The African American Historical Society of Rockland County is proud to launch the Rockland County Black Historical Communities Collaborative, a countywide initiative dedicated to uncovering, preserving, and sharing the stories of Black life across Rockland County.
For generations, Black Rocklanders built neighborhoods, churches, schools, civic organizations, and networks of care that shaped the county. Yet much of this history remains scattered or held quietly within families.
The Collaborative will bring together research, oral histories, mapping projects, archival photography, and community memory. Its mission is clear: to reclaim and amplify the voices of those who built and sustained Black communities throughout Rockland County.
Families play a central role in this work. Their photographs, documents, and oral histories help fill archival silences and restore visibility to overlooked histories. The Collaborative recognizes communities past and present including Hillburn, Nyack, Haverstraw, Spring Valley, Piermont’s Mine Hole, Sparkill, Skunk Hollow, Turkey Ridge and others.
AAHS also welcomes partnerships with institutions—museums, libraries, archives, universities, and cultural organizations—that value the preservation of historical resources and public access to them.