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Digital Traditions

Home to a wealth of folk traditions, South Carolina is culturally and geographically diverse. 

General - Traditional Arts

Home to a wealth of folk traditions, South Carolina is culturally and geographically diverse.  From the Appalachian Mountains to the Sea Islands and from rural crossroads to urban centers, the state boasts rich sources of traditional culture and folklore. Rooted in family and community activities, folklife involves expressive forms of many kinds that are communicated verbally and by observation or imitation.  Folk artists can learn through apprenticeships, but most often are taught informally by family members or close friends. This sharing of information can occur in many different group settings - familial, occupational, religious, social, and educational. Folklife is dynamic by nature, a part of a community's history that continues to develop every day, with every generation.  

Digital Traditions was developed to provide access to the Folklife Resource Center (FRC) at McKissick Museum.  For thirty years, deeply rooted traditions like quilting, pottery, basketry, communal foodways, and folk music have been documented through audio, video, and photography. For further information about any of the artists featured on Digital Traditions, send your questions and comments to hallagan@mailbox.sc.edu.

Resource Type
Corduroy Quilt -1 | Digital Traditions

Audio

Grades

  • Higher Education
Corduroy Quilt -1 | Digital Traditions
Resident of Promised Land, SC (Greenwood County). Learned how to quilt and make lye soap from her mother. Her father could make just about any type of split-oak basket: fish trap, clothes hamper...
Quilting -1 | Digital Traditions

Audio

Grades

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Quilting -1 | Digital Traditions
Resident of Promised Land, SC (Greenwood County). Learned how to quilt and make lye soap from her mother. Her father could make just about any type of split-oak basket: fish trap, clothes hamper...
Differences | Digital Traditions

Audio

Grades

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Differences | Digital Traditions
Episode 2
Beachy-Amish Mennonites who live in Cold Springs, S.C. (Abbeville County). Sadie is an accomplished quilter. How the Beachy-Amish Mennonites differ from the mainstream Amish.
Finding a Place to Live | Digital Traditions

Audio

Grades

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Finding a Place to Live | Digital Traditions
Episode 3
Beachy-Amish Mennonites who live in Cold Springs, S.C. (Abbeville County). Sadie is an accomplished quilter. Why they left Virginia Beach after they felt it was becoming overdeveloped and the...
Cabinetmaking | Digital Traditions

Audio

Grades

  • Higher Education
Cabinetmaking | Digital Traditions
Episode 4
Beachy-Amish Mennonites who live in Cold Springs, S.C. (Abbeville County). Sadie is an accomplished quilter.
Not Conforming | Digital Traditions

Audio

Grades

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Not Conforming | Digital Traditions
Episode 6
Beachy-Amish Mennonites who live in Cold Springs, S.C. (Abbeville County). Sadie is an accomplished quilter.
Quilting -2 | Digital Traditions

Audio

Grades

  • Higher Education
Quilting -2 | Digital Traditions
Episode 7
Beachy-Amish Mennonites who live in Cold Springs, S.C. (Abbeville County). Sadie is an accomplished quilter.
Small Town Life | Digital Traditions

Audio

Grades

  • Higher Education
Small Town Life | Digital Traditions
Episode 8
Beachy-Amish Mennonites who live in Cold Springs, S.C. (Abbeville County). Sadie is an accomplished quilter.
Baking Pies | Digital Traditions

Audio

Grades

  • Higher Education
Baking Pies | Digital Traditions
Episode 9
Beachy-Amish Mennonites who live in Cold Springs, S.C. (Abbeville County). Sadie is an accomplished quilter.
Mary Albertha Green: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions

Photo

Grades

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Mary Albertha Green: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions
Mrs. Mary Albertha Green is a lifelong resident of the Sutton Community of Andrews. Mrs. Green has been quilting since the age of eight, when an aunt taught her to turn old clothes into beautiful and...
Sharon Golden: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions

Photo

Grades

  • Higher Education
Sharon Golden: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions
Ms. Sharon Golden is a member of the Berry Quilters Guild, a quilting group based in Newberry. She is self-taught and began the learning process in 1995 by looking at sewing books and magazines. She...
Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting, Part 2 Quilting & Sewing, A Family Tradition | Digital Traditions - Episode 2 Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting

Audio

Grades

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Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting
Episode 1
Resident of Parksville, SC (McCormick County). Gilchrist was a schoolteacher from 1921-1975 and started quilting as a youngster. Her grandmother was born into slavery and learned to quilt while she...
Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting

Audio

Grades

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Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting
Episode 2
Resident of Parksville, S.C. (McCormick County). Gilchrist was a schoolteacher from 1921-1975 and started quilting as a youngster. Her grandmother was born into slavery and learned to quilt while she...
Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting, Part 2 Quilting & Sewing, A Family Tradition | Digital Traditions - Episode 2 Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting

Audio

Grades

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Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting
Episode 3
Resident of Parksville, SC (McCormick County). Gilchrist was a schoolteacher from 1921-1975 and started quilting as a youngster. Her grandmother was born into slavery and learned to quilt while she...
Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting, Part 2 Quilting & Sewing, A Family Tradition | Digital Traditions - Episode 2 Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting

Audio

Grades

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Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting
Episode 4
Resident of Parksville, SC (McCormick County). Gilchrist was a schoolteacher from 1921-1975 and started quilting as a youngster. Her grandmother was born into slavery and learned to quilt while she...
Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions

Photo

Grades

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Alberta Gilchrist: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions
Episode 5
Resident of Parksville, S.C. (McCormick County). Gilchrist was a schoolteacher from 1921-1975 and started quilting as a youngster. Her grandmother was born into slavery and learned to quilt while she...
Maree Dowdey: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions

Photo

Grades

  • Higher Education
Maree Dowdey: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions
Because of her close ties with textiles, she became interested in enhancing the beauty of fibers with natural dyes. She learned how to use roots, berries, flowers and many other organic materials for...
Jovita Cordova: Crocheting Photos | Digital Traditions

Photo

Grades

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Jovita Cordova: Crocheting Photos | Digital Traditions
Mrs. Jovita Cordova is originally from Mexico. She now resides in Lexington County, South Carolina where she continues a tradition she learned from her mother in Mexico. She learned to crochet when...
Carrie Coachman: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions

Photo

Grades

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Carrie Coachman: Quilting Photos | Digital Traditions
A native of Georgetown County, Coachman was a quiltmaker whose work represented the best in the distinctive traditions of the South Carolina coast. Coachman grew up in a traditional quilt making...