The Community Curation Program

The Community Curation Program is an innovative, digital first initiative bridging the generational digital divide. By bringing the Museum's digitization services to diverse communities across the country and creating a unique online platform, the program supports the preservation and sharing of community history and culture. 

Share Your Story

The Community Curation Platform provides a unique opportunity for individuals, families, and community groups to share their stories as part of the Museum's online community collection. Begin sharing your stories today by creating an online account with the Museum and uploading your digitized photos and videos. Visit our Submission Guidelines to learn tips on digitizing and what makes for a great community story.

Join the Community

Featured Stories

Picture of Bernice Liddle in cap and gown.
01/04

Bernice Liddie’s Enrollement in Bennett College

Our late mother, Bernice Russell Liddie, graduated with a B.A. degree in sociology from Bennett College in 1950 (see photo) and later obtained a master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University. However, she always considered herself a life-long “Bennett Belle,” who consistently expressed her unwavering support and fondness for Bennett College.
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02/04

How My Family and I Befriended Isaac Hayes

When I was in high school, I was a budding artist and one of the paint projects we had to do was an abstract assignment. My brother had just introduced me to the music of Isaac Hayes, Hot Buttered Soul.
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03/04

Wallace A. Barksdale, Washington, DC businessman (1886-1953)

Wallace A. Barksdale (June 23, 1886 – August 12, 1953) was a successful African-American businessman in Washington, D.C. who owned several restaurant establishments, a hotel and several real estate properties in the District.
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04/04

That Look

This image inspired me to discover so many more vintage photos, still hidden in boxes, waiting for new life. It has since become my Quarantine project to create as many same themed images as possible and compile them into an album as a legacy gift to my family.
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Leah Jones, photographer at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, will teach participants how to digitize family papers and other personal collections using cellphones, compact cameras, and everyday essentials from home.

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Additional Resources

Family reunion of a group of women, men and children
01/03

Robert Frederick Smith Explore Your Family History Center

The Robert Frederick Smith Explore Your Family History Center helps people begin their family history journey and learn the basics of researching African American genealogy.
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Learn the basics of preservation and care for your personal family collections such as photos, videos and documents.
02/03

Tips for Preserving Your Family Treasures

Learn the basics of preservation and care for your personal family collections such as photos, videos and documents.
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03/03

Capturing Your Family’s Oral History

Oral History, or the practice of recording and preserving memories and experiences, enables us to capture the wisdom of our living libraries before they pass away and “burn to the ground.” Unlike other methods of record keeping, oral histories provide a personal account of pivotal events from individuals who experienced them first hand.
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Learn More

The Robert Frederick Smith Explore Your Family History Center is located on the 2nd floor of the Museum as part of the Explore More! interactive gallery area. The Center provides digital resources supporting the preservation, digitization, and sharing of African American family history. Visitors to the Museum receive expert guidance on genealogy, oral histories, and how to preserve family films, videos, and photographs through hands on workshops and digitization sessions in our media lab. For more information, or to make an appointment for a personalized digitization session, email NMAAHC-Digitization@si.edu.

Join the Community

Follow @NMAAHC #CuratedByCommunity to learn more about the Community Curation Program