July 9, 2019

Brandon Lunsford says he has been archivist at Johnson C. Smith University for nearly 20 years. He took to the mic today to urge people in the Forum audience to consider sharing their troves of memories, photos and documents with the university’s library.

Lunsford shared a brochure that includes the map at right. It also includes his contact information, both e-mail and phone (704-371-6741).

Lunsford appeared as part of an Open Forum at which other issues were discussed.

Lunsford said he had thus far focused his attention on Historic West End and further out the Beatties Ford Road corridor. But he said he would consider broadening the archive to take in more recent (or even older or now lost) African-American neighborhoods in Charlotte.

He did say that he would steer clear of McCrorey Heights, the westside neighborhood created by a former Johnson C. Smith president that has recently been the subject of Tom Hanchett’s research. Hanchett was recently named historian in residence by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library. More on Hanchett here. His McCrorey Heights material begins here.

In the video below, Lunsford introduced himself at minute 7:25 for one minute, made his presentatuion at minute 22:44, and questions immediately followed his presentation.