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About the Course: African American Community Archives as Theory
About the Course: African American Community Archives as Theory
AACAT-1870 is a survey-style short course developed to introduce the principles, practices, and purpose of African American community archives through a theoretical lens. Created for faculty, community educators, cultural workers, and archivists, this course bridges historical knowledge and archival praxis, focusing on how community stories are preserved and activated in academic and public spaces.
Participants will explore key concepts in African American cultural memory, community storytelling, and participatory archiving. Through real-world examples and interactive assignments, the course centers Black archival traditions and collaborative approaches between communities and institutions. Special attention is given to issues of representation, authorship, and the political role of archives in preserving African American heritage.
The course is structured with short readings, lectures, and hands-on digital activities using archival case studies and educational resources curated from Black-led archival initiatives.
The African American Community Archives Theory (AACAT-1870) course runs from November 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026 and follows a structured yet flexible schedule designed to support deep engagement and collaboration.
Why Take This Course?
💡 Because stories shape history—and you can help preserve them.
Whether you’re an educator, archivist, artist, or community advocate, this course equips you with the tools to recognize, document, and support African American archival traditions. You’ll gain insight into the foundations of community archiving, develop inclusive strategies for collaboration, and leave with a working plan for a project of your own.
You should take this course if you:
Want to embed African American archival theory into your teaching or practice
Are interested in developing or supporting a community archive
Believe in preserving stories that traditional archives have overlooked
Are ready to contribute to Black cultural memory in meaningful, respectful ways
Join us in celebrating and sustaining the vibrant traditions of African American communities through theory, dialogue, and archival action.
The course ( AACAT-1860) is aligned with recognized professional standards set forth by the Society of American Archivists (SAA) and the American Library Association (ALA). Students who complete this course develop skills in:
Archival preservation and description
Digital archives management
Community-centered archival engagement
Cultural competency in librarianship and archives
Ethical and equitable information services
Why The Year 1870?
The course number AACAT-1870 honors the year 1870, when African Americans were first fully recorded by name in the United States Census following emancipation. This moment marked a foundational shift—recognizing Black individuals and families as full members of society—and serves as a symbolic starting point for exploring African American community archives and memory work.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1870 Census Records)
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