City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 17, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: GRETCHEN BULOVA, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to Virginia Humanities for the Alexandria Oral History Program.
BODY
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ISSUE: The Office of Historic Alexandria is seeking a $20,000 Grant from Virginia Humanities to support the oral history documentation of Douglass Cemetery.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the grant application, due January 31, 2023; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be
required.
BACKGROUND: The Office of Historic Alexandria is initiating a project to research and preserve the history of Douglass Cemetery. A large component of this project is to facilitate oral history interviews with descendants of family members interred in the cemetery. This will include training Howard University students as interviewers to assist with the oral history collection, creating a documentary that can be shared with residents of Alexandria and students at ACPS, and providing narrators/interviewees small honorariums for participating in the oral history project and the opportunity to receive genealogical research about their personal histories.
The Virginia Humanities grants support projects that explore the stories of Virginia-its history, people, communities, and cultural traditions-as well as issues and questions that impact the lives of Virginians in the present day.
DISCUSSION: If awarded this grant, the funds are planned to purchase video equipment ($5,000), support community engagement ($2,000), provide internship stipends ($2,000 total) and descendant honorariums ($1,000), and create a documentary ($10,000).
FISCAL IMPACT: This grant, if awarded, will provide up to $20,000 to support the Oral History Program. There is no required match from the City.
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Francesco De Salvatore, Oral History Manager, OHA