ALL MY ANCESTORS ARE TRANSGENDER:
​HOW TO CREATE A CHOSEN FAMILY ARCHIVE



​This course explores how to create a physical archive that preserves Queer life. Topics include: the origins of archiving, how to protect and safely store archival material, and how to select materials. We will explore existing physical records, map out chosen family trees, and preserve personal materials. Participants will also learn how to preserve digital media and sounds. Learners will walk away with a starter archival kit they can continue to add to over time. The course will end with an optional brief presentation of each learner’s archives.

THIS CLASS IS AVAILABLE IN PERSON
​AT ABRONS ARTS CENTER:
466 Grand Street, NY, NY

WEDNESDAYS 6-8 PM
October 7 - 28, 2026
4 sessions +
culminating share out on Friday, October 30
Sliding scale tuition: 
$45, $120, $220, ​or $320
+ $30 non-refundable registration fee
​

INSTRUCTOR

Kenny Shiloh Russell (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist and arts administrator living in Brooklyn, NY. They create art with preservation at the forefront of their mind, specifically through a Queer, Afro-Caribbean lens.

Russell holds a BS in Textile Development from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and their exhibition history includes group exhibitions at Photoville, Columbia University, and Brooklyn Art Cave. Russell works at NYFA in the Awards and Grants department where they oversee several programs, including the Queens Arts Fund and the Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award. Currently, Russell is a Researcher at the Lesbian Herstory Archives where they are exploring Black Lesbian survival tactics. 


​Image credit: Kenny Shiloh Russell
This program is supported, in part, through public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Additionally, our classes are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.