This short film contains excerpts from the 1953 documentary - All My Babies: A Midwife's Own Story directed by George C. Stoney - which featured Mary Coley, a midwife in rural Georgia, and was originally produced to educate granny midwives. Bernard Coley, Mary Coley's grandson, talks about his family learning of the existence of the film and what he remembers about his grandmother in regards to her values, caretaking for her family, and working as a midwife. The film also contains footage of a Coley family reunion in Albany, Georgia; and states the Coley family created an endowment in Mary Coley's name at Albany State University and established a scholarship fund for students who intend to pursue health care in rural, underserved areas. In 2002, All My Babies: A Midwife's Own Story was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Short film containing excerpts of film and interview. Part of the Reclaiming Midwives: Pillars of Community Support exhibition. Undated.
Biographical / Historical:
Reclaiming Midwives: Pillars of Community Support exhibition, held at the Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture from November 13, 2005 - August 6, 2006, documented the life and work of Mary Francis Hill Coley in rural Georgia where she provided midwifery care to thousands for 30 years. The exhibition celebrated the role of Miss Coley (1900-1960) and many other midwives as central forces in the communities they served and traces midwife practices from the earliest days of slavery to today.
General:
Title transcribed from the Internet Archive as titled by producer Elliot Margolies.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Gift of Gregory Kinsey, Kinsey Chanoyu Collection, in honor of Louise Cort and in appreciation of her years of scholarship in support of Chanoyu education in the U.S.
