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Activity
Report
African
Burial Ground Project
Pursuant
to the Amended MOA
January, 31 2003
This report covers events surrounding the African Burial
Ground (ABG) project for the period of November 2002 through January 2003.
Introduction
This reporting period was
dominated by two major tasks: the
continued negotiations with Howard University (HU) to modify the existing
contract and coordination with the National Park Service (NPS), Northeast
Region. Additional activities included
the continued preparation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) of the
reconciliation inventory protocols and the execution of an agreement between
the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Corps regarding the long-term
curation of all records, data, photographs, artifacts, etc., for this
project. A list of meetings, telephone
conversations, etc, held during this reporting period is provided as Appendix
A.
Two activities were not included
in the quarterly report for the last reporting period (August – October 2002). On October 17, 2002, GSA Regional
Administrator Karl Reichelt briefed Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia
Fields and Ms. Eloise Dicks, an active member of the descendant community,
individually, regarding GSA’s progress on the ABG project.
Activities of the Reporting Period
Award of
Howard University Contract Modification
After
additional meetings with HU project management and technical team members in
November and December, a modification to complete final manuscript versions of
the history, skeletal biology, and archaeology reports was signed on January
10, 2003. The effective start date for
the HU team was January 13, 2003. As
part of the agreement, GSA provided computer equipment, including monitors,
scanners, and software, to each of the three HU teams. GSA will also provide the archaeology team
with laboratory and research space at the U.S. Custom House, located at Bowling
Green in New York City. The history
team will be working primarily from HU.
The Skeletal Biology team is made up of a number of individuals from
universities across the country. The
main focus of the effort will be divided between HU and the College of William
and Mary. A schedule for the
deliverables that will be submitted as part of this modification is provided as
Appendix B.
GSA is
committed to funding an integrated report that will match the three component
volumes in style, format and quality.
The scope of work will be developed over the next several months as HU
completes and submits the planned deliverables, including the draft, revised
draft and final reports for each component.
It is anticipated that the integrated report will be completed after the
submission of the final manuscript report for the archaeology component.
Meeting
with the National Park Service (NPS)
On December
6, 2002, GSA, the Corps and the NPS met at the NPS, Northeast Region office, in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Attendees
included:
GSA
Mr. Karl Reichelt, Regional
Administrator, Northeast and Caribbean Region
Mr. John Scorcia, Deputy Assistant
Regional Administrator, Northeast and Caribbean
Region
Mr. Rolando Rivas-Camp, Director,
Historic Buildings and the Arts, Central Office
Corps
Dr. Michael K. Trimble, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, St. Louis
National Park Service
Ms. Marie
Rust, Regional Director, Northeast Region, Philadelphia
Mr. James Pepper, Associate
Regional Director, Heritage Partnerships and Strategic
Planning, Philadelphia
Ms. Tara Morrison, Regional Program
Coordinator, Underground Railroad Network
to Freedom, Philadelphia
Dr. Frank McManamon, Supervisory
Archeologist, Washington Office
Mr. Reichelt provided an overview
of the project and emphasized GSA’s commitment to completing this project in a
respectful manner. He stated the
primary purpose of the visit was to explore a partnership with the NPS. GSA also indicated an interest in taking
advantage of NPS’ expertise in the development of an Interpretive Center
planned for the site adjacent to the ABG site.
Mr. Scorcia provided the current
status of the various components of the project, including the HU contract, the
ongoing consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)
and the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (NYCLPC), the
reconciliation inventory, the Interpretive Center, and the Exterior Memorial. Dr. Trimble provided additional detail on
the scientific research being conducted by HU.
The NPS, specifically Dr.
McManamon, Mr. Pepper and GSA’s Mr. Rivas-Camp, emphasized the need to complete
the scientific research studies and share information with all stakeholders,
including the public, the ACHP, and NYC LPC.
Interpretive
Center and Exterior Memorial
A panel of
African-American historians, exhibit designers and GSA officials have selected
IDI, Inc., as the contractor to develop the design and construct the
Interpretive Center. During the next
reporting period, it is anticipated that design development will be initiated
in consultation with the ACHP, NYCLPC, NPS, and other interested parties.
GSA has
selected five finalists to compete for the design of the Exterior
Memorial. The finalists include Joseph
DePace, Joseph DePace Architect, New York, NY; Katherine Dean, Groundworks, New
York, NY; Rodney Leon, Brooklyn, NY; Cheryl McKissack, McKissack & McKissack,
New York, NY; Eustace Pilgrim, Eustace Pilgrim & Christopher Davis, New
York, NY. GSA is proposing to submit
the designs developed by each of the finalists for public review and comment
prior to the final selection. Prior to
the public review, GSA will consult with ACHP, NYCLPC, and NPS. An exhibition
of the five proposals is scheduled for later this calendar year.
Schomburg Center for Research in
Black Culture
The
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Schomburg Center), in
consultation with the Corps, is preparing a scope of services for the
coordination, planning and implementation of the reinterment ceremony for the
ABG. The Schomburg Center’s preliminary
concept for the ecumenical ceremony is one that is international in scope and
showcases the African-American experience in New York City. The Schomburg Center’s initial ideas include
a two- to three-day event with a ceremony commencing at HU in Washington, D.C.
and culminating in New York City. GSA
plans to finalize the details of the ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and New
York City during the next quarter.
Office
of Public Education and Interpretation
The Office
of Public Education and Interpretation (OPEI) continues to provide public
outreach and education for the ABG project.
During the reporting period, OPEI conducted a number of site tours for
schools, including York College, the Baccalaureate School and the Crossroad
School, and other groups, including the Rainbow Push Coalition. In addition, OPEI gave a number of slide
presentations to students from City College, Bronx School for Law and
Government, New York University, Public School 78, and Lakeland Copper Beech
Middle School, among others. OPEI
continues to provide information, such as fact sheets, brochures, educational
packets and classroom and study guides, to individuals that visit OPEI offices
and to groups that request them.
The OPEI is now located in space
provided by GSA in the federal building at 201 Varick Street in Manhattan. GSA is renewing its commitment to public
outreach and education by working with OPEI to develop a communication plan
that will revitalize public awareness about and participation in such
activities as the Exterior Memorial exhibition.
Reconciliation
Inventory
The Corps
is continuing its preparation of protocols for the reconciliation
inventory. An initial draft was
prepared for internal review and coordination with the Bronx Council on the
Arts (BCA) and HU. In the next quarter,
the Corps is anticipating conducting a time motion study to assess the process
established by the protocols. The Corps
will be meeting with the BCA in late February to coordinate this effort.
Long-Term
Curation
The Corps
has also begun the lengthy process of identifying all of the records, data,
photographs, artifacts, etc, that will be retained for long-term curation. This process will include an assessment of
the condition of these records, etc and recommendations for stabilization of
the documents, photographs, artifacts, etc.
The Corps will also identify a curation facility within New York City
where the material will be maintained.
Congressional Coordination
On November
25, 2002, Mr. Reichelt provided Mr. George Dalley, Chief of Staff for
Congressman Charles Rangel, with an update of the status of the HU research and
the ongoing effort between GSA and HU to finalize the proposal to complete the
scientific research. Mr. Reichelt also
requested the assistance of Congressman Rangel to arrange for the participation
of the NPS in the curation and management of the Interpretive Center and
Exterior Memorial for the ABG.
Other
Activities
GSA and the Corps team will
continue to meet with representatives of Howard University, the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation, the New York City Landmarks Preservation
Commission and the National Park Service to provide updates to the stakeholders
regarding the progress of the project, to determine project timelines and to
address procedural and public interest issues for GSA.
From 1989 to 2000, GSA obligated
$19.6 million on the ABG project. From
2000 to the present, GSA has obligated $ 4 million on the ABG project. The bulk of this money was to fund the
Office of Public Education and Interpretation (OPEI), about
$800,000/year. Other funds were spent on the construction of
coffins; construction, transportation and storage of the crypts; the excavation
contract; the asbestos abatement of the 6 WTC artifacts; the Bronx Council on
the Arts contract relating to the preparation of the remains for reinterment
and several consultant contracts. The total GSA investment in the African
Burial Ground site is expected to reach $ 26 million. This includes possible contract modifications to the site
preparations, HU and payments to the Corps.
Appendix A
Timeline of Meetings and Relevant Telephone Calls Conducted and/or
Attended ABG Project Team
November 2002 – January 2003
October 17 GSA Regional Administrator,
Karl Reichelt briefs Manhattan Borough President, C. Virginia Fields and Ms.
Eloise Dicks, member of descendant community
November 14
ABG Team meeting (GSA/Corps) in New
York
December 3
ABG Team meeting (GSA/Corps) in New
York
December 4
Corps meeting with HU (Mr. Mark
Mack) regarding reconciliation
Inventory protocols and procedures
in Washington, D.C.
December 6
Meeting among NPS, GSA and Corps
December 9-10 Meeting among Dr. O. Jackson Cole,
Dean James Donaldson, Dr. Edna Medford, Mr. Mark Mack, and other HU staff, Ms.
Patricia Wright, GSA, and Ms. Nancy Brighton and Dr. Trimble, Corps, regarding
HU proposal
January 10 Modification signed between
HU and GSA
January 14 ABG Team meeting (GSA/Corps)
in New York
January 15 Teleconference among Ms.
Brighton, Dr. Trimble, and Ms. Amanda Sutphin, NYCLPC regarding status of
project
January 21 ABG Team meeting (GSA/Corps)
in New York
January 23 ABG Team meeting (GSA/Corps)
to update Mr. Reichelt, Regional Administrator, GSA
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