Stories
Learn about the impact of Mellon's grantmaking across the United States.
Behind the Scenes of a Block Party Like No Other
One woman. Eight hours. How the hottest party on a New York City block comes together, from sound set-up to morning stretches with the neighbors, to the all-important soundtrack.
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Love Letters and Chorus Cassette Tapes: Inside The June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives
At the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives, artifacts tell more than a century of lesbian history—stories of love, resistance, and community that might otherwise have been lost.
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Local News and Street Art: Inside El Tecolote’s Community Archives
El Tecolote, founded in 1970, is the longest-running Spanish-English newspaper in California. In 2020, the newspaper’s archives were digitized, making them fully searchable and accessible.
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Mapping the Landscape of Community-Based Archives
By defining and mapping the landscape of community-based archives, the study provides funders, institutions, and practitioners with insights about the value of these unique organizations.
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The West Virginia Miners Whose Stories Build a Museum
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They’re the ‘Evergreens’ of Jazz. Here’s Why.
The work of the 12 2026 Jazz Legacies Fellows has played a pivotal role in shaping and strengthening the artform that is American jazz.
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‘A Fellow Traveler on the Planet’: Kurt Vonnegut’s Daughter on his Parenting Style
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“I Teach for My Heart”: How a 77-Year-Old Healer is Keeping Guam's Ancient Medicine Alive
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Mapping Our Shared History: Introducing the National Preservation Atlas
An essay from Sara Bronin, founder of the National Zoning Atlas, which makes zoning data actionable and accessible to improve how America uses its land.
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What It’s Like to Workshop a Play in Prison: Building a SuperNova
In an Op-Ed for the Mellon Foundation, Elizabeth Hawes explores what it was like to workshop a play while being incarcerated
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The Famed El Ancón Barge is Being Reimagined in Puerto Rico
Along the northeastern side of Puerto Rico stands Colectivo El Ancón de Loíza Incorporado, a modest concrete structure and historic house that are a locus of activity.
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Country Onions, Sweet Potatoes, and Salt: The Unsung Ingredients of Southern Food
Four food experts share the dishes, ingredients, and history lessons they are bringing to St. Helena Island in South Carolina.
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Make Shrimp and Grits with Mashama Bailey
Celebrated chef Mashama Bailey takes on an iconic Savannah dish, shrimp and grits, with a nod to the region’s history and heritage.
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Make Ndolé with Adrian Lipscombe
After a trip to Cameroon, African-American chef Adrian Lipscombe finds new life, and honors history, in a bowl of collard greens.
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Make Maryland Succotash with Tonya and David Thomas
After decades in the restaurant business, a husband and wife duo are committed to teaching new generations of cooks how to make the food of their ancestors.
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Opening Up the Arts and Humanities for All Americans
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16 Jazz Legends Met in New York. Here’s What We Learned From Them.
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What Makes “Body and Soul” a Classic? Three Jazz Legends Break It Down
Michele Rosewoman, Herlin Riley, and Carmen Lundy—all members of the 2025 Jazz Legacies Fellowship— break down just what it is about “Body and Soul” that makes the 95-year-old song still feel new.
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