Community history

Chapel Hill community history graphic banner

Our program

Chapel Hill Community History staff work with local people to document and share untold, ignored, and erased stories from Chapel Hill's history. Our work is an intentional, collaborative co-creation with history makers, historians, local government, and community members. Together we initiate, design, and share public history projects, programs, and exhibits. 

Guiding values

  1. People are the experts of their own histories.
  2. Histories & stories that have been ignored or erased from the written record are vital to understanding who we are today and how we can create a better future together.
  3. Histories & stories must be relevant and accessible to people of all ages.
  4. The most powerful way to become relevant for diverse communities is to become representative of them and co-created by them.

Explore the history

Upcoming events

This event is in the "Adults" group

A Warning Then and Now: George H White's 1901 Farewell Address to Congress

Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Meeting Room B at Library
Program Type:
Community History
Age Group:
Adults

Join us for a conversation exploring the past and its disturbing parallels in North Carolina today.

Sign-Up Open
Registration Required
Registration will close on January 26, 2026 @ 6:00pm.
Location: Library
Room: Meeting Room B
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Community History
Registration Required
Event Details:

Join us for a conversation exploring the past and its disturbing parallels in North Carolina today.

This event is in the "Adults" group

American Agitators - film + discussion

Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Meeting Room B at Library
Program Type:
Community History
Age Group:
Adults

AMERICAN AGITATORS captures the remarkable story of organizing for social change in the U.S. through the work Fred Ross Sr. and many others such as iconic organizers Dolores Huerta and Fred Ross Jr.

Sign-Up Open
Registration Required
Registration will close on January 29, 2026 @ 6:00pm.
Location: Library
Room: Meeting Room B
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Community History
Registration Required
Event Details:

AMERICAN AGITATORS captures the remarkable story of organizing for social change in the U.S. through the work Fred Ross Sr. and many others such as iconic organizers Dolores Huerta and Fred Ross Jr.

Black Folk: Community Read & Conversation Series

Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Meeting Room B at Library
Program Type:
Community History
Sign-Up Open
Registration Required
Registration will close on February 26, 2026 @ 5:00pm.
Location: Library
Room: Meeting Room B
Program Type: Community History
Registration Required

Black Folk: Community Read & Conversation Series

Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Meeting Room B at Library
Program Type:
Community History
Sign-Up Open
Registration Required
Registration will close on March 5, 2026 @ 5:00pm.
Location: Library
Room: Meeting Room B
Program Type: Community History
Registration Required

Black Folk: Community Read & Conversation Series

Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Meeting Room B at Library
Program Type:
Community History
Sign-Up Open
Registration Required
Registration will close on March 12, 2026 @ 5:00pm.
Location: Library
Room: Meeting Room B
Program Type: Community History
Registration Required

Black Folk: Community Read & Conversation Series

Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Meeting Room B at Library
Program Type:
Community History
Sign-Up Open
Registration Required
Registration will close on March 19, 2026 @ 5:00pm.
Location: Library
Room: Meeting Room B
Program Type: Community History
Registration Required