Plenary

Does a Tree Make a Sound If No One’s Around? Does Your Archives Preserve History If No One Sees Them?

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Abstract

Affectionately called "Dilla," Chicago historian Shermann Thomas is a fascinating blend of a modern historian, cultural worker, and public employee. Dilla has become a Chicago social media sensation by going viral on TikTok. His 60-second videos on all things Chicago history have been viewed over 8 million times, and he has over 150K followers across all social media platforms.

Through the power of storytelling, Dilla is helping to change the narrative locally and nationally about Chicago's value to the world, and for that work, Dilla has been named 2022 Chicago Tourism Ambassador of the Year by Choose Chicago, the city's tourism agency. He is a recipient of the prestigious Chicago Public Library Foundation's 21st Century Award and a Studs Terkel Uplifting Voices recipient. Through his work, he has presented Chicago history lessons and lectures to institutions including the University of Chicago, LaSalle University (PA), Northwestern University, several Chicago Community Colleges network partners, and a number of corporate groups.

Dilla is a proud lifelong resident of Chicago's South side. He co-founded Chicago Mahogany Foundation in January 2022 which is committed to preserving and disseminating the rich history and culture of the city of Chicago. His talk, "Does a tree make a sound if no one's around? Does your archives preserve history if no one sees them?" will draw from his rich experience to engage and challenge this year's MAC audience.

How to Cite:

Thomas, S. "., (2023) “Does a Tree Make a Sound If No One’s Around? Does Your Archives Preserve History If No One Sees Them?”, MAC Annual Meeting Presentations 2023(1).