Research

Learning the Story
The Weeksville, like many forgotten African American communities, has many untold stories. Our research efforts allow us to begin to fill in these unknowns. Using the site and our collection as the basis our research, we focus on African American history in the 19th century in Weeksville, Central Brooklyn and beyond. Our archival holdings document the history of Weeksville Heritage Center, the rediscovery and restoration of the historic houses and gardens, and the evolution of the surrounding communities. Information gathered from our research program is incorporated into exhibitions, tours, publications, education, preservation, multimedia and public programs.

Expanding the Story: New Research
Within the past five years, we have uncovered a wealth of new research that allows us to greatly expand the story of Weeksville. We have learned much more about the residents, institutions, architecture and historic value of Weeksville than ever before. This exciting new information has helped us to demonstrate the significance of historic Weeksville and the extent to which Weeksville was an intentional community established by African Americans for African Americans.

We look forward to opportunities, to present what we are learning from our research in discussion forums, workshops and other public programs, and to interact with those pursuing similar research efforts. If you would like to collaborate with our research efforts, email us at info@weeksvillesociety.org .

Continuing the Story: The Oral History Project
Although the stories of Weeksville are primarily about the past, many individuals with a connection to the history of Weeksville are still alive, some residing in the local area. Our Oral History Project builds upon the oral record of historic Weeksville through first-hand testimonies. These include audio and written documentation of the earlier excavation, the restoration of the houses and the community of volunteers who worked with archaeologists, historians, preservationists and others as custodians of the site in the earlier years of rediscovery.

To add to the story, we are beginning to systematically identify and interview individuals associated with historic Weeksville—relatives of historic figures, former tenants of the Hunterfly Road Houses, and long-time neighborhood residents and elders. We are continuing to document interviews through video and audiotape, drawing upon these materials for tours, exhibitions and future programming.

We partnered with StoryCorps , a national initiative to document everyday history and the unique stories of America, to collect the stories of Weeksville in December 2006, when the StoryCorps mobile recording booth ended its national tour at the Hunterfly Road Houses. The booth’s first ever venture into Brooklyn yielded eight days of recordings that are now part of the Weeksville Collection and the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

In discovering these memories, we continue the stories of Weeksville. Thus, this project is ongoing, as we learn of new interviewees. Become part of the story. If you have a memory of Weeksville, please share it with us here!