About the Project

On June 19, 2020, Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site (VHP) in West Columbia received a grant from the 400 Years of African American History Commission in Washington, DC for a year-long project called The Brazoria County 1619 Descendants Project. The purpose of the project is to create a digital repository of at least 1,619 photographs, letters, recipes, diaries and more to document African American history in Brazoria County.

The ultimate goal of the Descendants Project is to foster stronger connections with descendant communities throughout the region and to use items in the newly created collection in educational programs and interpretive spaces at VHP and other Texas Historical Commision (THC)-operated sites for long-term public benefit. Over the next year, community donors will be asked to bring artifacts to Varner-Hogg to be documented and returned to them on-site. One-hour appointments will be scheduled in three phases between September 2020 and June 2021.