Lela Johnson Sewell-Williams, is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in American History and Black Studies from South Carolina State University and her Master of Arts degree in American History with a concentration in Archives, Museums and Historical Editing from Duquesne University. Ms. Sewell-Williams resigned from her position as the Assistant Curator of Manuscripts within the Manuscript Division of Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University to found Preserve Your Story, an archival consulting firm, which identifies and fosters the preservation of historical materials with a specialized interest in the promotion of family, community, cultural and corporate records reflecting the African Diaspora. She is currently serving as the Dance Archivist and an adjunct professor within the Dance Major program at Howard University, Washington, D.C.
As a member of the professional history and cultural preservation communities, as well as a member of the African Diaspora, she has a vested interest in the preservation of the history and culture of those of African descent. Being a student of these professional and cultural communities has served as a catalyst toward her decision to pursue a career in the field of archival preservation. As the first archivist at South Carolina State University (a centennial Historical Black College and University), as well as serving as the project archivist for the Robert “Bob” Johnson Dance Collection (founder of the Pittsburgh Black Theater Dance Ensemble) has afforded her a diversity of opportunities to work with personal as well as organizational records and artifacts. Additionally, she served as a Manuscripts Librarian within the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Book division of The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library located in Harlem, New York. While at the Schomburg Center Sewell-Williams served as the initiator and project archivist for the Center’s Hip-Hop Archive Project. These professional experiences have enabled the chance to develop, implement and apply archival polices and procedures. Through a collaboration of Moorland Spingarn Research Center and Howard University’s Dance department, Sewell-Williams has developed an initiative to collect the records of regional black dance companies and through the project has established a dance archive.
As a member of the professional history and cultural preservation communities, as well as a member of the African Diaspora, she has a vested interest in the preservation of the history and culture of those of African descent. Being a student of these professional and cultural communities has served as a catalyst toward her decision to pursue a career in the field of archival preservation. As the first archivist at South Carolina State University (a centennial Historical Black College and University), as well as serving as the project archivist for the Robert “Bob” Johnson Dance Collection (founder of the Pittsburgh Black Theater Dance Ensemble) has afforded her a diversity of opportunities to work with personal as well as organizational records and artifacts. Additionally, she served as a Manuscripts Librarian within the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Book division of The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library located in Harlem, New York. While at the Schomburg Center Sewell-Williams served as the initiator and project archivist for the Center’s Hip-Hop Archive Project. These professional experiences have enabled the chance to develop, implement and apply archival polices and procedures. Through a collaboration of Moorland Spingarn Research Center and Howard University’s Dance department, Sewell-Williams has developed an initiative to collect the records of regional black dance companies and through the project has established a dance archive.
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