Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center Awarded Grant for African American Funeral Programs

The Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center (WHHRC) proudly announces its recent grant award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), aimed at bolstering its African American Funeral Programs Project. This funding is set to facilitate the preservation, digitization, and broader interpretation of a unique collection that chronicles African American family histories and community ties.

Preserving Cultural Treasures

Funeral programs, often dismissed as mere memorials, hold immense historical significance. They serve as gateways to genealogical insights, social frameworks, and regional histories that trace back generations. Through this project, WHHRC will digitize these materials, making them accessible online for researchers, educators, genealogists, and the general public alike.

According to Dr. Alvin D. Jackson, MD, who serves as the Board President of WHHRC, the support from IMLS is a pivotal step in the center’s mission. He emphasizes their intent to safeguard these delicate records and illuminate local African American legacies that may otherwise remain obscured.

For those interested in the specifics, more details about the grant can be found on the IMLS grant announcement page.

Collaboration with Georgia Southern University

This ambitious project is being executed in partnership with Georgia Southern University, which provides essential expertise in archival processing, digital access, and research methodologies. Moreover, the collaboration is beneficial for public history and museum studies students, as it offers internship opportunities that allow them to engage directly with archival digitization and metadata creation.

These experiences are invaluable not just for the students, but also for the preservation efforts surrounding African American history in Bulloch County and its neighboring areas. By actively involving the community’s future historians and archivists, WHHRC lays down a robust foundation for ongoing cultural preservation.

Spotlight at Georgia Libraries Conference

As part of this initiative, WHHRC and Georgia Southern Libraries will present their work at the Georgia Libraries Conference 2025, scheduled for October 8–10 in Columbus, Georgia. The project will take center stage in a session titled:

“A.I. in the Institutional Repository: Leveraging ChatGPT and Python to Support a Community Partner Collection.”

This session will occur on Thursday, October 9 at 4:30 PM EDT in Room 209 of the Columbus Convention & Trade Center. Notable speakers include:

• Jeffrey Mortimore, MLIS, MTS — Digital Scholarship Librarian and Associate Professor.
• Nathan Banks, MLIS — Institutional Repository Manager.
• Dr. Alvin D. Jackson, MD — Board President of WHHRC.
• Nkenge Jackson-Flowers, MD — Board Secretary of WHHRC.

Together, these experts will highlight how cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and Python-based tools are enhancing metadata, improving searchability, and fostering community engagement around the African American Funeral Programs collection.

Project Activities and Expected Impact

Thanks to the IMLS grant, the African American Funeral Programs Project will undertake several pivotal activities:

• Digitization: High-resolution digitization of funeral program materials.
• Conservation: Enhancing archival storage and preservation of original materials.
• Metadata Improvement: Utilizing AI-assisted tools for better cataloging and organization.
• Digital Repository: Depositing the digital collection into an accessible institutional repository.
• Internship Opportunities: Providing hands-on experiences for Georgia Southern University public history students.
• Education Partnerships: Collaborating with local schools, genealogy societies, and universities to broaden educational access.
• Public Engagement: Promoting the collection through exhibitions, talks, and community programs.

These efforts aim to deepen public understanding and appreciation for African American family histories in Bulloch County and surrounding regions. By assisting genealogists and scholars, WHHRC actively contributes to strengthening communal identities through shared heritage.

About Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center

The Willow Hill School, established in 1874 by formerly enslaved individuals, holds a significant place in local history as the longest-operating school in Bulloch County, Georgia, for a remarkable 125 years. Founded in 2005, WHHRC is housed in the historic Willow Hill School building, constructed in 1954.

Dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating African American history in Southeast Georgia, WHHRC functions as a museum, community space, and vital educational resource. Through its initiatives, it seeks to ensure that African American contributions to local culture are not only remembered but also celebrated and shared for generations to come.