young boys opening a fire hydrant on a summer day in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York, in 1980.

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.

St. Louis 2024

Community Curation 2024

Nashville 2023

Community Curation 2023

New Orleans 2022

The grounds of a college campus, grass, trees, a light pole with Dillard University insignia, students walking

Dillard University's beautiful campus

A person closely examining a historical document

John Kennedy, former Dillard Archivist

Making historical documents accessible

Two people working with cameras, computers and lights

Our digitization lab within the Will W. Alexander Library at Dillard University

A person leaning over a document with a tool in hand

NMAAHC photographer Mignonette Johnson preparing a document to be digitized

A person working over an audio reel player

AJ Lawrence preparing audio reels

Sterling Warren recording footage of Dillard's campus

A person holding a reel of film above their head

CK Ming examing a film from Dillard's archives

Intrerviewing Dillard University student Jaylon Moore for our Conversations on the Road series

A person at a podium in front of a large screen, speaking to an audience

Lisa Crawley presenting genealogical research methods

CK Ming introducing the Great Migration Home Movie Project

Two people in front of a camera and historical documents

Dillard University President Dr. Rochelle Ford and Smith Center Director Dr. Doretha Williams in the digitization lab

Angela Winand welcoming students to the lab

Grambling students jumping into the work

Careful work to preserve our history

People sitting at a computer with cameras and lights

New technologies, new ideas

People speaking around an audio reel player

Ina Archer at work with Grambling students

One person standing and three people seated, in conversation

John Kennedy passing archival knowledge to the next generation

People in conversation near cameras and lights

Students from Southern University and A&M College working with Kamilah Stinnett

Two people in a dimly lit room speaking to a crowd

Ina Archer and AJ Lawrence detailing their work for students in the lab

Two people preparing a document for digitization

Students putting new knowledge into pratice

Dr. Doretha Williams speaking to New Orleans HBCU staff and students

Two great Dillard University staff members: Malik Bartholomew and John Kennedy

The Grambling crew with Malik Bartholomew

Chicago 2019

Hannah Scruggs and Kamilah Stinnett planning

Two people in front of a table holding papers

Dr. Doretha Williams reviewing materials

A person in front of a screen with text on it

Hannah Scruggs presenting the Family History Center

The Smith Center team with Chicago stakeholders

Two people standing over a drawer of tapes

Blake McDowell examining media

Two people in a narrow walkway between shelves

Dino Robinson and Doretha Williams tour the Shorefront Legacy archives

Dino Robinson with the Smith Center team

Maya Rhodan making a close examination

A film reel containing visions of the past

The Smith Center meeting with staff at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center

A person at a podium standing in front of a screen

Kamilah Stinnett beginning a presentation

A person pointing at a screen, in the midst of speaking

Tony Burroughs teaching the first steps of genealogical research methods

Two people chatting, one standing and one seated

Lisa Crawley helping a Community Curation participant

A person in a blue shirt standing near a laptop, lights, and a camera

Kamilah Stinnett in the digitization lab

Two people working with a camera and historical materials

Digitization in progress

A photo of a piece of paper with writing on it

A note digitized by the Smith Center team

A person with their back to the camera working with equipment

AJ Lawrence at work

A photograph of a woman styling a man's hair

A story in one frame

A woman with objects related to salon work and hairstyling

Preparing objects for photography

Salon and hairstyling related objects on a table

Salon still life

Denver 2018

Reviewing documents

African American pioneers of the west

An important photograph

A person holding an old envelope with writing on it

Historic documents

Dr. Doretha Williams works with historical materials

Images from the past preserved for the future

Sorting and admiring images

Memories and more

Dr. Doretha Williams speaking to visitors

A man stands in a room with many shadows

Harodl Massop in a building that he designed

Teddy Reeves presenting Objects of Devotion

Kim Moir speaking during the Objects of Devotion initiative

Three people talking, one with their back to the camera

Kamilah Stinnett and Hannah Scruggs speaking with a Commnity Curation participant

Hannah Scruggs presenting to participants

Lisa Crawley presenting to visitors

Discovering the past through images

A group of people standing in front of a large vehicle

Staff members in front of our digitization truck

Eric Williams speaking about millenials and religion

People checking video digitization equipment

Inside the digitization truck

Dr. Dwandalyn Reece presenting "Music and the Meaning of Things"

Author and art collector Paul Hamilton during the Community Curation program

A person wearing headphones in front of equipment

Intern Maya Bond reviewing media

Examining photos to be preserved

Amazing photos

People in a dark room looking at images on screens

Reviewing moving images in the digitization truck

A person revieing film on a Lasergraphics machine

Digitizing film

Ina Archer reviewing film

A man in front of a large metal sculpture

Edward Dwight with a sculpture at his studio

Baltimore 2017

Photo of a projected Powerpoint presentation

Finding Your Family in the Freedmen's Bureau

A Community Curation participant examining photos and documents

Adam Martin giving a presentation with images projected behind him.

Adam Martin introducing the Community Curation Platform

A Community Curation participant showing a photo to be digitized

Leah Jones at work digitizing materials

A man giving a presentation in front of projected images.

Blake McDowell giving a presentation

A person giving a presentation to a crowd

Kamilah Stinnett presenting genealogical information

A person holding an archival paper document.

Imani Haynes preparing materials for digitization

Robert F. Smith speaking to a small group

Robert F. Smith speaking to Community Curation stakeholders

Ina Archer sharing information

Knowledge sharing at the Baltimore Impact Hub

A person with a microphone addressing a seated crowd.

Presenting helpful information to community members

Examining digitization equipment

Dr. Doretha Williams speaks to Community Curation participants in Baltimore

Community Curation Program Video

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

Picture of Bernice Liddle in cap and gown.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.