Community Archives Initiative
Help us ensure that Georgia’s unique story is preserved and made accessible for generations to come.
The Georgia Historical Society's Community Archives Initiative is dedicated to preserving Georgia’s diverse histories through active community participation. Our initiative encourages Georgia residents to become part of history by volunteering to enhance archival collections alongside archivists, attending community-based workshops, and contributing family artifacts and other materials. Together, we can ensure that Georgia’s past is preserved, shared, and accessible to researchers for generations to come.
Continue reading to learn about the initiative and how you can get involved.
Volunteer
At the core of the Community Archives Initiative is a commitment to representing all voices in Georgia history. In-person volunteers have the unique opportunity to work alongside GHS archivists in our state-of-the-art Research Center, contributing directly to preserving history by improving the descriptions of collection materials. Remote volunteers also assist with crowdsourcing projects that help expand access to and understanding of our archival collections. Volunteering ensures that community stories are accurately documented and accessible to researchers, educators, and the general public.
Crowdsourcing Opportunities:
Coming soon
Workshops
Led by GHS professional staff, these sessions enable participants to document and preserve personal family and community materials for future generations.
Workshop and Training Opportunities Include:
- Genealogy Workshops
- Photo Preservation Workshops
- Digitization Workshops
- Collection Description Training
- Family History Interview Training
K-12 Education
The Community Archives Initiative’s Decoding Histories program engages K-12 educators and students in exploring the importance of reading and writing in cursive in order to understand written materials from the past. This program supports the new ELA Georgia Standards of Excellence by using archival materials to deepen historical inquiry and strengthen literacy skills. Through Decoding Histories teachers can connect students with authentic documents that bring history to life while building their ability to read and write cursive, an essential skill for accessing historical texts. Students also have the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of history by interacting with primary sources and learning how to interpret and document the past.
Digital kits will be available in Fall 2025.
Donate
Your family and community history are part of Georgia’s history. By donating personal materials to the statewide GHS archival collection, you contribute to a living archive that serves teachers, students, researchers, and the general public. Each item is carefully arranged and described by professional archivists in our secured, climate-controlled facility. Like all items within the GHS archival collection, materials then become available to researchers across the globe. They are the building blocks of history and the foundation upon which all GHS programs, classroom materials, and other historical resources are constructed.
Partners
The Community Archives Initiative is built on partnerships with organizations across Georgia committed to preserving and making accessible Georgia’s rich history.
To learn more about becoming a community partner, please contact LaPortia Mosley at lmosley@georgiahistory.com.
Sponsors
The Community Archives Initiative would not be possible without the generosity and support of our sponsors. Their contributions help us expand our collections, and host workshops and community collection opportunities.
With support from
Get Involved
For more details on how you can be a part of the Community Archives Initiative, please contact LaPortia Mosley at lmosley@georgiahistory.com.
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