Join us at the Archives or online TODAY at noon for our June Food For Thought lunchtime lecture. Joshua Burford will present "The Invisible Histories Project."

Co-founded in 2015 by Joshua Burford and Maigen Sullivan, the Invisible Histories Project (iHP) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to locate, preserve, research, and make accessible materials that document the rich and diverse history of LGBTQ life in the South. Currently working in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, iHP serves as an intermediary between the queer community and universities, museums, archives, and libraries to preserve collections that document the lives of LGBTQ southerners. The ADAH is one of three iHP repository partners in Alabama and has acquired several donations to its permanent collections through the collaboration. During his presentation, Burford will share some of the materials collected in Alabama and how the work of iHP is helping the public gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of LGBTQ Alabamians.
A native of Anniston, Burford is an award-winning historian, archivist, and educator with over twenty years of experience in creating stronger communities for queer and transgender people across the U.S. He is a nationally recognized educator and trainer who has worked with K-12 schools, colleges and universities, corporations, and non-profits to examine the ways in which each can be more inclusive of diverse identities, engage in self-evaluation about best practices, and create pathways for increased retention of minority individuals. Burford holds bachelor’s degrees in English and history from University of Alabama and master’s degrees in American studies and library and information studies. A historian and archivist by training, Burford currently serves as iHP’s director of outreach and lead archivist.

The program will be held in person at the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) in Montgomery. Admission is FREE. It will also be livestreamed through the ADAH’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
For additional information, call (334) 353-4689. Food for Thought 2022 is made possible with support in memory of Mike Jenkins IV.