COLLECTING INITIATIVES

Whose history gets preserved is a choice.

These five initiatives are the Society's standing answer to that choice — long-term commitments to collect, contextualize, and steward the histories of St. Louis communities historically underrepresented in the archive.

[INITIATIVE HERO · GRID OF CONTRIBUTED OBJECTS — PHOTOGRAPHS, LETTERS, FAMILY ITEMS]

We Are St. Louis

An open community-history campaign. Anyone in the region can contribute photographs, letters, recordings, or objects.

Contribute your story →

[INITIATIVE HERO · ARCHIVAL PORTRAIT OF FAMILY ON FRONT PORCH, 1960s ST. LOUIS]

AAHI

African American History Initiative

Building the largest documentary archive of Black St. Louis — through community partnership, oral history, and accession.

Partner with the Initiative →

[INITIATIVE HERO · ARCHIVAL FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH FROM ST. LOUIS HOP ALLEY ERA]

Chinese American

Chinese American Collecting Initiative

Documenting the Chinese American experience in the St. Louis region — past and present — in partnership with the OCA-St. Louis Chapter and community elders.

Share family history →

[INITIATIVE HERO · ARCHIVAL PHOTO OF EARLY ST. LOUIS PRIDE MARCH]

Gateway to Pride

An initiative recording the history of LGBTQ+ life in the St. Louis region — bars, baths, organizing, family, and community-building.

Contribute to the archive →

[INITIATIVE HERO · COMPOSITE OF PANDEMIC-ERA SIGNS, MASKS, AND HANDWRITTEN NOTES]

Pandemic Stories

Stories of the Pandemic

How St. Louisans lived through COVID-19 — diaries, photographs, signs, masks, recordings.

Share your pandemic story →