By Natalie R. Bell
NASHVILLE, TN — Families that have resided in the Nashville, Tennessee region for multiple generations are likely to have items of historical and cultural significance tucked away in attics, closets, and basements of their homes. Now, local residents can bring those items to be reviewed directly with staff members of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), from Washington, D.C., plus receive advice and assistance on best methods to preserve those items for the future.
A series of community engagement events will be held over the next six weeks, with the first to be held Saturday, October 7th.
The majority of the public engagement events will be held at Fisk University; however, Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University will also serve as host sites for events.
Staff members of NMAAHC’s Robert F. Smith Center for the Digitization and Curation of African American History in Washington, D. C., have been working for several weeks with Nashville partners and collaborators to plan and organize the events.
The string of events are listed on the following websites, along with registration links:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/series/community-curation-2023-nashville
https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/hometown-treasures-tennessee
“Journeys in Genealogy: Discovering African American Family Roots,” will be held Oct. 7th, 9:30am-12:00pm at the John Seigenthaler Center, Vanderbilt University, 1207 18th Ave., S.
Other headliners include “A Seat at the Table,” Sat., Oct. 14, 12:00pm at Fisk Univ., Jubilee Hall; “Freedmen’s Bureau Search Portal Training,” Oct. 21 at Fisk Univ., Park Johnson Hall, Rm 122; and “Space for New Media Student Meet-Up,” Oct. 24, 12:00pm – 2:00pm at Tennessee State University, Space for New Media.
Dr. Doretha Williams, director of the Center for Digitization and Curation, cited several reasons why the team chose to come to Nashville this year, and set up headquarters at Fisk University. “First, we’re focusing on audiences that are situated in areas where Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are located,” said Williams. The fact that Nashville has four HBCUs makes it a prime target for them to visit, she said, adding that she herself is a 1998 graduate of Fisk. “We also wanted to connect with some of the special collections at Fisk University, especially the Fisk Jubilee Singers, making sure those collections are digitized.”
Nashville-area residents and families can bring items such as treasured home movies and videos, photographs and artifacts to be evaluated by NMAAHC staff. If they so choose, they can have their items digitized for long-term preservation
The first in the series of events entitled “Community Curation Nashville 2023” will be a genealogy workshop co-sponsored with the Nashville Chapter of the African American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS Nashville), Sat., Oct. 7th, 9:30a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the John Seigenthaler Center-Vanderbilt University, 1207 18th Ave., S.
Since 2017, the NMAAHC’s Center for Digitization and Curation has been reaching out to engage with communities around the country. Some of the other cities they have visited include Baltimore, Denver, Chicago, and New Orleans.
If you’d like to participate in Community Curation Nashville, but can’t make it to one of the events, you can do your own curation using NMAAHC’s online platform, available at this link: https://communitycuration.org/home/defaultLanding
NMAAHC’s Robert F. Smith Center for the Digitization and Curation of African American History Community Curation Program will be headquartered at Fisk University’s John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library, 1000 17th Ave., N., through early November.
NMAAHC Community Curation Nashville Digitization Services
WHAT: Nashville-area residents can get their family heirlooms and treasures digitized
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023
WHERE: Fisk University’s John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library, 3rd floor, 1000 17th Ave., N.
Register for a one hour session at this website:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/series/communitycuration-2023-nashville
FLAT ITEMS: Bring your photo albums, favorite clippings, your most treasured images to have them digitized. Flat items include photographic prints, post cards, calling cards, etc.
AUDIOVISUAL ITEMS: Media conservation staff will digitize home movies, videos, and audio cassettes, and much more. They can handle a wide range of formats, including:
• Motion picture film: 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm
• Video: VHS, BetaMax, Hi-8, MiniDV
• Audio: Audio Cassettes, ¼ inch reel-to-reel, DAT
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Hometown Treasures Expo – Tennessee “Save Our African American Treasures”
WHAT: Visitors are invited to attend a Weekend Expo of local cultural and heritage organizations, DIY Preservation workshops, and gallery tours. Interested in being an exhibitor?
Send an email by Oct. 9th to: nmaahc-treasures@si.edu The event will also feature professional reviews of family heirlooms, presentations, hands-on activities, and preservation tips. Register to attend a one-on-one session with preservation specialists and receive a professional review of your family treasures and heirlooms at this website:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/hometown-treasures-tennessee
Note: Registrants can bring up to three items for review. Items reviewed in the past have included papers, photographs, books, quilts, uniforms, dresses, ephemera, and collectibles.
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28th, 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday, Oct. 29th
WHERE: Fisk University’s Franklin Library, 3rd Floor, 1000 17th Ave., North, Nashville
