(Black PR Wire) Miami, FL – The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc., a photographic and manuscript archival research repository in a community setting dedicated to documenting the history of Black Miami from 1896 to the present, welcomes Elaysha Bazil as the lead archivist. Bazil was previously employed with Broward County Public Schools and comes to the Black Archives with experience in archives, museums, and education from Bethune-Cookman University.

While studying in Bethune-Cookman University, Bazil worked as an intern in the Archival Center at the Mary McLeod Bethune Home, as well as a Museum Docent. As an educator, Bazil served as the Peer Learning Community Captain for the 6th grade social studies curriculum for Millennium Collegiate Academy located in Tamarac, FL. Ms. Bazil will be leading the organization’s archival department, with her main duties including processing collections, managing archival donations and research requests, and overseeing IMLS grant activities.

“I am overjoyed to be working at the Black Archives, and I am eager to utilize and build upon my current skillset while working in this capacity,” said Bazil. “The best is yet to come, and this is only the beginning.”

In 2021, the Black Archives was awarded a $250,000 Museum Grant for African American History & Culture by the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) to build capacity and conduct a major digitization project of its periodicals collections, and to expand public access to its collections by migrating to a new web-based collections management software.

“We are happy to welcome Ms. Bazil to the Black Archives as lead archivist,” said Timothy A. Barber, Black Archives executive director. “As an HBCU graduate with archival and museum experience, she brings with her a level of authenticity and understanding that is essential to the execution of our mission. Her energy and background will only further strengthen our team.”

About The Black Archives The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida is a photographic and manuscript archival research repository dedicated to documenting the history of people of the African Diaspora in Miami-Dade County from 1896 to the present. Founded in 1977 by Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields, the Black Archives became one to the largest repositories for the history of Blacks in Miami-Dade County. The non-profit organization is housed at the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater (BAHLT) Cultural Arts Complex, a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places built in 1913. The Black Archives explores universal themes of respect for human differences, responsible citizenship, human dignity, education, and community building through the lens of the black experience. We promote mutual respect and understanding and inspire the appreciation of black culture, arts, history, and entertainment. The Black Archives is sponsored by the City of Miami Southeast Overtown Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, the Office of City of Miami Commissioner Christine King, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, State of Florida Department of State-Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida Section 286.25, Florida Statues, and Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network. Visit www.bahlt.org for more information.