By Francis Von Mann and Avery Schanbacher

Bridging Academics and Advocacy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 27, 2025) — For Alyssah Robinson, history is more than a major — it’s a calling. 

As a history major and African American and Africana Studies minor at the College of Arts and Sciences at University of Kentucky, Robinson is dedicated to uncovering and preserving Black history, particularly through digital research and theater. She combines her love for storytelling with historical preservation, ensuring that the voices of the past continue to resonate today.

Her passion led her to work on digitizing archival records, documenting racial violence in Kentucky and studying how theater has been a powerful tool in the Civil Rights Movement as a Gaines Fellow. Through her work, she is not only preserving the past but also shaping a more informed future.

Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky

Alyssah’s research journey began at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, where she worked on digitizing records from a Black church in the city’s West End.

Recognizing the power of digital history, Robinson took part in the Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky Digital Access Project, researching the lives of lynching victims. Using newspaper archives and genealogy tools like Ancestry, she helped reconstruct the biographies of those who had been erased from historical narratives.

“It’s very important work and in my the most fulfilling thing I’ve worked on so far,” she said. “I’m giving a voice to history that has tried to be forgotten, and people thought to be lost.”

Despite the challenges, such as incorrect spellings in records or missing names, her research contributed to a growing effort to restore the identities of victims and honor their legacies.

Protecting Black History Through National Parks

Alyssah’s commitment to historical preservation extended beyond digital research. Through an internship with the National Park Service, she worked at several historical sites:

• Camp Nelson: Recognizing the role of Black soldiers in the Civil War.
• Mill Springs: Preserving artifacts from Civil War history.
• Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home : Helping maintain the legacy of Civil Rights leaders.

Her work ensured that these places remain protected and accessible to those who seek to learn about the past.

Preserving Black Theater in Lexington

For her Gaines Fellowship under the guidance of Frank X Walker, Alyssah is exploring how theater played a role in the Civil Rights Movement. She is working to collect oral histories from the founders of Message Theater, a Black theater company in Lexington, and sources of the public’s reception of two influential plays: “A Raisin in the Sun” and “A Medal for Willie.”

“It’s been really eye opening, seeing how the Civil Rights Movement and theater interact.” Alyssah said. “The research has it’s challenges, but overall, I really enjoy it.”

Alyssah’s journey is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Whether she’s preserving records, documenting untold stories or exploring the intersection of history and theater, her work is helping to keep Black history alive.

Looking to the future, she hopes to continue her research and inspire others to take an active role in historical preservation.