Montgomery receives funding from NPS for Peacock Tract Community

The City of Montgomery has received funding from the National Park Service's (NPS) 20th Century African American Civil Rights grant program for an oral history project in the Peacock Tract Community.

The project will involve studying the "impact" of the highway interchange in the historic neighborhood. 

"The City has extended the project through March of 2025 to accommodate delays in getting started," said an announcement on the city website. "Afore Preservation Consulting, a renowned firm specializing in historic preservation, has been contracted to assist with the project."

"Afore will be responsible for collecting, recording, and transcribing oral histories, as well as conducting scanning sessions of artifacts and ephemera related to the Peacock Tract community before, during, and after highway construction. At the conclusion of the project, Afore will draft a comprehensive report with recommendations for future work."

It is hoped that the project will secure more funding for the city in the future. 

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"To ensure accessibility and preservation, all oral histories and scanned copies of ephemera will be held at the local Bertha Pleasant Williams, Rosa Parks Avenue Branch Library," the announcement adds. "With appropriate permissions from participants, these resources will be publicly accessible, allowing community members and researchers to delve into the rich history of the Peacock Tract."

As a result the city is asking for the public's help, especially a connection to the community. 

"The City of Montgomery is actively seeking input and collaboration from individuals who have a connection to the Peacock Tract neighborhood. Community members are encouraged to share historic artifacts such as old photographs, maps, newspaper clippings, and community event programs, which will be scanned and included in the overall project report and the library's digital archive," the announcement said. 

"Additionally, the project is seeking interviewees for oral history sessions, which will be recorded, transcribed, and stored at the library. Participants will have their original documents returned, and interviewees will receive a copy of their recorded interview."

For more information, contact Katie Randall from Afore Preservation Consulting at (615) 743-5862 or Shaun Rose, the Historic Preservation Coordinator, at (334) 625-2041.