Lowcountry Foodways Project
The Lowcountry Foodways Project is a collaboration between Trident Technical College Library and the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, both located in Charleston, South Carolina. The Project, a National Leadership Collaborative Planning Grant funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), lays the foundation for a multiphase endeavor that provides cross-collaboration opportunities for multiple libraries and museums. The impetus for the project is the fact that no centralized Lowcountry foodways collection—print or electronic—exists. The goal of the project is to enhance access and advance research into the roots of this region’s foodways and to serve the needs of both town and gown, who will connect through a common bond—food.
The Lowcountry is a geographic area that stretches from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Jacksonville, Florida, and 30 miles inland, following estuarine boundaries; culturally, its roots are a blend of African, Caribbean, English, French, and Native American peoples. The Lowcountry is undergoing rapid economic and demographic changes, and the uniqueness of it's culture and landscape, including its culinary heritage, is being lost.
When complete, the Project Web site will contain digital texts and images as well as oral histories. In addition, a video sharing application on the site will enable community members to share foodways memories.
