Amistad Research Center

AFRICAN AMERICAN COOPERATIVES AND LAND OWNERSHIP IN THE SOUTH: INCREASING ACCESS TO THE RECORDS OF THE FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN COOPERATIVES/LAND ASSISTANCE FUND

THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER WILL INCREASE PUBLIC ACCESS TO AND ENHANCE STEWARDSHIP OF ITS COLLECTIONS OF ARCHIVAL, DIGITAL, AND LIBRARY HOLDINGS. FOR THE PROJECT, THE INSTITUTION WILL HIRE A FULL-TIME REFERENCE ARCHIVIST TO ASSIST RESEARCH SERVICES AND ADDRESS A BACKLOG IN COPY AND ORIGINAL CATALOGING OF BOOKS AND RARE PUBLICATIONS. THE INSTITUTION WILL ALSO HIRE A FULL-TIME METADATA SPECIALIST TO ADDRESS COLLECTIONS METADATA REMEDIATION FOR THE LEGACY DIGITAL AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION PHOTOGRAPHS COLLECTION. STAFF WILL RECEIVE TRAINING ON CATALOGING PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS. AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT, THE DIGITIZED ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY COLLECTIONS DOCUMENTING OVER 150 YEARS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS.

THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER (ARC) WILL BUILD CAPACITY TO ENHANCE COLLECTIONS STEWARDSHIP. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HIRING A PART-TIME VISUAL ARTS CURATOR TO CREATE ONSITE AND DIGITAL EXHIBITIONS AND INTERPRETATIVE PROGRAMMING, RETAINING A PART-TIME REGISTRAR TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT ACCORDING TO ARC'S REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND PURCHASING A WEB KIOSK AND HOSTING SERVICES FOR COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT. THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT IS THAT ARC WILL HAVE A VISUAL ART CURATOR AND REGISTRAR TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS AND ADDRESS PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION NEEDS. THE PROJECT WILL ENABLE ARC TO INCREASE ACCESS TO ITS FINE ART COLLECTION TO RESEARCHERS, CULTURAL HERITAGE INSTITUTIONS SEEKING LOANS FOR EXHIBITIONS, AND EDUCATORS.

THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER WILL EXPAND ACCESS AND USE OF ITS ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS BY DOCUMENTING THE WORK OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN LEADERS IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS, INCLUDING THE ARTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVISM, LABOR ACTIVISM, CIVIC LEADERSHIP, POLITICS, AND BUSINESS. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL PROCESS THE PERSONAL PAPERS OF 11 PROMINENT WOMEN LEADERS IN ADDITION TO CONVERTING THE LEGACY FINDING AIDS FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE COLLECTIONS OF WOMEN?S PAPERS TO ONLINE VERSIONS. THE CENTER WILL USE INFORMATION DERIVED FROM THE PROJECT TO CREATE OR ENHANCE WIKIPEDIA PAGES FOR EACH WOMAN HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PROJECT. SELECTIONS FROM EACH OF THE 16 COLLECTIONS WILL SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE RESEARCH, DESIGN, AND INSTALLATION OF BOTH A PHYSICAL AND ONLINE EXHIBITION ENTITLED ?A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES: DOCUMENTING AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN?S HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENTS.?

DISCRETIONARY

DISCRETIONARY

THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER WILL IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF ITS DIGITAL ASSETS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE STAFF WITH EASIER ACCESS TO THE MATERIALS. THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ALSO ENABLE THEM TO BETTER ASSIST WITH REFERENCE INQUIRIES AND RESEARCH REQUESTS. THE RESEARCH CENTER WILL CREATE A NEW DIGITAL ARCHIVIST POSITION, WHICH WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING STANDARDS-BASED POLICIES AND WORKFLOWS, TRAINING STAFF ON BEST PRACTICES FOR DIGITAL ASSETS MANAGEMENT, AND DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES FOR THE ACQUISITION, PRESERVATION, AND ACCESS OF BORN-DIGITAL MATERIALS. THE DIGITAL ARCHIVIST WILL RESEARCH AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PROFESSIONAL CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, OVERSEE THE INSTALLATION OF THE SYSTEM, AND FORMULATE A PLAN FOR IMPORTING EXISTING METADATA AND HANDLING ONGOING DATA ENTRY.

THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER WILL BEGIN PHASE TWO OF IMPLEMENTING A NEW DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, INCLUDING ACQUIRING THE SOFTWARE AND CLOUD STORAGE FOR THE SYSTEM. THE CENTER WILL CONDUCT A METADATA REMEDIATION PROJECT TO ENSURE THE STANDARDIZATION AND ACCURACY OF DOCUMENTATION FOR DIGITAL ASSET HOLDINGS PRIOR TO UPLOADING INTO THE NEW SYSTEM. THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO SERVE IN-HOUSE AND DISTANCE RESEARCHERS, AS WELL AS SUPPORT THE CENTER’S OWN DIGITAL PROJECTS, PROGRAMMING, AND PUBLICITY. IT WILL PROVIDE MORE EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF INFORMATION ABOUT ITS DIGITAL ASSETS AND ALLOW THE CENTER TO BETTER MEET CURRENT RESEARCH PRACTICES AND EXPECTATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE DIGITAL HUMANITIES.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS

THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER WILL PRESERVE AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO TWO COLLECTIONS OF PERSONAL PAPERS RELATED TO AFRICAN AMERICANS IN BROADCAST MEDIA: RADIO HOST AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST JOE MADISON AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL BENJAMIN L. HOOKS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE CONDUCTING HISTORICAL ASSESSMENTS AND COLLECTIONS SURVEYS; CREATING DETAILED PROCESSING ACTION PLANS; ARCHIVAL PROCESSING AND PRODUCTION OF ONLINE FINDING AIDS; DIGITIZING AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS; AND PRODUCING A RADIO VERSION OF ITS SIGNATURE PUBLIC PROGRAM, “CONVERSATIONS IN COLOR,” WITH JOE MADISON AND SCHOLAR DR. DAVID CANTON. THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PAPERS OF HOOKS AND MADISON, AS WELL AS STABILIZE THE COLLECTIONS FOR LONG-TERM PRESERVATION.

THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER (ARC) AIMS TO MAKE DISCOVERABLE AND TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO UNIQUE FILM FOOTAGE AND ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS THAT DOCUMENT THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COMMUNITY OF MOUND BAYOU, MISSISSIPPI. THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD UPON ARC’S PREVIOUS WORK CREATING DIGITAL ONLINE COLLECTIONS TO ENSURE PRESERVATION AND ACCESS TO HISTORIC MATERIALS. ACTIVITIES WILL ENTAIL PHYSICAL PROCESSING AND CATALOGING MOVING IMAGE AND SOUND RECORDINGS WITH UNIQUE NUMERICAL IDENTIFIERS AND OUTSOURCED DIGITIZATION OF ALL AUDIOVISUAL ITEMS IN MULTIPLE FORMATS WITHIN THE COLLECTION. AT THE CLOSE OF THE PROJECT, ARC STAFF WILL CONVENE WITH COLLEAGUES FROM THE MOUND BAYOU MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HISTORY TO DISCUSS, EVALUATE, AND DOCUMENT PROCESSES RESULTING FROM PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION. THE OUTCOME OF THIS CONVENING IS TO CREATE AND REVISE EFFECTIVE PRACTICES TO SUSTAIN ARC’S CURRENT AND FUTURE DIGITIZATION PROJECTS AND DISCUSS HOW ARC CAN ASSIST AND COLLABORATE WITH THE MOUND BAYOU MUSEUM AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW INTO THE FUTURE.

MUSEUM GRANTS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

APPRAISING AND IDENTIFYING AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS

DISCRETIONARY

MUSEUM GRANTS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

AFRICAN AMERICAN LAND OWNERSHIP IN THE SOUTH: INCREASING ACCESS TO THE RECORDS OF THE FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN COOPERATIVES AND THE EMERGENCY LAND FUND

AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER (ARC) WILL GAIN INTELLECTUAL CONTROL AND ACCESS TO THE RECORDS OF JUNEBUG PRODUCTIONS, AN ORGANIZATION ENGAGED IN THE PROGRESSIVE ARTS MOVEMENT SINCE 1980. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL COMPLETE A COLLECTION SURVEY, PRELIMINARY CONTAINER LISTING, PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT, AND ACTION PLAN FOR FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION OF FULL ARCHIVAL PROCESSING OF THE COLLECTION. THEY WILL THEN WORK CLOSELY WITH A CONSULTANT TO DIGITIZE 68 HOURS OF MOVING IMAGE AND SOUND RECORDINGS FROM THE JUNEBUG PRODUCTIONS RECORDS. THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL ENABLE ARC TO PROVIDE IMPROVED ACCESS TO THE RECORDS OF JUNEBUG PRODUCTIONS FOR RESEARCH INQUIRIES, AS WELL AS ADDRESS AT-RISK AUDIOVISUAL ITEMS THROUGH DIGITAL PRESERVATION REFORMATTING PRIOR TO PROCESSING THE COLLECTION.

PLANNING FOR AN IMPROVED AND SUSTAINABLE COLLECTIONS ENVIRONMENT AT THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER

TO SUPPORT A PROJECT TO ARRANGE AND DESCRIBE 115 LINEAR FEET OF MANUSCRIPT MATERIALS FROM THE COLLECTION OF MARGUERITE CARTWRIGHT (1914-1986). AFTER ATTAINING A PH.D. IN SOCIOLOGY, DR. CARTWRIGHT HAD A LONG CAREER AS A UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTOR. FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, DR. CARTWRIGHT'S NEWSPAPER COLUMNS APPEARED REGULARLY IN?THE PITTSBURGH COURIER, WHERE SHE WAS THE CORRESPONDENT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS, AND?THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS. CARTWRIGHT WAS A SPECIALIST IN AFRICAN AFFAIRS AS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE U.N. CORRESPONDENTS? CIRCLE AND WAS APPOINTED AS ONE OF FIVE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA IN NSUKKA.

MUSEUM GRANTS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER AT TULANE UNIVERSITY IN NEW ORLEANS WILL IMPLEMENT A NEW DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO INCREASE ACCESS TO ITS COLLECTIONS. THE CENTER SERVES A DIVERSE CONSTITUENCY OF ACADEMICS, STUDENTS, AND RESEARCHERS, PROVIDING CULTURALLY ENRICHED PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND OTHER ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE NEED FOR ONLINE PROGRAMMING AND DIGITAL ACCESS HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. THE CENTER WILL UPGRADE ITS IN-HOUSE TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE RESEARCHERS' ACCESS AND BETTER MEET THEIR NEEDS. THE UPGRADED SYSTEM ALSO WILL ASSIST K-12 EDUCATORS WITH REMOTE LEARNING, MAKING COLLECTION ASSETS MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE FOR CLASSROOM USE.

THE AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ARCHIVE WITH A FOCUS ON AMERICA’S ETHNIC AND RACIAL HISTORY, THE AFRICAN DIASPORA, AND CIVIL RIGHTS. WITH AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE OF ACADEMICS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY RESEARCHERS, THE CENTER PROVIDES ACCESS TO HISTORICAL RECORDS AND BRINGS HISTORY TO LIFE. THE CENTER COLLABORATES WITH K-16 INSTITUTIONS, SERVES STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR AMISTAD ON THE GO! PROGRAM, AND SUPPORTS INTERNSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND UNDERGRADUATES. THEY REFLECT COMMUNITY CONCERNS THROUGH OFFERINGS SUCH AS THE CULTURAL SERIES, CONVERSATIONS IN COLOR, AND DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT ACADEMIA CAN PLAY IN PUBLIC DIALOGUE.

GRANT AGREEMENT (PRESERVING FILM COLLECTION)