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    Shining a Light on Black Appalachian Church History

    April 30, 2026,  Noon to 1:00 p.m. EST

     Join us in this online discussion to inspire and help communities think about how they can collect and preserve their own history.

    The event is free but requires registration. Click here to register or copy and paste this link in your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zixTla74RU-93bUSIl7eAA

    In 2019, community archivist Josh Outsey began working on a project with the Appalshop Archive: “Black Appalachian Churches and Faith Experiences.” What began as a mission to document and preserve the histories of Black churches in Central Appalachia has culminated in an online database and interactive map of over fifty Black Appalachian churches in the region that traces the history of these faith communities and their impact on the culture of Appalachia, and connects community members across denominational boundaries. This process required interaction with community members during special events to scan photos and record oral histories, and to document historical designations such as sign marker ceremonies, school reunions, church anniversaries, pastors appreciations and similar events.

    In this event, Outsey will speak about his ongoing efforts to connect with church communities and to preserve and share their history, as well as the digital mediums he has used to collect, store and share still images, audio, and moving picture media to create a decentralized community archive. Attendees will also learn about strategies to help engage their own communities and their history.

    Speaker:

    Josh Outsey, Appalshop Archive

    About the Community History Dialog Series:

    The Pennsylvania State Archives started this series in 2020 to gather community groups, archivists, and others to share their own experiences collecting and preserving their community’s stories and offer guidance. These discussions are helpful to groups just beginning to preserve their history or those who have significant collections already and are seeking next steps.   

    Recordings of previous Community History Dialog events and additional resources for community history projects can be found here: https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/News-Programs/CHD/Pages/default.aspx