At Chesapeake Heartland, we have experienced a major increase in speaking requests, African American history walking tours, and collaborations with local community projects that revolve around the materials that have been contributed to our digital archives by community members like you.

You may have seen our recent communication explaining what a digital archives is and why it is central to the Chesapeake Heartland Project. Digital archives are becoming increasingly popular as a platform for documenting stories that have been lost, erased, or misunderstood. They are used by local governments who want to be more inclusive of diverse histories as they provide public services, community organizations who want to build awareness and pride for the heritage of local neighborhoods, and schools who want to teach youth about local history.

Chesapeake Heartland needs your help to ensure that our digital archives continues to amplify local voices and to serve our community in meaningful ways. Thanks to this interest, we have an opportunity to take our project to new heights through an interpretive planning process that will help us improve the usability of the digital archives and produce new exhibits and interpretive products to tell the story of African Americans across the Chesapeake Bay region.

Chesapeake Heartland has grown out of an innovative collaboration between the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington College, and a diverse array of local organizations and citizens. Our mission is to preserve, digitize, interpret, and make accessible materials related to African American history and culture in Kent County, Maryland and beyond. 

Since 2018, local community members have led and supported the project by contributing more than 6,000 items for the public to access. Our digital archives seeks to proactively welcome community participation and accessibility, explore relevant through-lines between past and present, and document Black joy (in addition to injustice and activism). We seek to create a space where everyone can see themselves represented and find stories that connect to their own experiences.

We ask that you take a few minutes to take this survey to help us understand the themes, features, and uses of a digital archives that are most valuable to you.