(Courtesy Desintation Augusta)
Corey Rogers, executive director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, and Ransom Schwerzler, director of Meadow Garden, have been selected to participate in “Our American Story,” a nationwide oral history initiative marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Rogers and Schwerzler traveled to Athens, Georgia, to record interviews for the project, sitting down with trained interviewers to discuss lived experience, civic engagement and personal legacy. Their interviews will become part of the Our American Story archive, with select recordings preserved at the Library of Congress. Portions of the interviews also are expected to be shared through Our American Story’s own platform(s).
“One of Augusta’s greatest strengths is the people who bring our history to life and help ensure those stories continue to be shared,” said Bennish Brown, president and CEO of Destination Augusta. “Corey and Ransom are tremendous ambassadors for our community, and we’re proud to see their voices included in ‘Our American Story’. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, their participation is a meaningful opportunity to share Augusta’s place in the larger American story.”
Rogers has led the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History since 2023, guiding visitors through the legacy of educator and social reformer Lucy Craft Laney and the broader history of Augusta’s Black community. Schwerzler directs Meadow Garden, the historic home of Declaration of Independence signer George Walton, where she has overseen preservation efforts, including a multiyear restoration of the property and ongoing research into its full history.
“Sharing Augusta’s story on a national stage is a powerful reminder that our history helped shape this country,” Rogers said. “It’s an honor to represent the Laney Museum and this community in that conversation.”
“Meadow Garden has always been a window into Augusta’s role in American history,” Schwerzler said. “Being part of this project means that story now reaches a national audience.”
Rogers and Schwerzler join participants from across the country contributing to a national record of how local communities have shaped American civic life, innovation and culture as the country marks 250 years.
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