The fourth quarter of 2019 had two grant recipients and I’m delighted to announce that the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center was the second. (You can read about the first recipient, ConferenceKeeper.org, here.)

The Isabella Gibbons Local History Center at the Heritage Center promotes the study of Charlottesville and Albemarle County local histories, with the goal of fostering a deeper understanding of the community’s lived environment. Through its various offerings, the Center archives and disseminates narratives that are relevant locally and add to the larger history of African Americans in Virginia and the nation.The Center provides intergenerational programs that expose new audiences to African American and local history research. Additionally, the Center presents genealogical lectures and symposia that consider new trends in genealogical research. It also offers meeting space for local genealogy groups and computers set up with ancestry.com. Currently, the BBS Afro-American Historical Genealogical Society (AAHGS) and Central Virginia History Researchers (CVHR) hold their monthly group meetings at the Center along with other community partners who all have a link to genealogical research.

Grant funds will assist with the purchase of a Panasonic AG-UX90 4K/HD Professional Camcorder, which will be used to videotape an oral history initiative kicking off this year.

You can apply for a Seton Shields grant here. Don’t miss checking out the cool projects I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to over the years, plus an article that will give you a behind-the-scenes peek into my grants program (and might help you increase your odds of being selected when you apply). And don’t forget, the clock is ticking!

Photo Credit: JSAAHC