Memorializing The Enslaved Project In Arlington Looking For Volunteers

ARLINGTON, VA — The Arlington Historical Society, together with the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, is launching a new project called Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington.

Through the project, the groups said they plan to research the largely unknown history of the county’s enslaved population and chronicle their lives, helping to “bring African American experiences to light, confront a difficult history, and honor our shared humanity.”

The Arlington Historical Society plans to partner with Arlington Public Schools to develop teaching materials on the history of slavery in the county and a website with stories, documents and an interactive map of areas where enslaved people lived and worked.

Memorial markers linked to the website will be placed at the locations, with the names of enslaved people.

Teams of researchers in Arlington are already looking for the names and history of enslaved people who lived in the county. Public school students in Arlington will help with research and development of the project and help create the interactive website.

The Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, located at 2611 Columbia Pike in Arlington, are asking for the public’s help by sharing family stories and history, especially those with deep roots in Arlington, with the researchers.

The public also can volunteer to help conduct research, enter data into spreadsheets, write about findings, and help the groups apply for grants.

Members of the public who are interested in volunteering can contact Jessica Kaplan of the Arlington Historical Society at ahsedlink@gmail.com, or Scott Taylor of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington at info@arlingtonblackheritage.org, or 703-271-8700.