An effort to preserve Black history is under way in Greensboro neighborhood

An effort to preserve Black history is underway in Greensboro. South Benbow Road residents want their neighborhood included on the National Register of Historic Places, and the city’s Planning Department is helping to make that a reality.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology-educated architect and former Tuskegee Airman William Streat Jr., Korean War combat physician and Greensboro’s first Black internist Dr. James David Trader, World War II “Buffalo Soldier” James Reid — these are just three of the former South Benbow area residents to be memorialized.

This week, city staff, as well as representatives from local universities, the Archives Office, Greensboro History Museum, and others will host what’s being called Historic Memorabilia Scan Day. Unique items that tell the stories of home, neighborhood or church life will be collected to document the area’s rich history. The artifacts will eventually be placed in an online archive that’s open to the public.

News & Record copy editor, Benbow Park resident and volunteer with the initiative Chad Roberts says he’s looking forward to scanning his documents and preserving them for future generations.  

"Whether it’s old photographs, or programs, or scrapbook stuff — because I think we’re gonna have people there like while we’re doing the scanning, to kind of talk about the stuff and make notes," he says. "So, for those people that have those documents that they’re willing to share to be able to go back down memory lane one more time. You know, I might learn some stuff that I didn’t know — I’m sure I will."

The event is Thursday, April 6, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hayes-Taylor Memorial YMCA on East Florida Street.