Achievements Made Possible by the Awarding of the Digital Humanities Advancement Grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities to the Parks and Recreation Department

The Oakwood Cemetery announces achieving three major milestones that document the lives and contributions of Austin’s historically segregated communities of color through the “Oakwood Legacy Project.”
 
The “Oakwood Legacy Project” has created a 3D model of the Oakwood Cemetery’s Historic Colored Grounds, audited and published burial records of segregated Austinites through the year 1880, and has launched 18 foundational multimedia history projects focused on the untold stories of Austin’s communities of color.
 
The Oakwood Cemetery’s “Oakwood Legacy Project” was made possible through the awarding of the Digital Humanities Advancement Grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities to the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department during 2021-2023, as well as countless volunteer hours and work donated by Austin community members and subject matter experts.
 
Today, the “Oakwood Legacy Project” shares digital tours, exhibits, and cemetery records with the general public. The “Oakwood Legacy Project” work continues as the Cemetery staff and community members continue to research records and update the 3D model of the Oakwood Cemetery’s Historic Colored Grounds. To date, the 18 historical exhibits have garnered almost 80,000 views online and won acclaim from Preservation Austin for educational merit. The “Oakwood Legacy Project” exhibits to date include: