Dr. Charlene Fletcher
In February, Herd Strategies celebrates Black History Month by amplifying Black artists, poets and historians. We seek to highlight people who are voices of the Black community today and share stories of the Black experience throughout history. Dr. Charlene Fletcher uses her extensive research on Black history to curate powerful exhibits for Conner Prairie, Indiana’s living history museum.
Historian, educator and writer Charlene J. Fletcher holds a Ph.D. in history from Indiana University, specializing in 19th-century United States and African American history and gender studies. Currently, she is affiliate faculty in Africana Studies and History at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, and the curatorial director for Conner Prairie. Charlene most recently served as the ACLS Emerging Voices Postdoctoral Research Associate at Brown University’s Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice. Before attending IU, Charlene led a domestic violence/sexual assault program and a significant reentry initiative in New York City, assisting women and men transitioning from incarceration to society. She also served as a lecturer of Criminal Justice at LaGuardia Community College and an adjunct lecturer in Global and Historical Studies at Butler University.
Dr. Fletcher was inspired to research Black history to uncover her ancestors’ stories. “It was important to me to know where my ancestors fit into and experienced history,” she said. “Where did they live? What influenced their decision-making? How did they experience the world around them?” She shared that learning more about her ancestors instilled a greater appreciation for their experiences and helped her learn more about herself.
The findings that have had the greatest impact on Dr. Fletcher are the research for her book, “Confined Femininity: Race, Gender, and Incarceration in Kentucky, 1865-1920.” “My work illuminates the lives of confined Black women by examining prisons and places other than carceral locales as arenas of confinement, including mental health asylums and domestic spaces, in Kentucky at the turn of the 20th century,” she shared. “Diving into the stories serves as a reminder that everything has a history, and our experiences of incarceration and familial violence are examples of our shared experiences with our ancestors.”
After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University, Dr. Fletcher’s research led her to her current position at Conner Prairie, a living history museum in Fishers, Indiana. Establishing a new role as the curatorial director, Dr. Fletcher is responsible for researching and developing the new Promised Land as Proving Ground exhibit and all historical research for the museum. The position has presented opportunities for leading, teaching and growth within the museum and the community. “Community engagement is the key to ensuring proper representation for all people,” she emphasized. “Institutions must be intentional about seeking an invitation to, engaging in, and sustaining long-lasting, reciprocal relationships with communities to ensure that stories are told properly.”
To keep up with Dr. Fletcher, follow her on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Learn more about her research by visiting her website.
