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Oakland County historical commission advances "Network to Freedom" nomination for Oak Hill Cemetery, reports large records-scanning effort
Summary
The Oakland County Historical Commission described ongoing research and a large-scale records-scanning effort in support of a Network to Freedom nomination for Oak Hill Cemetery. The commission said it has scanned tens of thousands of burial records and identified numerous formerly enslaved people buried there.
The Oakland County Historical Commission asked the Board of Commissioners to note its work advancing a "Network to Freedom" nomination for Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac and described a large records-scanning project intended to document burials of formerly enslaved people.
"We started the process in 2024," said Dave Decker, chair of the Oakland County Historical Commission. Decker said volunteers and commission members have scanned cemetery ledgers, maps and burial cards to create a public archive and to gather evidence for the application. The commission reported it has scanned roughly 64,000 records to date and said the county purchased a laptop and scanners to support the work.
Decker described the research as both archival preservation and community history work. He said the commission expects to complete the Network to Freedom application process in January 2026 if timelines hold. The commission also reported an initial identification of about 20 people buried at Oak Hill who were formerly enslaved, with additional possible cases under review.
Volunteers named in the presentation included Katie Neal (primary scanner), Barb Fry and county historian Carol Egbo; Ron Campbell was introduced as the commission's newest member. The commission described broader partner work such as the History Coalition, the Oakland County Cemetery Coalition, and digital-archive efforts to preserve and repatriate county-historical materials.
Decker asked commissioners for help connecting the commission's work with local historical organizations and county departments. The commission said the scanning project serves both the Network to Freedom nomination and a planned public-facing archive to support genealogical and historical research.
Ending: The commission opened for questions from commissioners and asked the board to help publicize and support preservation efforts where appropriate.
