<p>In June 2025, Walk With Web, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Public Archives (SLPA) at <a target="_blank" href="https://usl.edu.sl/fourah-bay-college/">Fourah Bay College</a>, University of Sierra Leone (USL), and <a target="_blank" href="https://central.edu.sl/web/">Central University</a>, organized impactful events aimed at strengthening archival research capacity and exploring new narratives in African history.<br><br> On June 11th and 12th, the SLPA hosted a hands-on training workshop led by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.susqu.edu/profiles/coulon/">Dr. Mégane Coulon</a>, Assistant Professor of African History at <a href="https://www.susqu.edu/programs/history/" target="_blank">Susquehanna University</a> and Coordinator of the <a target="_blank" href="https://freedomnarratives.org"> Freedom Narratives</a> Project. Dr. Coulon is a key collaborator on our work on the <a target="_blank" href="https://eap.bl.uk/project/EAP1366">British Library Endangered Archives Programme grant</a>, working alongside <a target="_blank" href="https://walkwithweb.org/Teams/team_details.php?TeamID=8">Prof. Paul Lovejoy</a> (York University), <a target="_blank" href="https://walkwithweb.org/Teams/team_details.php?TeamID=30">Prof. Suzanne Schwarz</a> (University of Worcester), and <a target="_blank" href="https://walkwithweb.org/Teams/team_details.php?TeamID=4">Dr. Érika Melek-Delgado</a> (King’s College London). During the workshop, Dr. Coulon guided students and archive staff through interactive sessions using original archival materials, offering practical insights into African colonial history and metadata creation in accordance with British Library standards.<br><br> This initiative represents a critical step in our ongoing efforts to support the development of the Sierra Leone Public Archives, particularly as the institution prepares to launch a new digital platform for public access and historical research.<br><br> Following the workshop, on June 13th, Dr. Coulon delivered a public lecture at <a target="_blank" href="https://central.edu.sl/web/">Central University</a> titled “Positioning Freetown at the Crossroads of Atlantic and African Histories in the Mid-Nineteenth Century.” Her talk explored Freetown’s founding, the lives of <a target="_blank" href="https://liberatedafricans.org">Liberated Africans</a>, and the city’s economic and cultural links to inland trade and Islamic centers. She highlighted the stories of self-liberated individuals and the gendered dimensions of trade networks, adding depth to the understanding of Freetown’s historical significance.<br><br> We extend our sincere thanks to <a href="https://www.susqu.edu/programs/history/" target="_blank">Susquehanna University</a> for their generous support, the <a href="https://www.bl.uk/" target="_blank">British Library</a> for their EAP initiative, Senior Archivist Albert Moore for his invaluable contributions, and Dr. Muckson Sesay, Chancellor of Central University, for hosting the lecture as part of our broader Walk With Web initiative.</p>