The Chowan Discovery Group(CDG) undertakes projects designed to foster increased understanding within and among cultural groups through photo and video documentation, written publications, and the preservation of cultural history and traditions. The CDG often works in collaboration with individuals and organizations with related missions, and also facilitates communication and increased collaborative activities among them.
Specific CDG programs support and involve individuals, community groups and institutions. Strong emphasis is placed on collaborative program design and development, with local participants playing a major role in specifying project objectives and strategies. More specifically, the Chowan Discovery Group is searching through books, family reunion booklets, newspaper and magazine articles, public records and censuses; documenting cemeteries; scanning photographs and documents; interviewing people, and photographing artifacts and buildings. These activities afford us a broad view of the vibrant landowning community of the Winton Triangle located in the heart of Hertford County. In addition, CDG studies also include the neighboring North Carolina counties of Gates, Bertie and Northampton as well southeastern Virginia.
The goals of the CDG include making presentations, publishing articles and books, creating exhibits and media materials, successfully nominating highway historical markers, replicating the inventions patented by Parker D. Robbins, ensuring that valuable historical materials are properly archived and presenting the Winton Triangle story. Many of these goals have been met.