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Collection Number: P0108

Collection Title: Rob Amberg Photographs for Sodom Laurel Album, 1975-1994, 2002

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


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Size 3.0 linear feet of shelf space (61 items)
Abstract Collection consists of the 60 photographic prints used to produce Sodom Laurel Album (2002). Sodom Laurel Album, chronicles Dellie Norton and her family 1975-1994, who lived in the small mountain community of Sodom Laurel, located in Madison County, N.C. The collection also contains a copy of Sodom Laurel Album (2002).
Creator Amberg, Rob.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives.
Language English
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Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research.
Restrictions to Use
No usage restrictions.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Rob Amberg Photographs for Sodom Laurel Album #P0108, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Rob Amberg in May 2003 as a donation by Robin Hanes (Acc. 31138).
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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Processed by: Amelia W Holmes, June 2016

Encoded by: Amelia W Holmes, June 2016

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

Rob Amberg was born in Washington, D.C., in 1947. Educated in Catholic schools, he graduated from the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, in 1969. While there, he produced a slide-tape presentation that introduced him to the potential of photography as a tool for social change. After college, he was granted Conscientious Objector status to the draft and spent two and a half years in Tucson, Ariz., teaching nursery school as his alternative service. In Tucson, Ariz., he produced his first published photographs and had his first one-person exhibit at Spectrum Gallery.

He moved to Madison County, N.C., in 1973 and began what has become his lifetime project; writing and photographing about the evolving culture and environment of his adopted county. His first book, Sodom Laurel Album, was published in 2002 by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke and the University of North Carolina Press. His second book from Madison County, The New Road: I-26 and the Footprints of Progress in Appalachia, was published in 2009 by the Center for American Places at Columbia College Chicago. Throughout his career Amberg has been on staff or done assignment work for non-profit organizations and philanthropic foundations. His work has largely focused on rural communities, family farms, and the environment. His work is regularly published and exhibited nationally. He is the recipient of awards from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the North Carolina Humanities Council, the Center for Documentary Studies, and others. In 2004, he had the honor of presenting Sodom Laurel Album at the Library of Congress.

Since moving to the mountains, Amberg has sought to participate in mountain life as much as he’s documented it. He lives with his wife, Leslie Stilwell, on a small farm where they raise gardens and shitake mushrooms, tend an assortment of animals, burn firewood, and drink water from a mountain spring.

Biographical information taken from Rob Amberg's biography on RobAmberg.com, March 2016.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

Collection consists of the 60 photographic prints used to produce Sodom Laurel Album (2002). Sodom Laurel Album, chronicles Dellie Norton and her family 1975-1994, who lived in the small mountain community of Sodom Laurel, located in Madison County, N.C. When Amberg first met Dellie Norton and her adopted son, Junior, in 1975, Norton was seventy-six years old and had lived most of her life in the small mountain community of Sodom Laurel, N.C., surrounded by close kin, tobacco fields, and the rugged wilderness of the southern Appalachians. Images chronicle the relationship between Norton and Amberg across the next two decades, years marked by the seasons of raising and harvesting food and tobacco and by the gatherings of family and friends for conversation, storytelling, and music. The collection also contains a copy of Sodom Laurel Album (2002).

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Rob Amberg Photographs for Sodom Laurel Album, 1975-1994, 2002.

61 items.

Titles, captions, and notes have all been transcribed from verso of prints.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0001

"Junior holding hoe, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 93 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0002

"Doug Wallin sowing tobacco bed, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1978

Appears on page 24 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0003

"Tilman Chandler's Tobacco and Barn, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1975

Appears on page 28 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0004

"Dellie holding photograph of her father, Mart Chandler, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1993

Appears on page 131 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0005

"Junior repairing the spring, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 12 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0006

"Dellie topping and suckering tobacco, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 31 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0007

"Berzilla Wallin Dancing at Festival of Eno River, Durham, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 121 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0008

"Dellie singing ballad for film, 'Amazing Grace: America in Song,' Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1975

Appears on page 84 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0009

"Joyce Chandler, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 45 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0010

"In Dellie's Living Room, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977-1978

Appears on page 8 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0011

"Marthie and Joe's trailer, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 41 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0012

"Denise Norton in her grandmother's front yard, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appers on page 42 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0013

"Singing at Rice Cove Grave Decoration, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 128 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0014

"Tobacco buyer K. Stark bidding on crop at Planters Warehouse, Asheville, N.C.," 1994

Appears on page 109 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0015

"Janice Rice waiting for her tobacco check, Planters Warehouse, Asheville, N.C.," 1994

Appears on page 112 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0016

"Joe Ross Chandler and Bobby Cantrell, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 47 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0017

"Tobacco worker loading tobacco for shipment to manufacturing plant, Planter's Warehouse, Asheville, N.C.," 1981

Appears on page 110 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0018

"Unloading tobacco at Planter's Warehouse, Asheville, N.C.," 1981

Appears on page 106 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0019

"Junior holding ginseng root, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 93 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0020

"Dellie at her 90th Birthday Party, Hot Springs, N.C.," 1988

Appears on page 96 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0021

"Berzilla Wallin holding picture of her family's band, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 114 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0022

"Clinton Norton and Junior on Dellie's porch, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 40 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0023

"Junior holding the Hippie from Mississippi picture, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1984

Appears on page 99 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0024

"Playing setback on Dellie's porch, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 79 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0025

"Junior's Bedroom, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977-1978

Appears on page 8 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0026

"Dellie doing laundry on her side porch, Sodom Laurel, Maidson County, N.C.," 1975

Appears on page 11 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0027

"Zippora Rice in her bed at home, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 117 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0028

"Clinton Norton waiting for school bus, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 38 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0029

"Junior and the Jumping Cat, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1975

Appears on page 15 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0030

"Preaching at Rice Cove Grave Decoration, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 128 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0031

"Junior and pet, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1978

Appears on page 17 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0032

"In Dellie's bedroom, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977-1978

Appears on page 8 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0033

"Vicky Ray on prom night, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 43 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0034

"On Dellie's porch, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1978

Appears on title page and page 85 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0035

"Mary Norton, Dellie's youngest child, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 78 of book.

Flat Box 1

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0036

"Junior holding hoe, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 93 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0037

"Dellie on the side porch, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 6 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0038

"Junior at the High Rock, Sodom Laurel, Madision County, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 88 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0039

"Dellie and Junior, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1978

Appears on page 14 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0040

"Dellie tying tobacco leaves into hands, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 104 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0041

"Juanita Shelton Hauling Tobacco to Barn, Hopewell, Madison County, N.C.," 1983

Appears on page 68 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0042

"Dellie walking to her front porch, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1993

Appears on page 141 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0043

"Dellie Norton at Home, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1986

Appears on page 141 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0044

"Junior walking Pet to water, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.,"

Appears on page vi. of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0045

"On the porch at Ramsey's Store, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 39 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0046

"Junior photographing Dellie, David Holt, and Zeb Holt, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1978

Appears on page 99 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0047

"Dellie and Pet, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 70 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0048

"Doug Wallin playing fiddle in his living room, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977

Appears on page 123 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0049

"Junior at Dellie's funeral, Marshall, Madison County, N.C.," 1993

Appears on page 143 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0050

"Dellie's daughter Tildie Payne making strawberry jam, Little Pine, Madison County, N.C.," 1994

Appears on page 51 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0051

"Junior walking to the house, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1976

Appears on page 4 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0052

"Dellie's shed and pear tree, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1977-1978

Appears on page 13 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0053

"Driving to Sodom Laurel over Walnut Gap," 2001

Appears on page 1 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0054

"Angie and Juanita Shelton unloading tobacco, Hopewell, Madison County, N.C.," 1983

Appears on page 68 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0055

"Hispanic farm worker loading tobacco, Brush Creek, Madison County, N.C.," 1993

Appears on page 65 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0056

"Juanita Shelton directing truck load of tabacco to the barn, Hopewell, Madison County, N.C.," 1983

Appears on page 66 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0057

"Angie Shelton and family picking up tobacco leaves, Hopewell, Madison County, N.C.," 1983

Appears on page 67 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0058

"Isaac Gunter's tobacco bed and cemetary, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, N.C.," 1982

Appears on page 2 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0059

"McKinley Massey and family carrying tobacco plants to the field, Big Pine, Madison County, N.C.," 1982

Appears on page 28 of book.

Flat Box 2

Black and White Photographic Print P0108/0060

"Cut Burle Tobacco, Brush Creek, Madison County, N.C.," 1993

Appears on page 64 of book.

Flat Box 3

Folder P0108/0061

Sodom Laurel Album (2002), by Rob Amberg 2002

Bound in black cloth; red lettering on spine; edges trimmed. Dust jacket. Title page autographed and dated by author. Includes 1 CD.

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