Oral History Workshop 2025

The Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC), in collaboration with the African American Heritage Alliance, Blue Run Baptist Church, Carver 4-County Museum, the George Washington Carver Regional High School Alumni Association (GWCRHSAA), Historic Germanna, James Madison Museum, Madison County African American Historical Society, Orange County African American Historical Society (OCAAHS), Orange County Historical Society, The Montpelier Foundation (TMF),  and the University of Virginia is pleased to announce an Oral History Workshop on November 15th, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This interactive workshop will provide an opportunity for descendants and community members to learn how to gather and preserve their family oral histories.

Attendees will hear from subject matter experts and descendants who will share insights into the art of oral history collection, focusing on capturing personal stories and experiences. The workshop is a continuation of the Oral History Workshop Initiative, which kicked off during the 2024 Juneteenth celebration. This initiative emphasizes the importance of collaboration and the preservation of oral histories to enrich the understanding of historical events and cultural heritage.

The project draws from the collective knowledge of contributors representing a wide range of organizations. By engaging participants in this workshop, the organizing partners aim to inspire the next generation of historians and family griots to contribute to the archiving of diverse voices, ensuring these narratives are preserved for future generations.

This is a vital community initiative, and all are welcome to attend and learn how to take part in preserving this invaluable aspect of our shared history.

The kick-off for the Oral History Workshop Initiative took place during the Juneteenth celebration on June 15, 2024. This project focused on the collection and preservation of oral histories. The project emphasizes the importance of collaboration, capturing personal stories and experiences and serves as a tool to achieve the overarching goal of archiving these oral histories to provide a richer, more diverse understanding of historical events and cultural heritage. It featured key speakers from the Oral History Collaboration Team, representing Blue Run Baptist Church, Carver 4-County Museum, Historic Germanna, James Madison’s Montpelier, Madison County African American Historical Society, Montpelier Descendants Committee, Orange County African American Historical Society, Orange County Historical Society, University of Virginia, Arc of Communities, and various community members. We are grateful for all those who participated as the goal is to engage the community and encourage participation in this valuable historical endeavor.