Project: To help bring thousands of records to light, The Freedmen’s Bureau Project was created as a set of partnerships between FamilySearch International and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS), and the California African American Museum.
The project began on Juneteenth (June 19) 2015 and with the help of more than twenty-five thousand volunteers, was completed on June 20, 2016. As a result of the tireless effort of thousands, the names of nearly 1.8 million men, women, and children are now searchable online. Now that the images have been indexed, millions have access to the names of their ancestors, allowing individuals to build their family trees and connect with their heritage.
Scope: Capturing the statements of leading entertainment, political, religious, education, and cultural leaders, produce a series of documentary testimonials sharing the impact of the Freedmen’s Bureau.
Scale: Development, East to West coast production, scheduling, project management, art direction, interview direction, and post-production services for a three-camera shoot.
Usage / Distribution / Channel(s): Website, Digital, and Installation.
Delivered: Twelve 2–4 minute segments, produced over a two-month production schedule. All rendered and digitally transferred to client specs.