By Mike Finney

DOVER — The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs has been making it a priority the past several years to dig deeper into Black history in Delaware.

And no, that’s not just because February is Black History Month.

It’s because many of the Black individuals from Delaware who can still share stories of generations of African Americans in the First State are passing away over time, taking with them snippets of a largely unknown history.

So, when an unmarked African American burial ground is possibly discovered at the John Dickinson Plantation just outside of Dover, or the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes is seeking tales of lost Black beaches along the coast, there is a reason for urgency.

“It’s been something that has been picking up, but overall, I would say, in Delaware and in the museum field in general, there is more of an emphasis to make sure that the stories that museums are telling are inclusive of all people,” said Daniel Citron, historical sites program manager for the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs.

“So there has been a large shift, I would say overall in the history field, to make sure that everybody’s story is being told because the history of Delaware, the history of the United States, is really the history of everybody who’s ever lived, worked or died here. So making sure that we’re telling that story for everybody is important.”

The Plantation Stories Project that is ongoing at the John Dickinson Plantation will continue as part of the HCA’s “Ending Erasure: Recognizing African Americans in the Cultural Landscape” initiative.

Mr. Citron said the work done thus far has shed light on information that clarifies the history of these early Delawareans so their stories can be shared with current and future generations.

John Dickinson Plantation

The log’d dwelling at the John Dickinson Plantation is a replica of the type of housing inhabited by people who were enslaved at the plantation, as well as the property’s tenants and indentured servants.

John Dickinson was a white colonizer enslaver and one of the nation’s founding fathers, who wrote of freedom and liberty for all while holding human beings in bondage.

He finally freed the people he had forced to labor for his prosperity in 1786, with an unconditional manumission.

That document is one of the five primary sources the research team used as a starting point for the project to uncover possible “lost voices” who may be buried in what is expected to be an African American burial ground.

“This is difficult research, but this is just the beginning,” said Mr. Citron. “The work that’s being done at the John Dickinson Plantation is not only important for that site and the people who lived there, but to give a better understanding to everyone that this is what was happening across the state, colony and country.

“It’s really important to understand how our country was formed. And in many cases, it was at the expense of those who were enslaved, those who really helped create this country, and that’s really never been recognized properly.”

These forgotten stories could potentially include hundreds of other enslaved and free Black people. The team is striving to connect these lost legacies to the modern day by searching for and engaging descendant communities.

Gloria Henry, who has been with the HCA for more than 30 years, recently made an appeal for the community’s help in making those connections.

“We are asking our Delaware community and other communities to engage with us, to share information with us, to help us make future decisions,” Ms. Henry said. “Our work is not done. We want and need the community’s involvement. We cannot make these complex and emotional decisions alone.”

Searching for stories

The HCA and the Zwaanendael Museum, located at 102 Kings Highway in Lewes, are seeking volunteers to participate in a study called “Recapturing Black Beaches: A Shared Story Project.”

It is an oral history initiative designed to gather, memorialize and share stories about historically segregated Black and Indigenous beaches in Delaware and the people who visited them.

The stories will be used for educational purposes. Their use will be determined by permissions granted by participants.

“We have a new digital exhibit going up and this is out of the Zwaanendael Museum and it’s about segregated sands. It talks about Black beaches across the state,” Mr. Citron said.

He said a study by Kelly Barnes, a University of Delaware graduate intern, uncovered a wealth of information about Black beaches last summer and the HCA thought it would be interesting to further pursue the subject.

“We’re following it up because some of these beaches, it’s been mentioned where maybe African Americans were allowed to visit for a day or two,” said Mr. Citron. “But we don’t have much more information than the little, tiny snippets in these newspapers.

“So we’re trying to capture that information while these people are still around that lived through it. And once they’re gone, the information may be gone as well. So we want to make sure it’s recorded.”

Mr. Citron said the information provided by the public can prove to be invaluable.

“When you look at what’s available to put on display, especially the further back you go, you’re usually looking at things that people were able to afford to leave behind, or passed down or things like that,” Mr. Citron said. “A lot of the archival record is left behind by the people who were in charge. The traditional museum interpretation has focused on wealthier people because they leave more behind.

“And so, when you look at who was allowed to vote and who was allowed to hold office in early Colonial America, it really leaves out a whole lot of people, including women and basically most minorities as well.”

Volunteers for “Recapturing Black Beaches: A Shared Story Project” may participate as storytellers, sharing their memories about the beaches with oral history project staff, or as interviewers, recording conversations between themselves and someone that they know and care about.

To participate in the project, volunteers should fill out an online form or download a printable version that can be submitted via email or mail.

Both forms can be found at the following address on the HCA website.

Printed forms should be mailed to the Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE 19958 or sent via email to Zmuseum@delaware.gov.

For questions or to learn more, contact the Zwaanendael Museum at 302-645-1148 or Zmuseum@delaware.gov.

History happenings

Mr. Citron said that while there will be several programs taking place at HCA sites throughout Delaware during Black History Month in February, most of them will be held virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Tuesday: Virtual presentation by historian Carlton Hall of the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ State Historic Preservation Office on the “Green Book,” a travel and vacation guidebook for people of color during the segregation era. Zoom registration required and available on the South Coastal Library website. Free. More information: 302-858-5518.

Saturday, Feb. 5: “Desegregating Delaware: Louis Redding and Education in the First State.” Virtual program in which lead interpreter Gavin Malone of the HCA’s Old State House discusses how two cases that local attorney Mr. Redding took on in the early 1950s began the process of desegregating Delaware’s education system and impacted civil rights efforts on a national level. The program will be streamed live via Zoom. Registration required and only available by clicking here. Free. More information: 302-744-5054 or email OSHmuseum@delaware.gov.

Thursday, Feb. 17: “Free and Fettered: Black Sailors and the War of 1812.” In this virtual program, historical interpreter Tom Pulmano of the HCA’s Zwaanendael Museum explores the lives of Delaware’s Black sailors who served as free, enslaved or impressed men during the War of 1812. The program is pre-recorded and will be available to view on the museum’s Facebook page, facebook.com/Zwaanendael, beginning at 4 p.m. Feb. 17. Free. More information: 302-645-1148 or zmuseum@delaware.govzmuseum@delaware.gov.

Friday, Feb. 25: “Highlights of African American History in Delaware.” In this video, historic site interpreter Joan Foster and lead interpreter Juliette Wurm of the HCA’s New Castle Court House Museum bring to life information from the museum’s exhibit on African American history in Delaware.

The video includes the stories of the Hawkins family, the Colored Conventions, the Buttonwood and Booker T. Washington schools, as well as Black Delaware luminaries. The video will be available on the museum’s Facebook page, facebook.com/NewCastleCourtHouse, beginning Feb. 25. Free. More information: 302-323-4453 or NCCHmuseum@delaware.gov.

Saturday, Feb. 26: Guided visitation of the African burial ground at the John Dickinson Plantation. The guided visitation leads participants to the burial ground, which is believed to be the final resting place for enslaved and free Black men, women and children who died on the plantation.

Guests will engage with guides about the historical context and archaeological research of the site. Visitors should wear clothing that accounts for current weather conditions. Admission is free but reservations are required by calling 302-739-3277. Note: Due to health and safety precautions, the program may be rescheduled or canceled. Check the museum’s website or social media for the latest information.