Clay County History Month is celebrated every year in May. It is a time of recollection and learning. The focus for this week is ‘Embedded in Clay,’ a historical anthology compilation directed by historian Dr. Maureen A. Jung. This is part three in a four-part series. 

CLAY COUNTY – In 2013, Maureen A. Jung, Ph.D., embarked on a mission to tell Clay County’s stories. She joined forces with Lynn Shapyak Harlin, who Jung described as “one of the sharpest editors and fluent poets,” and a dozen local writers in Clay County Writers, associated with the Florida Writers Association.

"I had never written fiction or hung around fiction writers. I wanted to give people a taste of nonfiction,” Jung said.

The reason for “embedded” in the title was to encourage the team to dig deep and unearth significant moments in the county’s history. Each writer picked a meaningful chapter of Clay County's history and dug deep to bring the story to life, balancing historical accuracy and literary appeal.

The team collaborated through writing workshops, where they practiced drafting and researching. This involved process lasted multiple years.“Embedded” cites the works of other historians, such as Arch Fredric Blakey and Mary Jo McTammany.

The contributing writers included Diane E. Shepard, Major Bryan J. Pitchford, Joan T. Warren, Paula R. Hilton, Tim Gilmore, Ph.D., Marshall Lenne, Nancy E. Moore, Inez Holger, Michael Ray FitzGerald, Ph.D., Lena Crain, Lillian Kiernan Brown, Beth Eifort, and also Jung and Harlin.

The anthology explores Black Creek, Camp Blanding, the life of Augusta Savage, Orange Park Monkeys Farm, the Coca-Cola bottling plant at Green Cove Springs, the community J.C. Penney built in the county, the folklore of the Bardin Booger and more.

Jung contributed a chapter about the Middleburg Colored School. As a current member of the Clay County Historic Preservation Board, she still champions the schoolhouse’s preservation.

The team’s contributions were published five years ago in the creative nonfiction collection “Embedded in Clay.” The anthology included creative nonfiction, poetry and prose.

The team held a book launch party at the Orange Park Library.

"People came in and bought books. Writers got up and gave a short reading. A guy came in thinking it was early voting because there were so many cars in the parking lot."

Today, Jung is pleased that her mission became a success. The community convened to help preserve Clay County’s history in a poignant and well-written way. “Embedded” proves that history can be both entertaining and enlightening.

You can purchase the book at barnesandnoble.com/w/embedded-in-clay-maureen-a-jung/1130639966.