WHO ALL WAS THERE?

“Who all was there?” is an archival documentary project led by Mell Meadow utilizing film photography, drum scanning, Risograph printing, and zine-making to showcase and expand upon the bright history of Black & Queer St. Louisians.

The project invite members of the public the right to have their family (biological, chosen, or otherwise) histories – in the form of film photos (film strips/negatives, lab prints, etc) – archivally documented and artistically expanded upon by the donor.

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Key Components

By transcending timelines to integrate ancestral histories with the present, “Who All Was There?” reiterates the timeless nature of Black Queerness, a notion all too necessary in a political climate claiming Queerness as a fad, trend, or choice.

RISOGRAPH PRINTING

Risography is an environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient printing method that yields gorgeous color and layering. The machines can be hard to come by and require some fiddling and maintenance, but the results are so worth it!

Risography has a storied history in radical print media like protest posters, printmaking and independent publication.

SHORT INTERVIEWS

Selected participants will be invited to to sit for a short interview and be photographed in a way that ties them to their historical documentation, whether geographically or with the same film stock/type of camera from the original photos.

By reintroducing aging stories through a current lens, we can showcase the connections and community that have made St Louis a vibrant gateway for arts, politics, and culture.

ZINE MAKING

This project culminates in a zine showcasing the artist-donor original photographs, expanded visual piece and other project elements.

We also plan to crate long-form zine about the initiative, the importance of stories, and Black & Queer histories and placemaking in St Louis. Copies of this zine will live at community gathering spaces to make the dissemination of the work as lasting as possible beyond the duration of the project.

FILM PHOTOGRAPHY

As the political climate continues to attempt to erase us, the rediscovery, amplification, and preservation of Black and Queer history gains unimaginable significance.

As folks whose history frequently lives in stories told by elders, photographs stowed away, and familial artifacts on mantels, these histories aren’t always documented in reliably lasting ways. Many of these stories are stored on film, photographs long forgotten in closets and attics. 

ARCHIVAL DRUM SCANNING

The core premise of this project allows a handful of families in St Louis to have 4k scans of archival photos, something that usually costs hundreds of dollars, completely free.

The scanning itself allows a documentation method with high barriers to entry, usually reserved for fine art printing and museum-level archiving, to become accessible to marginalized communities. This manifests what we’ve always known – that Black & Queer History is deserving of high-quality archiving and celebration.

ARTISTIC RE-IMAGINING

This project invite members of the public to have their family (biological, chosen, or otherwise) histories – in the form of film photos – archivally documented and artistically expanded upon by the donor.

Each donor will have the chance to create a piece of visual art out of their newly scanned image(s) as a way to honor their history.

Honoring STL history

“Who All Was There?” is a means of continuing legacies through digital archiving, print media, and community gathering. By merging analog and modern technology, we marry past and present, honoring both equally, with the intent to celebrate our audience, our history, and our place in St Louis.


  • This project is funded by the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis through the 2025/2026 Artist Support Grant.

  • Photography is a visual medium to facilitate connection, learning, and empathy. We look to photos for warmth, history, family stories, and artistic value. “Who All Was There?” highlights all of these, showcasing the power and magic of film and print media.

  • This project hopes to give as many folx as possible access to the stories, memories and artifacts of their love ones to be cherished and share for as long as possible.