More than 100 oral history interviews documenting the experiences, memories, and community histories of Black Hoosiers are now accessible through the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program’s growing digital oral history collection. The initiative is supported by a $100,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, conducted in collaboration with the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement.

Working with local partners and volunteers, Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program has conducted oral history harvests in seven Indiana communities—Clarksville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Princeton, Vincennes, and Washington—recording more than 100 interviews to date. During these community-based events, residents are invited to share their personal experiences, family histories, and perspectives through recorded interviews.

The resulting collection is preserved and made accessible through Indiana Memory, a digital archive maintained by the Indiana State Library. The archive also serves as a gateway to oral history collections created by organizations including the Indiana Historical Society, Ball State University, the Harrison Center, and others, creating a centralized resource for researchers, students, genealogists, and anyone interested in Indiana’s Black history.

“Oral histories are the first step toward fulfilling our mission to uncover, document, preserve, and restore Black heritage sites and history,” said Eunice Trotter, director of the Black Heritage Preservation Program. “These oral histories ensure that the voices, memories, and contributions of Black Hoosiers remain part of Indiana’s shared story.”

The oral history project was launched with support from the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, which provided recording equipment, student interviewers, and internship support. Today, Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program continues the work by providing equipment and training to volunteer community groups that organize local oral history harvests.

In addition to documenting individual experiences, the collection helps create a record of historically significant Black communities and places across Indiana. Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program plans to use oral histories to support future historical marker applications, National Register nominations, and other preservation initiatives that connect personal stories to physical sites.

Oral histories recorded by Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program are available at: https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16066coll84

The Indiana Memory Black Heritage Oral History Collection is available online at: https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16066coll84/search

Additional interview videos can be viewed on the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IndianaLandmarksBlackHeritage

About Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program

Established in 2022, Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program provides support, expertise, and resources for Black heritage projects throughout the state, expanding on the work of the organization’s African American Landmarks Committee, established in 1992 to identify, document, preserve, and celebrate sites and stories significant to Indiana’s African American heritage.

The program is funded by a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., and generous commitments from private donors and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Eunice Trotter, Director, Black Heritage Preservation Program, Indiana Landmarks, 317-489-8556, etrotter@indianalandmarks.org

Mindi Woolman, V.P. of Marketing and Communications, Indiana Landmarks, 317-822-7904, mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org

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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, strengthens connections to our diverse heritage, and saves meaningful places. With offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people identify, restore, and sustain historic places as catalysts for economic development, cultural identity, and community vitality. Members of the nonprofit organization receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit indianalandmarks.org.