Edith Mitchell Dabbs (November 10, 1906 - 1991) was an American Civil rights activist and writer from South Carolina known for her focus on Saint Helena and Penn Center. She was married to James McBride Dabbs whom she assisted with editing.[1] Dabbs was one of the only authors to write about Saint Helena Island during her time. However, though her books continue to be cited, they were initially dismissed by some historians for not following the best practices of historic scholarship.
Edith was born November 10, 1906, in Sumter County, South Carolina, the oldest of six children. Her father, John Hampton Mitchell, was a Baptist preacher.[2] Dabbs graduated from Coker College in 1927 with a bachelors of arts degree in English and Latin.[3] In 1935, Dabbs married James McBride Dabbs.[4] She had an interest in Penn Center, a historic African American education center on Saint Helena Island. Her interest started in 1960 after her husband became a trustee of Penn Community Services. She later became a board member of the organization.[5]
Dabbs became the chairwoman of the United Council of Church Women of South Carolina, an organization which assisted in the desegregation of South Carolina after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.[6] She worked within the white women's progressive Christian organization to assist black Sea Islanders and to integrate churches.[7]
Writing careerEdit
Dabb's compiled Face of an Island, a book presenting newly discovered Leigh Richmond Miner's photographs of Saint Helena residents in 1970. The photographs, documented by Miner who was a teacher at the time, depicted the citizens of Saint Helena Island, their homes, and their surroundings. It was considered a "valuable additions to the literature of documentary photography" by A.D. Coleman of the New York Times.[8] However, one reviewer felt that the book was lacking in cultural information and did not include enough history on African Americans.[9]
In 1983, Dabbs wrote the Sea Island Diary, a book on the history of Saint Helena, the largest of the Carolina Sea Islands. It was the second book to be written about the subject in the 20th century.[10] It follows the history of Saint Helena from its discovery by the Spanish in 1520 to the 1980s. Dabbs used the plantation notes and correspondence of local families to complete her research. She received grants by the Field Foundation and the Ford Foundation during her work.[11] The Sea Island Diary was not well-received, one reviewer noted that Dabbs was a "very amateur historian" and that her book was flawed because it used only a few "primary resources" and lacked a map of Saint Helena.[12] However, most reviewers asserted that the book would educate the general public and aid researchers who needed anecdotal information from the region.
^Jones-Branch, Cherisse. Crossing the Line : Women’s Interracial Activism in South Carolina During and After World War II. University Press of Florida, 2014. p. 80-89.
^Harvey, Paul (2005). Freedom's Coming. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press. p. 200. doi:10.5149/uncp/9780807829011. ISBN9780807829011.
^Coleman, A. D. (1971-07-04). "Photography". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
^Twining, Mary Arnold (1972). "Reviewed Work: Face of an Island: Leigh Richmond Miner's Photographs of St. Helena Island by Edith M. Dabbs". The Journal of American Folklore. 85 (336): 199–200. doi:10.2307/539258. JSTOR 539258.
^Howland, Lawrence (1983). "Reviewed Work: Sea Island Diary: A History of St. Helena Island by Edith M. Dabbs". The South Carolina Historical Magazine. 85 (2): 160–161 – via JSTOR.
^Clifton, James (April 1984). "Reviewed Work: Sea Island Diary: A History of St. Helena Island by Edith M. Dabbs". The North Carolina Historical Review. 61 (2): 259–260 – via JSTOR.
^Alexander, Roberta Sue (1984). "Reviewed Work: Sea Island Diary: A History of St. Helena Island. by Edith M. Dabbs". The Journal of Southern History. 50 (4): 676. doi:10.2307/2208513. JSTOR 2208513.
^"Dabbs, Edith Mitchell". South Carolina Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
^"Rip Raps Plantation – Sumter County, South Carolina SC". south-carolina-plantations.com. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
August 28, 2023
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Edith Mitchell Dabbs November 10 1906 1991 was an American Civil rights activist and writer from South Carolina known for her focus on Saint Helena and Penn Center She was married to James McBride Dabbs whom she assisted with editing 1 Dabbs was one of the only authors to write about Saint Helena Island during her time However though her books continue to be cited they were initially dismissed by some historians for not following the best practices of historic scholarship Edith Mitchell DabbsBornEdith Mitchell1906Sumter County South CarolinaDied1991Rip Raps PlantationOccupationAuthorSpousesJames McBride Dabbs 1935 1970 ChildrenJames M Dabbs Jr Contents 1 Early life education and activism 2 Writing career 3 Works 3 1 Books 4 ReferencesEarly life education and activism EditEdith was born November 10 1906 in Sumter County South Carolina the oldest of six children Her father John Hampton Mitchell was a Baptist preacher 2 Dabbs graduated from Coker College in 1927 with a bachelors of arts degree in English and Latin 3 In 1935 Dabbs married James McBride Dabbs 4 She had an interest in Penn Center a historic African American education center on Saint Helena Island Her interest started in 1960 after her husband became a trustee of Penn Community Services She later became a board member of the organization 5 Dabbs became the chairwoman of the United Council of Church Women of South Carolina an organization which assisted in the desegregation of South Carolina after the Brown v Board of Education ruling 6 She worked within the white women s progressive Christian organization to assist black Sea Islanders and to integrate churches 7 Writing career EditDabb s compiled Face of an Island a book presenting newly discovered Leigh Richmond Miner s photographs of Saint Helena residents in 1970 The photographs documented by Miner who was a teacher at the time depicted the citizens of Saint Helena Island their homes and their surroundings It was considered a valuable additions to the literature of documentary photography by A D Coleman of the New York Times 8 However one reviewer felt that the book was lacking in cultural information and did not include enough history on African Americans 9 In 1983 Dabbs wrote the Sea Island Diary a book on the history of Saint Helena the largest of the Carolina Sea Islands It was the second book to be written about the subject in the 20th century 10 It follows the history of Saint Helena from its discovery by the Spanish in 1520 to the 1980s Dabbs used the plantation notes and correspondence of local families to complete her research She received grants by the Field Foundation and the Ford Foundation during her work 11 The Sea Island Diary was not well received one reviewer noted that Dabbs was a very amateur historian and that her book was flawed because it used only a few primary resources and lacked a map of Saint Helena 12 However most reviewers asserted that the book would educate the general public and aid researchers who needed anecdotal information from the region She attended Salem Black River Presbyterian Church and was buried there when she died 13 In 1970 her husband died willing Rip Raps Plantation to her 14 Works EditBooks Edit Walking Tall 1970 Face of an Island 1970 Sea Island Diary A History of St Helena Island 1983 References Edit Everything Happens at the Crossroads James McBride Dabbs the second son Everything Happens at the Crossroads Retrieved 2019 04 30 Oral History Interview with Edith Mitchell Dabbs October 4 1975 Interview G 0022 Southern Oral History Program Collection 4007 Electronic Edition A Southern Woman Advocates Social and Racial Justice in South Carolina in the Mid Twentieth Century 2019 02 11 Archived from the original on 2019 02 11 Retrieved 2019 04 30 Dabbs Edith Mitchell South Carolina Encyclopedia Retrieved 2019 04 30 Dabbs James McBride 1896 1970 SNAC snaccooperative org Retrieved 2019 04 30 Dabbs Edith 2018 Edith Mitchell Dabbs Papers PDF Edith Mitchell Dabbs Papers Retrieved May 11 2019 Jones Branch Cherisse Crossing the Line Women s Interracial Activism in South Carolina During and After World War II University Press of Florida 2014 p 80 89 Harvey Paul 2005 Freedom s Coming Chapel Hill NC The University of North Carolina Press p 200 doi 10 5149 uncp 9780807829011 ISBN 9780807829011 Coleman A D 1971 07 04 Photography The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2019 05 11 Twining Mary Arnold 1972 Reviewed Work Face of an Island Leigh Richmond Miner s Photographs of St Helena Island by Edith M Dabbs The Journal of American Folklore 85 336 199 200 doi 10 2307 539258 JSTOR 539258 Howland Lawrence 1983 Reviewed Work Sea Island Diary A History of St Helena Island by Edith M Dabbs The South Carolina Historical Magazine 85 2 160 161 via JSTOR Clifton James April 1984 Reviewed Work Sea Island Diary A History of St Helena Island by Edith M Dabbs The North Carolina Historical Review 61 2 259 260 via JSTOR Alexander Roberta Sue 1984 Reviewed Work Sea Island Diary A History of St Helena Island by Edith M Dabbs The Journal of Southern History 50 4 676 doi 10 2307 2208513 JSTOR 2208513 Dabbs Edith Mitchell South Carolina Encyclopedia Retrieved 2019 04 30 Rip Raps Plantation Sumter County South Carolina SC south carolina plantations com Retrieved 2019 04 30 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edith Mitchell Dabbs amp oldid 1107087703, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
