/dialogue from her production, Porgy, A Gullah Version. The series also consists of VHS tapes, including a home movie of Geraty speaking about the Gullah language from her living room; footage of her reading Gullah stories to children and presenting on Gullah language at Francis Marion College; and videos of externally produced television programs on Gullah from National Geographic Explorer and Talkback on WCSC-TV. Additionally, the series includes videotapes of play interviews, practice curtain calls and College of Charleston classroom scenes from Geraty’s Porgy, A Gullah Version; as well as news coverage of her funeral in 2004.