Activity Report
African Burial Ground Project
Pursuant to the Amended Memorandum of Agreement

September 30, 2004

This report covers events surrounding the African Burial Ground (ABG) Project for the period of July   through September 2004.

Introduction

The activities for this reporting period include ongoing work to complete the technical reports and the continuing coordination regarding the Exterior Memorial and Interpretive Center for the site. A brief list of meetings, telephone conferences, etc., held during this reporting period is provided as Appendix A.
 

Activities of the Reporting Period

Education/Outreach (OPEI)
 
Representatives from OPEI attended the annual Congressional Black Caucus on September 8 – 11, 2004. The OPEI distributed 450 Educational Portfolios, 350 OPEI brochures, 200 Booth invitations and 6 David Gayle print posters at the event.

During this reporting period, the OPEI presented site tours, film showings, and information sessions to a total of 1,914 individuals (498 individuals at the 290 Broadway Information Desk and 1416 members of 30 organizations). The OPEI also distributed educational materials (educational portfolios, newsletters, bookmarks, press kits, art work brochures etc.) as detailed below.
 

Materials Summary:

OPEI also distributed 99 National Park Service “Five Finalist Exhibition Notices” (postcards) and 1,500 Schomburg Reburial Flyers in September to 290 Broadway Info Desk visitors.
 
   
Technical Studies (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Howard University)
 
Howard University completed the Final Report, version 2, for the Skeletal Biology and History components. These reports have been provided to their respective Advisory Review Boards for a final review before Howard University submits them to GSA for review and acceptance in partial fulfillment of the contract. The Archaeology team submitted a draft of the Archaeology report. This draft was submitted to the Advisory Review Board and to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation for review and comment.

Howard University, the Corps and GSA are working together to provide interim curation of the osteological and dental samples at Howard University. All samples not currently undergoing analysis will be curated at Howard University temporarily until an agreement with a long-term curation facility in New York City is developed. GSA is developing agreements with two PhD candidates to complete additional analyses on a number of osteological and dental samples as part of their dissertation work.
   
 
Archives Project (U.S. Army Corp of Engineers)
 
The draft final Curation Management Plan and Recommendations were submitted to GSA on 30 July 2004. Once they have been received from GSA, the comments will be incorporated into the final report. The Corps recommends that the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture be designated the long-term curation facility. The next step would be to negotiate a curation agreement with the Schomburg Center regarding the curation of all the component parts of the collection.

The Corps archival team has begun coordinating their work with the staff at the Schomburg Center to ensure that the archival collection will match the Center's cataloging and packaging standards. On September 8, 2004, three archivists from the Corps traveled to New York City and conducted a day-long workshop with members of the Schomburg Center staff. With the completion of this initial coordination, archival processing on the first record groups of the collection can begin. It was agreed that this coordination should occur throughout the life of the archives project to ensure that consistent and acceptable standards are maintained.
 
 
Interpretive Center (National Park Service)
 
NPS conducted two workshops that will shape the interpretive planning section of the NPS report to GSA. About 30 people, representing the OPEI, NPS staff from different levels and backgrounds (interpretation operations, education, supervision, urban and partnership parks, etc.) and other NYC historical institutions met to discuss: audiences, issues and challenges, interpretive themes and the desired visitor experience. A second workshop was held for OPEI volunteers to discuss: audience and the desired visitor experience.

NPS drafted sections of the Interpretation Plan and Management Alternatives Report. This draft report will be available for public comment later this year.
 
   
Exterior Memorial (National Park Service)
 
At the conclusion of the five Public Forums, the five finalist designers were given months to revise their proposals based upon the public comment provided at the five Public Forums. Throughout September, copies of the revised designs were on view for written public comment at six locations throughout New York City. Those not able to view the designs at one of the exhibition sites were able to view and evaluate the five competing designs on GSA’s African Burial Ground website and offer comment electronically.

While the designs were being revised and then offered for public comment, NPS and GSA planned the review meeting of the Source Selection Evaluation Board that will consider the designs, the comment received, and the evaluation of advisors in an effort to select a winning proposal.
 
   
GSA/Schomburg Center
 
On September 22, 2004, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Chairman, African Union, visited the African Burial Ground to lay a wreath in tribute to the African ancestors buried there. President Obasanjo read an address that noted the contribution of the enslaved Africans to the development of New York City. President Obasanjo also presented GSA with a marble plaque with his address inscribed upon it.
 
   

Appendix A

Timeline of Meetings and Telephone Conferences conducted by
the ABG Project Team

 July – September 2004