Leatherwood MATTERS brings communities, technology, and expertise together to preserve African American history where resources are limited, with a particular focus on recovering and sharing the stories of military veterans. 

Through research, volunteer service, and practical digital skills training, we help people protect cultural heritage and carry it forward for future generations. 

Our current featured work is at Historic Richland Cemetery in Greenville, South Carolina.

Read Our Mission 👈 

Established in 1884 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Historic Richland Cemetery in Greenville, South Carolina, holds generations of African American history. 

But, a fire destroyed many of its original burial records,  leaving families and researchers with gaps in the history of the people buried there.  

Across the country, African American burial grounds face similar challenges: missing records, unmarked graves, and too few resources to preserve their history. These gaps can leave military veterans’ service unrecognized and their stories untold. Congress recognized the scale of the problem by establishing the U.S. African-American Burial Grounds Preservation Program in 2022.

With two approved AmeriCorps VISTA positions, Leatherwood MATTERS will use Richland as a pilot to build a model other African American cemeteries can replicate—with veterans as a priority for research and recognition.

Our solutions include data, mapping, drones, AI, and digital tools to recover and connect historical records, locate graves, and share the lives and service of those buried at Richland. VISTA members and community volunteers will gain practical digital skills while helping preserve this history for future generations.

Explore the Richland Project 👈