Helvetia Video Project

Bob Campbell and film crew for Helvetia Video Project. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, Nov 1992, Helvetia, WV. The video project culminated in a documentary film entitled Helvetia: The Swiss of West Virginia that features descendants of 19th century Swiss immigrants sharing and discussing their music, dance, yodeling, foodways, crafts, customs, and celebrations.

archive reference: GM S2641.

Project description:
The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes photos and tapes with earlier dates that others sent to him.

Mary Hicks and Irene Hartmann on the porch working wool with paddles and spinning wheel, as Gerry Milnes, Bob Campbell, and Stacy Kay film for the Helvetia video project, June 1992, Helvetia WV. The video project culminated in a documentary film entitled Helvetia: The Swiss of West Virginia that features descendants of 19th century Swiss immigrants sharing and discussing their music, dance, yodeling, foodways, crafts, customs, and celebrations.

archive catalog reference GM S2540.

The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes photos and tapes with earlier dates that others sent to him.