The 5th of July Resource Center for Self-Determination & Freedom is dedicated to the production & dissemination of knowledge concerning histories of post-emancipation, freedom, and its promise. In addition to serving as a repository of information, the Resource Center generates knowledge and expertise on historic understandings of 19th century and 20th century African American, Caribbean, and African history, and sponsors intellectual activities to further these understandings.

Inspired by the self-determination of Weeksville’s historic free black community, the Center’s expansion of knowledge is grounded on existing intellectual and material resources of Weeksville’s history—research, documentation, and the archival, and object collection, including Weeksville’s invaluable architectural resources, the Hunterfly Road Houses. With the opening of the 5th of July Resource Center, Weeksville Heritage Center (WHC) will for the first-time in its history be able to make its collections, archives, and oral histories available to the community at large including the scholarly community, teachers, students, and the general public.