Melinda Ortiz

Publication Date

Summer 2013

Abstract

This report is the final project for the Master’s of Science Program in Historic Preservation at Eastern Michigan University. The project consists of a survey of historic sites associated with African American history in Washteanw County. The chosen sites tell the story of African American history in the county. I completed inventory cards for the sites, doing research through interviews with community members associated with African American groups and local history experts, archival material, and literature on the subject. I will submit the inventory cards to the African American Cultural and Heritage Museum of Washtenaw County and to Eastern Michigan University. I also wrote a methodology report on the process used to complete the survey. I chose this project after attending the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference in October 2012, and learning about the disparity in the National Register of Historic Places between minority populations and minority sites on the National Register. National Trust leadership called on University Preservation Programs to complete National Register Nominations for eligible minority sites in their locale. Professorial staff at Eastern Michigan University suggested I conduct a case study of minority sites in Washtenaw County, where Eastern Michigan University is located, to establish a methodology for identifying such sites. In order to complete a case study of manageable size, I chose to focus on the largest minority population in Washtenaw County, the African American community. I hope the final report will be helpful for other students conducting similar surveys, and that the sites identified in the survey will be incorporated into student projects at Eastern Michigan University.

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