The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has selected the North Carolina State Capitol as a 2025 Award of Excellence winner for the site’s digital humanities project, “From Naming to Knowing: Uncovering Slavery at the North Carolina State Capitol.” The project was researched, developed, and published by staff public historians Kara Deadmon, Natalie Rodriguez, and Terra Schramm. The State Capitol is administered by the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 80th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
“Naming to Knowing” (NTK) is a research project and accompanying website (www.namingtoknowing.org) that seeks to name and share the stories of the enslaved men who built and maintained the State Capitol between 1833-1865. The website, which was launched in February 2024, lists every known enslaved person who worked on the Capitol and includes individual narratives for almost two dozen people, tracing some individuals from the 18th century through Emancipation. NTK’s website was developed over years of original staff research and through multiple rounds of community feedback. In addition to the website, NTK also informs temporary exhibits and public programming at the State Capitol. The project is an on-going effort and additional research and findings will be added as appropriate.
“The names of these enslaved people existed in state documents produced at the time, but were intentionally omitted from the building’s history,” said Capitol Site Administrator Kara Deadmon. “Their contribution wasn’t acknowledged, and this project reminds us that this place would not exist without them. The Capitol is a memorial to their skill, to their talent, and to their lives.”
This year, AASLH confers 54 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history.
The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203 or go to www.aaslh.org.
The State Capitol’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history, architecture, and function of the 1840 building and Union Square. The Capitol is open to visitors Monday – Saturday and is located at 1 E. Edenton Street in downtown Raleigh. For additional information please call 984-867-8340 or visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/capitol.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.