About the Lewis Latimer House:

The Lewis Latimer House (LLH) was home to self-taught Black inventor, artist, and scientist, Lewis Latimer, for 26 years. Latimer, the son of self-emancipated enslaved Virginians, made significant contributions to electric lighting and developed a method to produce carbon filaments, making light bulbs affordable for common households. The house was preserved through a campaign led by Latimer's granddaughter in 1988, moved to its current location, and opened in May 1989. Designated a New York City Landmark in 1995, LLH now serves as a multi-functional open space and museum, dedicated to promoting and preserving the contributions of Lewis Latimer and other innovators of color. The Lewis Latimer House offers educational STEAM programs, exhibitions, and community events that cultivate imagination, connection, and resilience in underrepresented communities. 

Description of Project: 

The Lewis Latimer House will be using this grant to fund the digitization of their collections and work with a Digitization Specialist to document and digitize artifacts, photographs, drawings, and documents, as well as materials from the Latimer Family Papers Collection at the Queens Library Archive. The digitization project will reach a broad audience, including Lewis Latimer’s descendants, K-12 educators, historians, and the general public. By digitizing collections that span Latimer’s personal and professional life, LLH will provide new insights into his work and the intersection of science, technology, and the arts. The project will also expand LLH’s reach beyond NYC, ensuring that individuals outside of the region can engage with Latimer’s legacy. The digitized collections will be hosted on a user-friendly online platform, enhancing the museum's public outreach and educational impact.