Central Nova News

The Alexandria Black History Museum (ABHM) has been awarded a significant grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to digitize its collections and library. This $99,772 grant will support the museum's project from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, allowing greater access to its collections online.

This is ABHM's second IMLS grant. The first, received in 2021, facilitated the cataloging and digitizing of four major archival collections. These included documents and artifacts related to notable figures such as Alexandrian activists Ferdinand T. Day and Annie B. Rose, opera singer Ben Holt, and public relations pioneer Moss H. Kendrix. The efforts culminated in an exhibition titled "Moss H. Kendrix: Reframing the Black Image," which opened in June 2024.

The new grant will enable the digitization of the entire object collection at ABHM. This includes materials associated with William “Bill” Euille, Alexandria’s first African American mayor; photographs from the Parker-Gray neighborhood; images from local African American church services; rare newspaper issues; items from African American businesses in Alexandria; memorabilia from Earl Lloyd, the first African American NBA player; and a fundraising cookbook titled "A Kind Heart and a Light Hand."

Furthermore, approximately 4,000 volumes from the Watson Reading Room library will have their catalog records made available online as part of this initiative.

This project aligns with ABHM’s commitment to making history accessible to all. Previous efforts led to Historic Alexandria Collections Online (HACO), launched in 2020 with items documenting activism post-George Floyd’s death.

The digital content produced through this project will continue to support Historic Alexandria's mission to highlight underrepresented stories within both local and national narratives.

For more information about the museum or its programs, visit [Alexandria Black History Museum](https://www.alexandriava.gov/BlackHistory).