Still Standing
Essays of Our Lives
From when'st
I came ...
Amelia Still Clark was my Grandmother. Her mom, Sadie was from the Cheerokee Tribe. Her dad was named William Still after his uncle. So he's really grandmom's uncle not her grandpop as we thought. Her Grandpop was Edward, William Still's brother.
William Still was called the father of the Underground Railroad. He wrote the book, the Underground Railroad, which comprised of the stories of the slaves which he helped once they reached Philadelphia.
I do remember going to Still's Day as a kid. in Lawnside, NJ. I remember the church on the corner where they all met for service and then everyone went down the street to cousin Clem's backyard. Cousin Clem is gone now. There's a lot of memories.
As I got older I began to wonder more about my family. By then I began asking cousin Clem, the family historian, all about my great great grandfather and all the ancestors.
My grandmother was the baby girl of the family. When she met Granville Clark, a city slicker from Philadelphia, the family was none to happy. It was thought that she was marrying beneath her. Her family was well off and Granville's was not.
My grandpop Granville came from an interesting background. His father was ostracized from the family for marrying a negro woman. The Clarks were Irish and great grandpop Clark's family disowned him.
In fact on his job no one knew he was married to a black woman. He kept it secret so he would have a job in which to take care of his family.
Getting back to my Grandmom Amelia - When she and grandpop married, they moved to Camden, New Jersey.
Here she had 13 children, (one died as a baby). My mother Marian was the oldest Girl (now deceased) and in 1949 mom had me.
To be continued ...
Many families will be featured in this segment.
How and when did we get here?
I Often wondered how I ended up in Camden, NJ.
Now I know ...
Read my story and stay tune for many more to come.
So dig out those old letters, vintage photos and memories.
Ms. Ruth
If you would like to share your family's story, please send a brief description.
or~ send info to:
1628 Kolo St. Camden, NJ 08104-1624
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Website Design ~ Bev Collins 2003 - 2023
Photography is Copyrighted by Beverly Collins-Roberts 1979 - 2010
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The Oral History Series ...
In 2005 I began interviewing the elders of Camden, NJ.
Everyone's story was fascinating in some way. Each conversation told the story of their lives before moving to Camden and how life had been during their stay. The one thing they all had in common was the pain of slavery, racism, and in some cases poverty but, most importantly a Will of Steel. I have learned that we are an incredible people. Actually I do believe that no where else on this earth has so many noted - important - famous people come up out of one place. Even though it has been said that our City of Camden has been the most dangerous city in America. I Don't Think So! When you hear the story of our lives, it's a wonder how we even survived, let alone be magnificent.
From time to time portions of these conversations will be shared on this site and later - on film.
Meanwhile
Some interesting facts I learned ...
Dora Moore ... See left Column
Mr. Raymond Smith ... His grandmother was passing for white on the Titanic and survived. His other Grandmother was Carolyn Hamilton, Slave Daughter of Alexander Hamilton.
Mrs. Lovely Smith ... Her Grandpop was a Professor in the South and their family lived very well. Her father was the only black man in Camden who made Gas.
Mr. Melvin Larmond ... He was the Caretaker for Pomona Hall for 26 years before retiring in 12/2004. Pomona Hall was the Slave Plantation in the 1700's. He never knew that, until a few years ago.
Mr. John Fooks & Mrs Mattie Fooks... Both were tailors and had strong ties to the South.
Ms Nelson ... Well if you live almost 100 years you know there are many stories to tell. Just months before she died on 7/25/07 she shared them with me. On a ship coming to Phila, Pa for the 1st time - her sister Grace was treated like a Princess, because they thought she was white.
The Farmers ... are one of the oldest Black Families in South Jersey - along with the Stills. One of the 14 Slaves living in Pomona Hall was, Susannah Farmer.
The Roberts ... played a great part in the Underground Railroad Movement in Mt. Laurel. They also often married Stills for the pass 200 yrs. and worked side by side in the movement.
Dora Moore
Ms. Dora passed 8/15/06
When I interviewed Ms. Dora in 2005, her daughter Patsy T. Moore was writing a book about her mom's incredible life. That book has been written!
All the details she could not disclose in the documentary are in the book
"Tobacco Stains"
by Patsy T. Moore
A must Read ... You will not be able to put it down.
Oral Histories to come
Mr. Raymond Smith (Passed)
Mrs. Lovely Smith (Passed)
Mr. Melvin Larmond
Mr. John Fooks ... (Passed)
Mrs. Mattie Fooks (passed)
Ms. Nelson ... 99 yrs (passed)
Ms. Lee Cooper
Mrs. Grant
Ms. Anna Mae Burton
The Farmers
The Roberts
and many more ...
The Stories go on and on ...
Share your family's story.
Find the Missing Puzzle
Pieces of History ...
