Request for Proposals

George Mason’s

School Renaming in : An Oral History Project

July 30, 2021

George Mason’s Gunston Hall is seeking the services of a consultant to conduct an oral history project that focuses on interviewing a representative sample of the community, including administrators, students, teachers, alumni and community members, regarding the school renaming of George Mason Elementary School in Richmond and in Falls Church.

About George Mason’s Gunston Hall

Gunston Hall’s mission is to stimulate the exploration and understanding of principles expressed by George Mason in the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights, a document that informed the first ten amendments to the Constitution as declared in the United States Bill of Rights. Gunston Hall offers a variety of educational opportunities including a long-term exhibit that explores George Mason's legacy and how his ideas, choices, and actions helped form our country. We offer guided tours of the property and mansion; and educational programs and events throughout the year. We maintain a world-class reference library, rare book collection, and the largest assembly of Mason-related archives in the world. We are also committed to preserving this National Historic Landmark and restoring the historic core of the property to its 1780s appearance.

Project Background

In February 2020, the Richmond School Board voted to rename George Mason Elementary, and in December 2020, the Falls Church School Board voted to rename George Mason High School. Gunston Hall plans to conduct oral histories of parents, teachers, students, alumni and community members in these cities to document these changes and evolving attitudes towards our Founders. We will also identify items and artifacts with the name "George Mason" to collect. This will allow us to continue our interpretation of Mason's mixed legacy and tell the larger story of the social justice movement that motivated these changes.

The project is based at Gunston Hall. Gunston Hall staff, as well as an advisory group of humanities scholars from within and without Virginia, will provide guidance and intellectual framing for the project. Project Specifications

The following will be furnished by the consultant:

1. The Consultant will work with Gunston Hall and project advisors to create a list of potential interviewees. 2. The Consultant will conduct interviews (number to be indicated by the consultant as part of the RFP response). 3. The Consultant will develop a tentative schedule for the interviews and contact interviewees. 4. The Consultant will contact interviewees to confirm interview date, time, and location. 5. The Consultant will undertake the interviews using high quality recording equipment. 6. The Consultant will provide field notes of each interview. 7. The Consultant will work with Gunston Hall to identify and document archival material and objects of material culture for possible accession into the Gunston Hall collection. 8. The Consultant will provide digital photographs of each person interviewed, with their permission, and photographs of any artifacts or archival materials that the interviewee might show the consultant during the interview. All artifacts presented will be detailed including provenance, type, general condition, owner, and location. 9. The Consultant will organize the transcription of the interviews. 10. The Consultant will complete a summary report that describes the school renaming experience and provides a synopsis of the interviews. 11. The Consultant will provide to Gunston Hall a digital recording of all interviews, summary report, all field notes and photographs, and two hard copies of the summary report with photographs. 12. The Consultant will participate in: a. A meeting with the contractor, humanities scholars, and Gunston Hall staff to work on framing the project within existing scholarship on public memory, memorials, race, communities, and identity. b. Two meetings with Gunston Hall and project advisors to review findings from oral history collection and develop interpretive themes. c. A meeting hosted by Gunston Hall to outline the content for the online exhibition. d. Informal conversations with Gunston Hall staff as needed. 13. The Consultant will work with community organizations and Gunston Hall to present talks about the project and its findings and assist in drafting press releases.

The following materials and work shall be furnished by Gunston Hall:

1. Gunston Hall will provide the Consultant with an initial list of individuals who may be willing to be interviewed about their school renaming experiences in Falls Church and in Richmond. 2. Gunston Hall will provide a release form for all interviewees to sign. 3. Gunston Hall will assist with the transcription of the interviews. 4. Gunston Hall will promote this project through the creation of an online exhibition and through articles for submission to publications such as TeacherDirect, and press releases submitted news outlets in Richmond, Falls Church, and adjacent communities. 5. Gunston Hall will provide storage space for the audio and video recordings of the oral histories collected and associated records from the project.

Proposed Schedule

Note: this is a rough schedule. A final schedule will be developed with the selected consultant.

August 30, 2021 Deadline for proposals.

September 15, 2021 RFP contract award decision.

October 2021 Participate in a meeting with Gunston Hall, humanities scholar project advisors, and peer organizations. Draft strategy and tentative schedule for interviews.

November 2021 - April 2022 Conduct oral history interviews and work with Gunston Hall to identify artifacts and objects of material culture to collect.

May 2022 Meet with Gunston Hall and project advisors to develop interpretive themes.

June 2022 Submit draft project summary report to Gunston Hall.

July 2022 Submit audio recordings, final summary report, field notes and photographs to Gunston Hall.

August 2022 Work with Gunston Hall and the project advisors to develop the script for the online exhibition.

Consultant Qualifications (required)

1. Be an oral history professional and/or graduate student or professor working in the areas of public memory or race and identity or community members with strong expertise and knowledge in the humanities, particularly having done work related to memorials, public memory, local history, etc. 2. Experience conducting oral history interviewing interviews consistent with the Oral History Association Principles and Best Practices:

https://www.oralhistory.org/archives-principles-and-best-practices-complete-manual/

3. Own or lease recording equipment for the interviews at the consultant’s expense. Basis for Selection of Consultant

The Consultant will be selected based upon the following criteria:

1. Demonstrated ability to carry out the project. 2. Quality of the proposal including at a minimum: a. Indicate total number of interviews to be conducted (interviews will take place in both Richmond, VA and Falls Church, VA) b. Time per interview. c. Description of consultant’s broad interview strategy. d. Demonstrated ability to build connections within a community e. Awareness and understanding of the social and cultural issues surrounding school renaming 3. Ability to meet stated schedule. 4. Demonstrated prior experience/record of performance. 5. Resume and three references with contact information.

Proposal Instructions

Proposals should address the "Consultant Qualifications" and "Basis for Selection of Consultant" as specified in this RFP. The method and procedure to be used to fulfill the requirements and conduct the project should be described in full detail. In addition, the Consultant should provide examples of oral history projects that they have worked on and a minimum of three references.

This will be a lump sum contract. The total budget for the project cannot exceed $11,500, inclusive of travel.

The project is contingent upon receipt of grant funding.

Submission of Proposal

The deadline for submission of proposals: Monday, August 30, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

Proposals submitted after this time and date will not be accepted. Electronic submissions are preferred. Please use “School Renaming in Virginia: An Oral History Project” under subject heading and include the proposal along with a resume, a brief work sample, a minimum of three references and send to [email protected]. If submitting in hard copy, please include three copies of the proposal along with resume, work sample and three references with the following information clearly printed on the outside:

Gunston Hall

Attn: Rebecca Martin

10709 Gunston Rd

Mason Neck, VA 22079

Fax and handwritten submittals will not be accepted.

Information and Assistance

For more information or questions regarding this opportunity, please contact:

Contact: Rebecca Martin, Director of Education and Guest Experiences

Phone: 703-550-9220

E-mail: [email protected]