|
Skipjack News
| Brochure How-To |
By Suzanne Street
LIGHTS . . .
In 1972, Gabe and Dianna Purnell began researching African American history in Berlin, MD, shortly after their move to the area. In the process, they met others who shared their interest, notably Louise Ashe, then a librarian at the Worcester County Library in Snow Hill, MD. Ashe produced a brochure, based on the Purnell's research, that chronicled information about historical individuals and groups connected to Worcester County, MD. Research, a friendship, and a brochure served as the humble beginnings of the African American Heritage Committee, which started in the early eighties. The committee's first organized event for the public was the first African American Heritage Festival at Shad Landing, Worcester County's state park.
| 
Well-made brochures generate interest and drive traffic to their attractions. The upper- third face is key. |
"From that point," said Dianna Purnell, "people started gathering more and more information. We all had a common goal and the festival became our vehicle to showcase it." Though very successful, the Heritage Festival was but once a year, and the committee needed another vehicle. Committee members thought to improve the county's current brochure to use it as the second vehicle for disseminating the county's rich heritage. Once again, friendship came into play when Purnell contacted Lisa Challenger, a faithful supporter of the Heritage Festival and director of the Worcester County Tourism Office. Challenger found funding for the project and brought Paul Touart's skills to the table.
CAMERA . . .
Touart, a lower shore historian and publisher of architectural books, took on the challenge of writing the copy for the new brochure, gleaning information from Ashe as well as Dr. Clara Small, associate professor of history in the Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts at Salisbury University; and Gabe and Dianna Purnell, chairs of the Heritage Committee in Berlin to add to his extensive compilation of information already researched for his books. "This project benefited from the groundwork that was done for other reasons," said Touart. "I was therefore able to enhance and expand the old brochure greatly."
Over a period of 5-6 years, Touart conducted surveys and researched and wrote site information concerning historical plantations, free black communities, church architecture, and different congregations. He attributes key information in the brochure about historical individuals and groups, like the Buffalo Soldiers, Albert Tindley, and Stephen Handy Long, to Ashe. Then, six months' worth of additional researching, writing, editing, rewriting, and meeting in committee advanced the project to the next stage.
ACTION . . .
Gerald Gerlitzki, owner of Gerlitzki Designs, Inc. in Salisbury, MD, graphic designer and illustrator, received the text that had been approved by the Heritage Committee. "Getting photos for the brochure was the biggest challenge," said Gerlitzki, who found the layout process to be smooth once the pictures were obtained and scanned – a testament to the thorough work of the committee and the expertise of the designer. Gerlitzki's creativity led him to scan kente cloth to use as background material, to create original artwork, and to add Adinkra (West African) designs to the cover.
Pictures for the brochure were searched out and came from the private collections of committee members and individuals such as Dr. David Bridell, a former resident of Worcester County who has done extensive research on African Americans from Worcester County who served in the Civil War.
With writing and photos in hand, Gerlitzki went about laying out the brochure. He created an original watercolor that depicts former slaves leaving Worcester County to escape the hostilities common before the war.
Once the graphic design was complete, the Committee began the process of reviewing, editing, and printing. Said Gerlitzki, "As a graphic designer I realize every client has their own ideas about what the end product should be. I don't pretend to know about everything. Instead, we work together as much as possible, so I can understand what they want."
The brochure was designed for distribution through rack display, trade shows, and to be mailed in a standard No. 10 business envelope. Design and production of the four-color, 16"x18" brochure with four folds and 16 4" x 9" panels cost about $2,500. The illustration for the brochure was an additional expense of about $1,500. Printing 10,000 copies of the brochure cost $3,800. The average consumer would think it is cheaper to produce a 2- or 3-spot color brochure. Gerlitzki says it is important to know that today, stock houses are set up for four-color jobs, making them often cheaper for the consumer.
IT'S A TAKE . . .
The finished project was printed and reprinted and reprinted and reprinted and reprinted . . . and the rest is an incredible piece of history. "We would like to encourage people in the other counties to do the same thing we are doing," said Purnell during a recent interview. Today the committee has gone one step further. "The brochure and the information in the brochure have inspired us to do a seminar-type tour that actually serves to bring the brochure to life. It's like we have this skeleton that at least has clothes on it. Now we are adding some meat, and the brochure is the foundation," said Purnell.
The Heritage committee consists of Gabe and Dianna Purnell, Hattie Beckwith, Ermine Studmire, and Alison Morton. Drs. Clara Small and David Bridell are honorary members. As she thinks about the future, Purnell says, "maybe a book so we can get this information into the libraries and into the schools."
Those interested in reaching the committee may call 410-641-1988 in Berlin MD. To obtain copies of the brochure, contact the Worcester County Tourism Office at 410-632-3617 or by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). "It's always been a very popular piece. I think that is true because not too many brochures like it exist in Maryland," said Worcester County Tourism Director Lisa Challenger. The brochure was funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Tourism Development Board, the Rural Development Center at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The African American Heritage in Worcester County brochure has been reprinted five times.
Gerald Gerlitzki has been working in graphic design for 33 years. Photo courtesy Gerlitzki Design, Inc.
The contributions of many combine in a piece so dense it is striking.
Gerlitzki's original watercolor depicts an escape through the Pocomoke River swamp.
"Aesthetically pleasing to the eye, the "African American Heritage in Worcester County" brochure is a class act. In existence since 1998, the brochure boasts at least 5 reprints and has covered the Lower Eastern Shore through a number of venues, including state tourism offices, churches, visitor centers, museums, and even family reunions.
Photos by Kat Harting, UMES.
Suzanne Street is Acting Assistant Director of Public Relations at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne. She holds a degree in English from UMES. Born in Pocomoke City, she now lives in Crisfield. One of her relatives on her father's side, Edward P. Drummond, Jr., is featured in the African-American Heritage brochure.
|
Links
African-American Historic Sites on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore
http://skipjack.net/af-am_sites/
African American Heritage in Worcester County Maryland
http://www.visitworcester.org/heritage/africanam.htm
MD African American Pride Magazine
http://www.africanamericanpride.com |
|
|
