Memory Book

What is the Memory Book?

The Memory Book is an online feature where you may share your personal histories, stories, thoughts and ideas and link them to museum offerings and to memories contributed by other visitors. Memories can be written or audio recorded in your own voice. You may also submit a photograph that you own to accompany your memory, or submit it alone with a caption. Perhaps the photograph serves as the inspiration for the story that you want to share in our Memory Book?

Over time, the individual memories gathered in the NMAAHC Memory Book will develop into a comprehensive chronicle of a part of American history created not by the historians who research, define, and interpret it, but by those who lived it. It’s your history, and there may be many connections you can make to the stories of others, who shared their memories with us, too.

What kinds of memories is NMAAHC looking for?

Everyone has a story to tell. And Americans of all racial backgrounds can think of a time or a place with personal meaning to them that recalls a fragment of the African American experience. A story you heard from a grandparent. A memory you have from your days in school. An instance where you shared in a proud moment in African American history. Or even your thoughts about that moment whether you were a nearby or distant observer. Tell us about your family, your neighborhood, your city, your multi-cultural awakening. Share your photo with us and tell us what it means to you. Most importantly, the memories you share must be personal to you and your experience.

You can connect your stories and oral histories with friends, family and new acquaintances through the NMAAHC Memory Book, enabling the creation of a dynamic social network for the NMAAHC community. When you register and prepare a memory to share, we’ll explain exactly how to make your contribution and how to connect, or "tag" it, to others of a similar nature.

What’s not appropriate?

We invite you to use this space to contribute memories of people, places and things that have been important to you. Trust your judgment. You should submit only content which belongs to you and which will not violate the property or the rights of other people or organizations. The Memory Book project is sensitive to the copyright of others.

In general, the Memory Book is not a place to sell your product, promote your Website, or leave "spam." Memories are reviewed prior to being posted to the Memory Book. We reserve the right to make edits of any kind, but generally will do so sparingly in the interest of improving format or fixing typographical errors. We reserve the right to remove or reject any user-provided content for any reason, but we specifically will not permit material that we believe to be illegal, obscene, indecent, or defamatory, as well as content that incites racial or ethnic hatred or violates the rights of others or is in any way objectionable or inappropriate for this forum. We also reserve the right to remove material that we learn is owned by others. Our NMAAHC Memory Book Terms of Use defines our policy more specifically.

Why is this important and why should I contribute?

By compiling and sharing these personal memories from hundreds, and then thousands of individuals, the NMAAHC Memory Book will grow into a powerful and living account of a key segment of American history.

The director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Lonnie Bunch, says the museum is an "opportunity to help all Americans see just how central African American history is for all of us. This is not a museum that celebrates black history solely for black Americans. Rather we see this history as America's history. NMAAHC will use African American history and culture as a lens into what it means to be an American. When I think about many American values like resiliency, optimism, and spirituality, there are few places where one can better understand their origin and evolution than through African American history and culture. If one wants to explore the changing definitions of American citizenship, liberty, and equality, where better than through the black experience?"

How do I start?

Simply register with the Memory Book and you’re on your way. Once you’re enrolled, we’ll give you detailed instructions on how to contribute text, an audio recording, a photograph, a caption, or all of the above.