The History Project Announces Inaugural Executive Director
With Support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Scholarly Communications Program, Joan Ilacqua takes helm in January 2020
BOSTON, MA (JANUARY 15, 2020) The History Project (THP), Bostons LGBTQ community archives, is thrilled to announce the appointment of the first executive director and first-ever full-time staff position in its 40-year history, Joan Ilacqua. Ms. Ilacqua, former Co-Chair of The History Projects board of directors, is a public historian and archivist with experience in oral history, outreach, and acquiring materials from diverse communities. As executive director, Ms. Ilacqua will focus on areas that include strategic planning, fundraising, operations, and collaboration with other nonprofit leaders and community organizations.
The creation of THPs first-ever full-time staff position was made possible through a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. THP is part of the inaugural class of the Mellon Archives program, which aims to diversify the nations stores of primary-source evidence by supporting and strengthening community-based archiving practice. This material is available to researchers in humanities fields as well as activists, artists, community historians, genealogists, teachers, and students.
This grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation represents an important and transformative moment for The History Project, notes board chair Andrew Elder. The grant creates extensive opportunities to expand our work, reach new audiences, and build a more solid future. The board of directors is thrilled to have Joan Ilacqua as our inaugural executive director, who will guide us and champion our work in this period of change. Were also grateful to the Mellon Foundation for understanding, valuing, and supporting our mission.
Im honored to be The History Projects inaugural executive director, Ilacqua said. For 40 years, volunteers have documented, preserved, and shared our communitys history. Their efforts and energies will continue to guide us as an organization, I look forward to being a steward of their vision.
Most recently, Ilacqua served as Co-Chair of The History Projects board of directors and as Harvard Medical Schools Archivist for Diversity and Inclusion. She is a member of the New England Archivists Inclusion and Diversity Committee, and has a background in advocacy and oral history. She is a graduate of UMass Bostons Public History masters program, and earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Puget Sound.
She began her new position in January 2020, and looks forward to hearing from you at info@historyproject.org.
