By: Rebekah Turnmire, AACRN Coordinator, Center for Civil Rights History & Research
April 10, 2024
The Learning Lab series provides practical tips, advice, and guidance on specific historic preservation topics that are relevant to African American preservation projects. We hope these posts help community members and leaders better navigate the complexities of historic preservation work successfully.
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| The African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN) was created by Congress in 2017 authorizing the National Park Service to commemorate, honor, and interpret the history of the African American Civil Rights movement and the sacrifices made by those who fought for its cause. AACRN is noncompetitive and encompasses properties, facilities, and interpretive programs that provide a comprehensive portrayal of the individuals, locations, and events connected to the African American Civil Rights movement. It is not only an opportunity to provide a comprehensive overview of often overlooked people, places and events associated with the movement, but is an opportunity to connect with places doing similar work and access AACRN-specific grant funds and expertise from the National Park Service. Plus, applications are accepted on a rolling basis! In 2022, the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at USC joined AACRN as a program and became an institutional partner. As an institutional partner, the Center staff can help those interested in joining AACRN draft applications, conduct historical research related to the property or program, and consult with current and future AACRN members. The Center for Civil Rights History and Research is a vital source helping craft applications or answer related research questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out! Getting South Carolina sites, programs, and facilities that interpret or are related to the African American Civil Rights Movement listed on the African American Civil Rights Network is important for long-term preservation and wider acknowledgement of the important, but often overlooked role, the state had on the national movement. |
10 Tips for Applying to the African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN):
- Check out the African American Civil Rights Network Application & Instructions page and read through the National Park Service’s “Definitions of Properties, Facilities, and Programs Resource Types,” “Criteria for Joining the Network,” and “Application Form Information.” This is an important first step before starting an application because it will help determine what route you take when drafting your application!
- Facilities and Programs are much broader categories and do not have to be determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places! A mural, performance, workshop, and many other things can be listed as a program as long as it is a complete application that presents or explains the history of African American civil rights to the public.
- Read through the application samples before gathering reference and research materials! This will help you decide whether you need to conduct more research or talk to the SC Department of Archives and History about National Register eligibility (if a property).
- Create a draft of the full application in a word document, including the narrative statements and timeline, alongside the other required documents (letter of consent, eligibility form, brochures, etc). The application portal DOES NOT have a save function at this time. If you have a word document, you can copy and paste all the information without having to start from scratch if you accidentally leave or time-out of the portal while writing your narrative.
- You do not have to be the owner or manager of a property, facility, or program to nominate a resource to AACRN. If you prefer, the Center for Civil Rights at USC’s AACRN Coordinator (Rebekah Turnmire) can compile the materials, write the application, and submit it for you or can assist with submitting an already crafted application.
- The Letter of Owner Consent is an important part of ALL applications regardless of whether the resource is a property, facility, or program. The “owner” of the resource will depend on what type of resource is applying. If in doubt, reach out to me (Rebekah Turnmire) at the Center for Civil Rights or AACRN staff!
- Additional documentation like brochures, maps, timelines, webpage screenshots, or other documents which illustrate the resource’s association with the African American Civil Rights movement are important but do not need to be exhaustive. A few good examples, of both public facing (brochures) and internal (primary sources or research papers) are sufficient!
- If you are an organization, museum, archive, community group, I would suggest using the institution’s central or public email address so that if the person submitting the application leaves, a new person can easily access the portal.
- Make sure to convert all materials (including the Letter of Owner Consent) into Adobe PDF format when you’re ready to upload and submit to the portal.
- There is no fee to apply to AACRN!