Black Archives of Mid-America

The Black Archives of Mid-America will improve the care and management of collections by adding shelving and improving storage efficiency to better house historic clothing, framed artworks, and oversized images including posters, blueprints, and architectural renderings. The project will enable staff to maximize existing space, rehouse historic items, and hire temporary staff to generate digital catalog records. Collections staff will launch a public awareness social media campaign and organize guided tours of the improved archival storage areas to inform community members about improved preservation efforts and to explain how they can access the Black Archives. By securing the necessary resources to safely organize and exhibit these pieces, the Archives can ensure protection from future deterioration and damage, thus enabling future generations access to these important cultural artifacts.