Publication: Winston-Salem Journal
Article Title: Author to sign her book about Winston-Salem
Author: Heidi Freeman
Date: 10/19/08
Molly Grogan Rawls will discuss and sign copies of her new book, Winston-Salem, at several venues in the coming weeks. The book chronicles the history of the city through vintage and modern photographs. It is part of the Then and Now series by Arcadia Publishing.
Rawls will do signings at:
□ 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Old Salem Visitor Center, 900 S. Main St.
□ 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Black Walnut Festival at Historic Bethania.
□ 10 a.m. until noon Nov. 1 at L.A. Reynolds Garden Showcase, 4400 Styers Ferry Road.
□ 12:30-2:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at Old Salem Visitor Center, 900 S. Main St.
To learn more about Rawls' book, see www.arcadiapublishing.com.
Title: Our Place in Time
Author: Lauren Rippey
Publisher: Winston-Salem Monthly
Date: January 2009
For the past 18 years, Molly Grogan Rawls has been hands-on with thousands of the city's most historic snapshots — images that for many residents, live only in nostalgic daydreams.
A second-generation Winston-Salem native, Rawls has worked as the Forsyth County Public Library photo archivist since 1990. In that time, she has also published three books that chronicle our city through postcards and photography.
Appropriately, her most recent project is a hometown edition of Arcadia Publishing's popular Then & Now series. Winston-Salem: Then & Now partners vivid, current photography with corresponding historic images, creating a photo album for the town that appeals to both natives and newcomers. "People who have lived here for all their lives enjoy reading the book and remembering how things were, while people who are new to town enjoy learning how things used to be," Rawls explains. "I think it offers something to anyone who appreciates this place."
With chapters titled "Going Downtown," "Cruising Stratford Road," "Motoring Reynolda Road," and "Traversing the Outskirts," the book features nearly 80 pairs of pictures, as well as engaging captions that narrate the evolution of the area.
"I wanted to show a variety of places: some popular spots that people commonly ask about, as well as some surprises that people may have either forgotten or never known," Rawls says. "Ultimately, I wanted to make history come alive."
Considering her line of work, it's easy to assume that Rawls lives in the past. That sentiment, in fact, couldn't be further from the truth.
"Looking back is important, but I don't want people to be sad that the past is gone," she concludes. "Cities need to change to attract new people and new business. I hope folks can appreciate and enjoy their history, while embracing future growth, too."
