Purpose of award: this award supports a new biography of maggie l. Walker utilizing newly catalogued records of her life and business

This Cooperative Agreement award from the National Park Service's Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945) provides $141,090 to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to produce an updated biography of Maggie L. Walker. The project will utilize newly cataloged records of Walker's life and business to provide a more comprehensive understanding of her work with the Order of St. Luke and her efforts to advance economic opportunities for African Americans during the Jim Crow era. The biography will be made available online, archived with the National Park Service, and shared with regional repositories to increase public access and scholarly understanding of Walker's legacy. This 3-year project aims to connect African American history with contemporary contexts and engage underserved communities through the development of interpretive materials for use at project sites and beyond.

This project will perform archival research and produce a new biography of maggie l. Walker. IT will utilize newly catalogued records of walkers life that were previously inaccessible to historians and the public. This updated biography will provide information necessary for interpreting and preserving maggie l. Walkers life and legacy more effectively. This project focuses on the historic context of maggie l. Walker, specifically in the region of richmond, virginia.summary of project specific activities: this project will produce an updated biography of maggie l. Walker including her work with the order of ST. Lukes and economic advancement of african americans during the JIM crow ERA. Additionally, IT will produce interpretive material for use at project sites and beyond. The final biography will also be available online, kept in the park archives, and shared with regional repositories. Additionally, the recipient will be working to find a potential publishing press for wider publication of the biography. Performance goals including milestones and expected outcomes: this project will take approximately 3 years. This project will result in a professionally researched and written biography of maggie l. Walker. The NPS will collaborate with the association for the study of african american life and history to produce a professionally written biography of maggie l. Walker. The study will connect african american history with contemporary contexts and engage underserved communities. IT will engage with history and interpretation practitioners in the field (both within NPS, academia, and the public).beneficiaries: this biography will provide the public and scholars of american history with a greater understanding and appreciation of african american history specifically to black economic history and the JIM crow ERA. IT will be utilized to develop a variety of products and programs for the public and visitors to historic sites including the creation of printed and digital content about the african american history.