(NASHVILLE, TN) -- The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announces that the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) is the recipient of Awards of Excellence for its original exhibition, The Head that Wears the Crown: Black Women's Headwear from Slavery to Freedom, and its public program, the 1899 Camp Meeting Reenactment.
The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 80th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
On September 20, 2024, SSAAM debuted The Head that Wears the Crown, a special exhibition exploring the legacy of church hats as symbols of Black womanhood, spirituality, and cultural pride. Sponsored by the Princeton University Art Museum and curated by Public History Intern Kyra March, the exhibit remains on view through June 2025.
The Head That Wears the Crown showcases 25 vintage hats donated by women from local Black churches—many on display for the first time—alongside historical interpretation and an oral history film. A community photography series displays portraits of local residents of all ages modeling hats from the museum collection or their own closets. Created to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Mt. Zion AME Church, the exhibit bridges generations by engaging both youth and elders in preserving and reimagining a cherished Black tradition.
SSAAM also received recognition for the 1899 Camp Meeting Reenactment, a living history program recreating the traditional religious revivals once hosted by Mt. Zion AME Church. Sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2025 Preserving Black Churches grant and developed by SSAAM’s Education and Exhibit Manager Dr. Isabela Morales, the October 12, 2024 event featured costumed interpreters, period music, children’s activities, and an oral history filmt. The reenactment drew nearly 150 attendees and celebrated a rarely-remembered moment of interracial fellowship in rural New Jersey during the Jim Crow era.
This year, AASLH confers 54 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history.
The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena.
The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) is dedicated to telling the story of the unique culture, experiences, and contributions of African Americans in the Sourland Mountain Region of Central New Jersey. Founded in 2016 by historians Beverly Mills and Elaine Buck, SSAAM grew out of decades of research into the region’s significant but often-overlooked Black history. Today, Mt. Zion AME Church and the historic Reasoner/True House—both museum sites—are two of the last remaining landmarks of a once-thriving African American community in the Sourlands.
Preserving the history of the Black church is central to SSAAM’s mission. Mt. Zion AME served as a vital spiritual and social hub for the community, built by free Black labor and rooted in resilience. Through programs like The Head that Wears the Crown and the 1899 Camp Meeting Reenactment, SSAAM continues to celebrate and share the legacy of Black faith, culture, and community in New Jersey.
The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all people. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, and maintains numerous affinity communities and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors an annual meeting, regional and national training in-person workshops, and online training.
