Learn more about the AAAM x AACRN grant recipients below.
African American Fire Fighters Historical Society, Inc.
“History of African American Fire Fighters in the Baltimore City Fire Department”
Baltimore, Maryland
The African American Fire Fighters Historical Society (AAFFHS), formed in 2009, has
created a “one-stop shop” for research concerning African American fire service history.
Their mission: “is to collect, preserve and disseminate historical data, and information relating to the contributions made by fire fighters of color, and others who have made a contribution to such history; to be used for the purpose of education, fire prevention/safety, and mentoring.” The AAFFHS’s proposed project is to curate a traveling exhibition of Baltimore City’s African American Fire Fighter History. The core of this exhibition will be a full and complete story of the struggle African Americans faced to serve their communities, telling the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) from 1920 to 2025, in the BCFD. As it travels to sites across Maryland and beyond, host communities will add the stories and artifacts that document the integration of their local fire service. The project is therefore also a learning opportunity for the next generation of museum professionals.
The Stagville Memorial Project
“The Stagville Memorial Project”
(https://www.stagvillememorialproject.org/)
Durham, North Carolina
The Stagville Memorial Project seeks to install public art in downtown Durham that connects the community to the history of the Stagville Plantation and honors the contributions of its descendants to Durham’s culture and the ongoing fight for civil rights. Through archival research and collaboration with North Carolina Central University’s oral history collection, the project works to uncover and share the stories of those enslaved at Stagville and their descendants, deepening public understanding of their lasting impact on the city. The artwork will be featured along the future Rail Trail—a planned 1.8-mile path repurposing the former Norfolk Southern Belt Line, which once transported tobacco to Duke Homestead. The project will also host community events to gather input on proposed artist renderings and provide opportunities to learn more about Stagville’s history and legacy.
Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum
“Black Liberation: Past, Present and Future”
(https://bdmuseum.maryland.gov/)
Annapolis, Maryland
The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum documents, interprets, and promotes African American history and culture through exhibitions, programs, and projects to foster a deeper understanding of America’s cultural diversity. In partnership with the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Governor’s office, the museum will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States by offering a lecture series that explores the nation’s founding contradictions. This three-part series, Black Liberation: Past, Present, and Future, will take a nuanced approach, acknowledging that the birth of the U.S. was marked by both revolutionary ideals and profound injustices. The program will center on the lived experiences of enslaved people, highlighting their resistance, resilience, and agency. By examining the painful legacies of enslavement alongside the expansive possibilities of Afrofuturism, the series will inspire critical reflection on the present and its historical roots. Ultimately, this series aims to encourage transformative change, promoting a future where justice, liberation, and equality are within reach for all people, regardless of race, class, or background.
Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)
“Video Production for Historic Sites: Capturing the Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement”
Washington, D.C.
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is dedicated to promoting, researching, preserving, interpreting, and sharing information about Black life, history, and culture with a global audience. Their hands-on workshop, Video Production for Historic Sites: Capturing the Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, will focus on developing both long- and short-form media to enhance interpretation of the Civil Rights Movement. Participants will gain practical video production skills to respectfully and creatively tell these powerful stories, engage audiences, and enrich educational programming through compelling visual narratives. As part of the workshop, participants will complete a video project, applying their new skills in a real-world context and demonstrating how media can deepen public engagement with this critical history.
Oklahoma Indian Territory Museum of Black Creek Freedmen History, Inc.
“Oklahoma Indian Territory Museum of Black Creek Freedmen History, Inc. Website Enhancement Project”
(https://www.freedmenmuseum.org/)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Indian Territory Museum of Black Creek Freedmen History (OITMBCFH) proudly preserves the intertwined legacies of the Black Creek Freedmen. With a focus on amplifying these crucial narratives, their website enhancement project aims to significantly enhance digital outreach, using innovative technology to make these stories accessible worldwide. In an era where the narratives of disenfranchised communities are often marginalized or erased, our mission to digitally safeguard and promote the history of the Black Creek Freedmen is more critical than ever. This initiative not only aims to preserve vital historical content but also sets a new standard for how museums interact with global audiences through digital technology. By making the oral histories and cultural narratives of the Creek Freedmen accessible in digital formats, OITMBCFH will ensure these important stories persist into the future, accessible to all.
Dr. James Cameron Legacy Foundation, Inc. DBA: America’s Black Holocaust Museum
“Truth-Telling Through Education: Strengthening On-Site and Virtual Programming at America’s Black Holocaust Museum”
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Founded in 1988 by lynching survivor and activist Dr. James Cameron, America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) is dedicated to educating the public about African American history as an essential part of U.S. history. Its mission is to raise awareness of the enduring legacies of slavery and Jim Crow, while promoting racial repair, reconciliation, and healing. The project “Truth-Telling Through Education: Strengthening On-Site and Virtual Programming at America’s Black Holocaust Museum” aims to enhance ABHM’s role in historical truth-telling and expand its educational reach. As one of the few institutions with both physical and virtual museums, ABHM offers a comprehensive narrative spanning African history from pre-slavery through Emancipation to the present-day fight for racial justice. This project is a vital step toward preserving and expanding ABHM’s educational resources, ensuring its continued impact on the Milwaukee community and beyond. The museum’s vision is to help build a society that remembers its past to shape a future where all people are valued equally, and the nation is united across racial lines.
Magnolia House Foundation, Inc.
“The Black Traveler Education Program”
(https://www.thehistoricmagnoliahouse.org/)
Greensboro, North Carolina
The Historic Magnolia House in Greensboro, North Carolina was a vital refuge for African American travelers during the Jim Crow era, when segregation laws barred them from accessing the same accommodations, restaurants, and public spaces as white Americans. The Magnolia House Foundation is committed to preserving and restoring historically significant African American sites, while promoting a deeper understanding of Black history and culture. This project aims to expand the reach of the Historic Magnolia House through enhanced educational programming, including the integration of virtual reality characters into the Shoebox Lunch N’ Learn program. This initiative raises awareness about the hardships African Americans faced under Jim Crow laws, while engaging schoolchildren and the broader community in meaningful conversations about racial inequality. As part of the program, participants receive shoebox lunches—replicas of the meals once carried by Black travelers—packed with historically accurate food and educational materials. Through this work, the Magnolia House Foundation helps reconnect African American heritage sites with their communities, transforming them into living spaces that celebrate education, the arts, and cultural storytelling.
Brookland Center for Community Economic Change (dba Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center)
“Lakeview School Research and Development Project Phase II”
(https://brooklandlakeview.org/)
West Columbia, South Carolina
The Brookland Center for Community Economic Change (dba Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center or BLEC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for West Columbia, SC residents through support in health, education, and economics. BLEC is home to the Lakeview School State Historical Marker and Lakeview School Museum, which preserves the history of equal education in South Carolina, highlighting the challenges and successes of the Black community. As the most intact Black equalization school in Lexington County, the Lakeview School serves as a key symbol for understanding the local Black experience. The museum’s exhibits will focus on educational equality, the evolution of education in South Carolina, and will feature digital displays, oral histories, timelines, and interactive boards. BLEC’s goal is to create a dynamic and engaging museum that both preserves this significant history and provides a space for community connection and engagement. This preservation and rehabilitation project aims to create usable space within the historical site to continue serving the community for years to come.
C Williams Rush, LLC dba C. Williams Rush Museum of African-American Arts & Culture
“Build Capacity and Provide Exhibition & Interpretation Displays”
(https://cwrushafricanamericanmuseum.org/)
Kingstree, South Carolina
The C. Williams Rush Museum of African-American Arts & Culture in Kingstree, SC, founded in 2010, is dedicated to preserving and interpreting African American history and the civil rights movement. The museum serves as a resource for research, education, and community engagement, housing historical artifacts and offering curated exhibitions that explore significant events, figures, and milestones from the late 19th century to the present. It highlights pivotal moments of activism and resistance, with a focus on the local context of Williamsburg County and its contributions to the broader fight for racial justice. To further enhance its exhibitions, the museum is seeking to “Build Capacity and Provide Exhibition & Interpretation Displays”. These efforts will help maintain the museum’s role as a dynamic space for learning, discussion, and capacity building. The museum’s mission is to support, document, and interpret African American history, with an emphasis on Kingstree and Williamsburg County, while increasing program diversity for children. Its ongoing commitment ensures these important stories continue to educate and inspire future generations in an engaging and professional manner.
Tuskegee University
“Archives and Museum Collections at Tuskegee University Web Access Project”
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee University (TU), founded in 1881, was the first Black college designated a National Historic Landmark (April 2, 1966) and remains the only one designated a National Historic Site (October 26, 1974). The University Archives preserves TU’s rich civil rights legacy, including presidential records from Booker T. Washington onward, yearbooks, catalogs, photographs, local newspapers, documentation of faculty, staff, and community contributions to the African American struggle for equality. The Legacy Museum explores the intersections of science, health care, visual art, bioethics, and social justice, featuring exhibits on topics such as the HeLa cells and the Syphilis Study. Together, the Archives and Museum house over 600 collections that highlight the sacrifices and achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. Both entities serve as vital resources for creative teaching, learning, and research.
Through the “Archives and Museum Collections at Tuskegee University Web Access Project,” TU will upgrade its database to an industry-standard platform, expanding digital access to these important collections for researchers nationwide.
Lorraine Civil Rights Museum Foundation
“Speaking Truth to Power: The Life of Bayard Rustin’ Collection Conservation”
(https://civilrightsmuseum.org/)
Memphis, Tennessee
The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel (NCRM) honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., chronicles the American civil rights movement, and explores the ongoing struggle for human rights. As an educational institution and catalyst for positive social change, NCRM plays a vital role in contextualizing past and present challenges, with a focus on inspiring the next generation of leaders. Central to its mission is the inclusion of diverse perspectives and narratives. NCRM’s latest project centers on preserving and storing the newly acquired estate of Bayard Rustin. This collection offers a unique opportunity to explore Rustin’s personal and professional achievements and the intersections of his identity. Each item reveals stories that reflect his thoughts, values, and activism, ensuring his legacy endures. At a time when affirming intersecting freedom struggles is more important than ever, this collection will serve scholars, organizers, students, and the broader public as a vital resource. History, through voices like King and Rustin, continues to guide the pursuit of justice.
Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice
“Communicating the Next Chapter of the Pauli Murray Center”
(https://www.paulimurraycenter.com/)
Durham, North Carolina
The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice honors the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray—activist, legal scholar, feminist, poet, and Episcopal priest—to confront ongoing inequities and injustices. For over 13 years, the Center has focused on preserving Murray’s childhood home and surrounding ancestral land. Thanks to sustained collaboration with community members and partner organizations, the home is now a National Historic Landmark, opened to the public in September 2024, with the ancestral land expected to be acquired in 2025. As the Center transitions into a fully public-facing cultural institution, it will build new communications infrastructure to better convey its mission, highlight Murray’s contributions to civil rights, and enhance visitor engagement. A redesigned website will offer a more user-friendly experience for scheduling tours and field trips while more accurately reflecting the Center’s evolving role and impact. This is especially critical as the PMC becomes a primary resource in today’s climate—where backlash against marginalized histories, social justice, and queer communities is intensifying—clear, accessible communication is essential. This project will strengthen the Center’s resilience, deepen its connection with the community, and ensure that Pauli Murray’s legacy continues to inspire.
Dickerson Center for Civic Responsibility (An Unbroken Spirit: The Life of Reverend Horace L. Dickerson)
“Bishop College: Legacy of Dallas’ First HBCU Subtitle: FIAT LUX – Let There Be Light”
(https://dickersonciviccenter.org/)
DeSoto, Texas
The Dickerson Center for Civic Responsibility empowers the next generation of leaders by promoting civic engagement, voter education, and historical awareness. Committed to equipping young people with the knowledge and confidence to shape their communities and strengthen democracy, the Center serves as a catalyst for lasting change. Their website project, Bishop College: Legacy of Dallas’ First HBCU – FIAT LUX: Let There Be Light, aims to preserve and share the history of Bishop College through oral histories, archival documentation, and a professionally produced short documentary. Bishop College, founded in the late 19th century, was a cornerstone of education, civic life, and social justice in Dallas, nurturing a generation of African American leaders, many of whom played key roles in civil rights movements. The college fostered cross-cultural understanding and instilled values of leadership, integrity, and service. By digitizing historical materials and alumni stories, the project will create an accessible online archive that honors Bishop College’s legacy and highlights its cultural and educational impact. This effort aligns with the mission of HBCUs to celebrate African American achievement and inspire future generations to pursue justice with resilience and purpose
Stagville Descendants Council
“Stagville Descendants Council Little River Cemetery Restoration Project”
Durham, North Carolina
The Stagville Descendants Council (SDC) is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the enslaved African and African American ancestors of Stagville Plantation and promoting education, unity, and social justice. The Little River Cemetery Restoration Project, a key initiative of SDC, seeks to restore and maintain a sacred burial site containing approximately 1,000 graves of enslaved individuals and their descendants. Located near the historic Stagville Plantation, the cemetery is a vital link to African American history, resilience, and heritage. This project aligns with the Council’s mission to honor and preserve African American legacies while fostering healing and understanding. By engaging descendants and the broader community through volunteer opportunities, cultural events, and educational programs, SDC strengthens intergenerational connections and ensures these stories are remembered and celebrated. Restoring Little River Cemetery is not just about preserving the past—it is a step toward a more equitable future. Your support helps safeguard this historic site, amplify descendant voices, and affirm our shared commitment to justice, memory, and humanity.
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture
“Collections Records Digitization Project”
(https://www.lewismuseum.org/)
Baltimore, Maryland
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture is the largest African American museum in Maryland and has served as an authentic voice of the state’s African American history and culture since opening in 2005. Its permanent collection spans over 400 years and includes more than 13,000 objects. The museum’s digitization project aims to create searchable, online records of its physical collection to improve organization, preservation, and public access. This effort will support researchers, educators, and the general public by offering enriched records, including photographs, descriptions, dimensions, maker’s marks, and artist details. It will also enhance collections management, curating, interpretation, and compliance at a professional level. Additionally, the museum will upgrade to a cloud-based collections management system, improving access and engagement. These digital resources will support exhibitions, programming, and research, providing deeper insights into the museum’s holdings and encouraging broader use of its collection.
Black History Museum of Warren County Tennessee
“Tour-Mate System & Historical Banners Project”
McMinnville, Tennessee
The Black History Museum of Warren County, Tennessee (BHMWC) is dedicated to honoring African Americans connected to the county who have achieved recognition at the local, state, national, and international levels. As a small, volunteer-run museum, it can be difficult to consistently provide knowledgeable guides for tours. Yet, offering visitors a meaningful and informative experience remains a top priority. To address this, the museum seeks to implement the Tour-Mate system, a pre-recorded audio guide that allows guests to take self-guided tours when staff or volunteers are unavailable. This technology will provide visitors with engaging, scripted descriptions of the artifacts, enhancing their overall experience. In addition to the in-house tour system, the museum plans to install image banners and biographies of notable local African Americans—such as Carl T. Rowan, a prominent journalist and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—along the town’s main thoroughfare. These public displays will increase awareness of these individuals’ contributions and reinforce the museum’s significance within the community for both residents and visitors.
Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia
“Unearthing the Truth Behind Richmond’s Confederate Monuments”
(https://blackhistorymuseum.org/)
Richmond, Virginia
The mission of the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA) is to share, preserve, and commemorate the rich history and culture of African Americans in Virginia and beyond. The Unearthing the Truth Behind Richmond’s Confederate Monuments project seeks to broaden the narrative surrounding these monuments by highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of Black labor and the communities affected by their presence. Led by a Research & Public Historian, the project will explore the origins of white supremacy, efforts to resist it, and the lived experiences of those impacted by the Confederate monument era. Through research and interactive exhibits, BHMVA will uncover stories of those who built and lived in the shadow of these symbols, reframing a narrative long dominated by the Lost Cause ideology.
As one of the few institutions to possess original Confederate monument artifacts, BHMVA is uniquely positioned to present a more inclusive, multifaceted history. Exhibits will explore topics such as metallurgy, landscape architecture, and how monuments and infrastructure shaped—and displaced—Black communities. Public programs and events will foster dialogue, healing, and reflection, helping to build a more just and unified Richmond. Through strategic partnerships and educational initiatives, BHMVA aims to inspire cultural pride, advance social equity, and serve as a model for inclusive historical interpretation in communities across the country.
International African American Museum
“Informational bus tour to and from North Charleston to Charleston”
Charleston, South Carolina
The International African American Museum tells the unvarnished stories of the African American experience across generations, the trauma and triumph that gave rise to a resilient people. This project provided support for an informational bus tour between North Charleston and Charleston for evening programming that highlighted Gullah Geechee heritage as well as the robust history of African American heritage within South Carolina at both the International African American Museum and the Gibbes Museum of Art. The project represents a collaborative effort to enrich the #AAAM2025 Conference through meaningful and culturally significant research by the International African American Museum.
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
“Programming centered around Gullah Geechee heritage and folklife”
(https://gullahgeecheecorridor.org/)
Charleston, South Carolina
The mission of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Corridor is to preserve, promote, and protect the unique cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee people. We are dedicated to fostering understanding, appreciation, and respect for the traditions, language, arts, and history of this vibrant community. This initiative is part of a broader collaboration to enhance the #AAAM2025 Annual Conference through culturally significant and community-rooted programming hosted in North Charleston, South Carolina. The programming will explore the legacy of African American resilience in the Gullah Geechee Corridor—from the arrival of enslaved Africans in coastal South Carolina to the modern Civil Rights Movement and beyond.