Clarion Content

Generation Gab organized by one of Durham’s own, Mary Coffman, was a tremendous success. Generation Gab was an event that brought together four octogenrian women, all near lifetime citizens of Durham and a smattering of Durham’s civically oriented youth for a tea party and oral history forum. It was the first in what Ms. Coffman hopes will be a series of Durham oral history forums.

Ms. Coffman’s mother, Laurie Coffman is the pastor of Cavalry Methodist Church where the event was held. The four women, Linda Woodall, Betty Philips, Ruth Upchurch, and Louise Parrish are all long time members of Calvalry Methodist. The Coffmans aware of the personal treasure they had in their midst and anxious share, persuaded these ladies that they had organized an opportunity where their stories could be heard and valued. Mary convinced a coeterie of her own peers to spend their Saturday afternoon nibbling on delicious cucumber sandwiches, sipping tea and listening.

Mary’s vision had come together. It had originally flowed from conversations with fellow Durhamanians following viewing the recent Durham documentary, "Durham: A Self Portrait.” Twenty-something Mary has personally known these ladies since she was a young girl. Durham has changed substantially in just that time. Mary recognized that these ladies were irreplicable recepticles of Durham’s history. To offer but one example of the change in Durham between Mary’s youth and the Clarion’s establishment, the sweet smell of tobacco. The sweet smell of tobacco you say? Apparently Durham positively exuded the sweet scent for years on end. The Clarion has never smelled it, never even heard of it. But after Generation Gab when we asked around, it was firmly ensconced in the memory of all the Durhamanians who had been here when.

This was hardly the only nugget. Did you Durham once had a streetcar system? Or that the North Carolina School of Science and Math was originally Watts hospital? Or that sixty plus years ago, it was standard to finish school with 11th not 12th grade? The list goes on and on.

These amazing women, who remember filled their lives with achievement long before the groundswell of feminism in the late 1960's and 70's, literally bubbled over with stories, anecdotes and facts of Durham's rich history. It was terrific. All involved glowed with joy and wished that we had more time to explore. Fortunately, Mary Coffman is already in the process of organizing a follow-up event, much to the delight of all the participants.

Keep your eyes on the Clarion we will have the date and location as soon as it is announced.

Labels: Durham, Pop Culture