Protect Historic Eden’s Legacy and Preserve African American Memory  

Eden is raising $75,000 toward the conservation, digitization, and preservation of our records. These records, of exceptional value to the site, are a bedrock for research and interpretation of important stories of national and local African American history and cultural heritage. Protecting these historical records “keeps the lived stories of people and communities from vanishing” and preserves legacy for future generations. This ask is part of our $250,000 Phase One fundraising effort for archival preservation.

Eden Cemetery’s archives include the records of dislocated 18th and 19th century African American burial grounds and of those buried at this 53 acre historic site since 1902. Decades of use and storage in imperfect condition have taken their toll on these important documents. Protecting these records means getting them into safe housing and secure storage. Preserving the records requires stabilization and conservation so they can continue to be used without further risk of damage. It means having them digitized, transcribed, and entered into a records management system. This will ensure accessibility, encourage discovery, and engage the public in the use of these unique resources.

“Unforgettable” features Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., a descendant of Octavius V. Catto, Historic Eden Cemetery, and Eden’s Archival Records Project. In this video Dr. Gates explains, “For many Black Americans, doing deep genealogy research is often difficult…But cemeteries like Eden provide a way forward”. “Cemeteries are more than just a place where we bury our loved ones. They’re an archive of human experiences.”

For over one hundred years, Historic Eden has been protecting and preserving legacy and memory. Eden continues to provide stewardship and to be a repository for the memory of over 90,000 African Americans and countless notables including Marian Anderson, Octavius Valentine Catto, Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, William Still, and George Henry White. Today, Historic Eden Cemetery is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a part of the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom and a member of the Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds Project. Your help is needed to support this work.